Brahma is mentioned because according to the first verse of Bhagavatam, he was the Lord’s first student. Tene brahma hrda, the Lord “extended” Vedic knowledge into the heart of Brahma. Madhvacarya appeared in southwest India in the 13th century. His philosophy differs from ours in several important ways, but the devotees hundreds of years ago claimed to be in his lineage at a time when Hindus demanded that one trace one’s lineage through one of the established lines. It is still a controversial point.