Vallabhacharya, Vallabha, Vaishnav, Pustimarg, Shrinathji, Nathdwara

Vallabhacharya (1479-1531)

"The third great Vaishnav sect is founded by Vallabha, or as he is commonly called Vallabhacharya, said to have been born in the forest of Champaran about the year 1479. He was believed to have been an embodiment of a portion of Krishna's essence, and various miraculous stories are fabled about him.

For instance, his intelligence is alleged to have been so great that when he commenced learning at seven years of age, he mastered the four Vedas, the six systems of Philosophy, and the eighteen Puranas in four months. After precocity so prodigious he was able at the age of twelve to formulate a new view of the Vaishnava creed, but one which was to a certain extent derived from a previous teacher named Vishnu-swami.

Soon he commenced travelling to propagate his doctrines. When he reached the court of Krishnadeva, King of Vijayanagar, he was invited to engage in a public disputation with a number of Smart Brahmans. In this he succeeded so well that he was elected chief Acharya of the Vaishnavas.

He then travelled for nine years through different parts of India, and finally settled in Benares, where he composed seventeen works, among which was a commentary on the Bhagavata-purana. This last work, especially its tenth book—descriptive of the early life of Krishna—is the chief authoritative source of the doctrines of the sect. Vallabhacharya's view of the Vaishnava creed has been called Pushti-marga, the way of eating, drinking, and [living].

He is known to have died at Benares; but, according to his followers, was transported to heaven while performing his ablutions in the Ganges.

He left behind him eighty four principal disciples, who disseminated his doctrines in various directions. But the real successor to his Gadi (seat or chair) was his second son, Vitthalnath, sometimes called Gosainjl from his having settled at Gokul, Krishna's abode near Mathura.

Vitthalnath had seven sons, each of whom established a Gadi in different districts, especially in Bombay, Kutch, Kathiawar, and Malwa. The influence of Vallabhacharya's successors became so great that they received the title Maharaja, 'great king,' the name Gosain (for Gosvamin—lord of cows—an epithet of Krishna) being sometimes added.

[Devotees] are taught the use of the eight-syllabled prayer, 'Great Krishna is my soul's refuge' (Sri Krishna Saranam mama)."

"VALLABHA. Vallabha Swami - the teacher of the sect that became known as Vallabhacharyas or Pusti-Marg. He first lived at Gokul, a village on the left bank of the Sacred Jamna, about three miles east of Mathura; then he visited all the places of pilgrimage of India; he then settled in Benares. At last, having accomplished his mission, he entered the Ganges at Hanuman, where he disappeared; a brilliant flame, it is said, rose from this spot. It would be too long to dwell on all the details ... the principles of the new sect which Vallabha established, according to the order of Krishna, who appeared to him in person."

"Vallabha was a Sanyasi himself, and flourished about the sixteenth century. Originally he resided at Gokul, near Mathura, then at Vrindavan, where he lived under a pipal-tree, which is still shown to pilgrims. At Mathura, too, there are traces of him to be found: all these places being connected with various scenes in the life of Krishna. It was at Vrindavan that he is said to have been honoured by a visit from Krishna himself, who enjoined him to extend his worship under the form of Bal Gopal (Bal Krishna, the Boy Gopal). Vallabha is said to have gone to heaven from Benares in a miraculous manner: Entering the river at Hanuman Ghat, and stooping down to worship, he suddenly disappeared: a brilliant flame arose from the spot, and in the presence of a host of spectators he ascended into heaven, and was lost to sight in the firmament."

"For practical purposes the Vallabhacharyas may be regarded as a sect founded by Vallabha. He was the son of a Brahman, who had migrated with Vishnusvami to the north. Such was the pious precocity of Vallabha that at the age of twelve he had already discovered a new (sect) and started on a pilgrimage to preach it. He was well received at the Court of Vijayanagar, and was so successful in disputation that he was recognized as chief doctor of the Vaishnava school. He subsequently spent nine years in travelling twice round India and at Vrindavan received a visit from Krishna in person, who bade him promulgate his worship in the form of the divine child known as Bal Gopal. Vallabha settled in Benares and is said to have composed a number of works which are still extant.. He gained further victories as a successful disputant and also married and became the father of two sons. At the age of ﬁfty- two he took to the life of a Sannyasi, but died forty-two days afterwards. Though Vallabha died as an ascetic, his doctrines are currently known as the Pushti Marga, the road of well-being or comfort."
1921