Vallabhacharya Jayanti

Early life and education

Shri Vallabhacharya or Vallabha was born on the 11th day of the lunar month of Chaitra to Lakshmana Bhatta and Illammagaru. Lakshmana and Illammagaru hailed from Andhra and were from a lineage of Telugu Vaidiki Brahmins. Before the birth of Vallabha, they lived in Prayagraj but India was facing onslaughts from Islamic forces during that time. Fearing conversion and death post the onslaught, Lakshmana and his wife fled when she was seven months pregnant. The stress of escaping the region led to the premature birth of Vallabha, who was named thus as it means ‘dear one’ in Sanskrit.

Vallabha’s education started with the study of four Vedas at the age of seven. Mastering the scriptures early, he also learned other philosophical systems of Jain and Buddhist schools, Nimbarka, Ramanuja, and Adi Shankaracharya. Such was his mastery that Vallabha was given the title of Bal Saraswati at the age of 11 after he impressed the public of Lakshmana Balaji and Vyankateshwar with his knowledge.

Vallabha participated in a debate in the court of King Krishnadevaraya between Vaishnavites and Shaivites on whether the god was dvaita or advaita (dualistic or non-dualistic). The debate ran for 27 days in the center hall, at the end of which Vallabha was declared victorious. He was adorned with the titles of ‘Acharya’ and ‘Jagad guru’ and also awarded large vessels of gold. He declined the gold, taking just seven gold coins which were used to prepare the ornaments of deity Vitthalanatha of Pandarpur.

Establishing the Pushtimarg

During his lifetime, Vallabhacharya performed three pilgrimages of India. He was barefoot and just wore a Upavarna (upper cloth) and white dhoti. He gave discourses on the Bhagavata at 84 different places which were later renowned as Chaurasi Baithak. These places are considered holy pilgrimages. Vallabha had a special connection to Braj (present-day Mathura) and he used to stay four months out of the year in that region.

Upon reaching Gokul, Vallabhacharya realized that he wanted to restore people to the devotional path. He meditated on Lord Krishna, his ishtadev (the guiding deity), who appeared to him as a vision as Shrinathji. It was in that meditation that he was bestowed Brahma Sambandha, a mantra of dedicating one’s self to Krishna. The next morning Vallabhacharya initiated Damodardasa (his dearest devotee) to the mantra and he became the first Vaishnavite inculcated on the Pushtimarg.

Pushtimarg, also known as Vallabhacharya Sampradaya, literally meaning the path to grace, was the Vaishnavite subtradition that Vallabha started. Thousands of followers joined him on the path as he preached about the grace of Krishna and initiated the followers with the Brahma Sambandha. The values of the path were based on and derived from the devotional practices centered on the plays of Krishna, found in Shrimad Bhagavatam. Pushtimarg recognized Krishna by many epithets such as Shri Dwarkadishji, Shri Vittalnathji, Shri Madanamohanji, and Shri Nath.

Teachings of Pushtimarg

Vallabhacharya teachings and the path of Pushtimarg shared ideas with Dvaita Vedanta and Vishishtadvaita. According to these philosophies, Krishna is the source of everything that exists in the universe and it is due to his grace that a soul attains spiritual liberation. Shri Vallabhacharya rejected the ascetic lifestyle, wherein he preached that even the householders can attain liberation by devoting themselves to Krishna. They live their life on the belief that their daily life is a play of Krishna or a rasa-lila (divine play) of Krishna’s creation. In Pushtimarg, the followers and devotees see themselves as companions of Krishna, participating in the everyday Rasa, devoting their lives to him.

The followers of Pushtimarg, called pushtimargis, are based in North and Western states of India, mostly centered around Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The main shrine of pushtimargis is Shrinath temple in Nathdwara. The town is located just north of Udaipur and its origins are traced to 1669, a time when the followers lived in fear of Aurangzeb.

Shri Vallabhacharya wrote several commentaries on Srimad Bhagvatham and Brahma-sutras. And, to help his followers on their path of devotion, he wrote 16 verses which were called Shodasha Granthas. These verses speak about increasing one’s love for Krishna through service and remembrance (Seva and nama-smarana).

Shri Vallabhacharya was one of the first proponents of the Bhakti movement, bringing devotional aspects to the daily lives of householders. His teachings and commentaries not only brought faith and devotion to the lives of thousands but also made them feel that their life is a play. This belief helped them to live a life free from stress and anxiety, with the belief that they all are companions of Lord Krishna.

Quotes from Vallabhacharya:

You should all be good and religious person – Not a God fearing man but a God loving man. Speak the truth. Be just and honest to all. Treat all persons equally. Have faith in Lord Krishna and surrender yourself to him. Be charitable and never harm the hungry and the weak. Realize that service to men and animals is service to God.

You should believe that Krishna is our God and never slacken your faith in him and then he will surely protect you. You should regard him as the be-all and end-all of your life. Your ultimate good lies in serving him, which should be done with all your heart, mind and soul. Trust in his protection. Remember him always in all thoughts, words and deeds.

Be free from sorrows and anxieties concerning your future, for you are safe in my (Lord Krishna’s) hands. Only you should love me with the love of Gopis. If you do so then you will surely secure liberation. That is the only means of union with Me, by which you will regain your original divine nature. Do not give your thoughts to worldly matters. Be devoted to me and render service to ‘ME’ by all the Means at your disposal.