Mahaprabhuji
Vaarta
5In Pushtimarg – as in old scriptures – there are numerous ways of passing on the beliefs and the tenets through the generations.
Saying anything in a single way might seem hard or unattractive to some. So there are many ways of taking a siddhant to the masses. In Pushtimarg the tenets shown by Shri Vallabh are followed even today. Shri Vallabh has explained his thoughts in the various granths which he wrote. These granths are written in Sanskrit language and so are hard – almost impossible – to understand for the modern man. For the modern man, the best way to understand Pushtimarg and live this beautiful marg is to regularly read the vaartas of Pushtimarg.
As the word shows a ‘vaarta’ is a story, more precisely put these are biographies of vaishnavas who lived during the times of Shri Mahaprabhuji, Shri Gusainji as well as stories of many of our vaishnav ancestors. These prasangs show us the way to lead our lives according to the principles of Shri Vallabh, these are our ideals. Reading and remembering these vaartas help us deal with the ups and downs of life in a better way and also take us closer to prabhu.
There is no end to vaartas but we have chosen some which will show the way to today’s vaishnavas. This topic divided into the following sections :
- 84 vaishnavas
- 252 vaishnavas
- Nij-vaarta, Gharu-vaarta
- Vachanamrut
Mahaprabhu Shri Vallabhacharya ji’s writings
0Mahaprabhuji wrote elaborate commentaries on Sanskrit scriptures, the Brahma-Sutras (Anubhasya), and Shreemad Bhagwatam (Shree Subodhini ji).
Also, in order to help devotees on this path of devotion, he wrote 16 pieces in verse which we know as the Shodasha Granthas. These came about as answers to devotees. The verses define the practical theology of Pushtimarga.
The Shodasha Granthas (doctrines) serve as a lighthouse for devotees. They speak about increasing love for Shri Krishna through Seva (service) and Smarana (remembering). These doctrines are Shri Mahaprabhu ji’s way of encouraging and inspiring devotees on this path of grace. The central message of the Shodasha Granthas is, total surrender to the Lord. A Goswami can initiate an eager soul to this path of Shri Krishna’s loving devotion and service. The verses explain the types of devotees, the way to surrender and the reward for Seva, as well as other practical instructions. The devotee is nurtured by the Lord’s grace.
1) The Shodash Granthas Shree Yamunastakam: An ode to Shree Yamuna Maharani
2) Baala Bodhah: A guide for beginners on the path of devotion
3) Siddhant-Muktavali: A string of pearls consisting of the principles/fundamentals of Pushtimarg
4) Pusti-Pravaha-Maryadabhedah: The different characteristics of the different types of souls (Receptivity of the Lord’s grace)
5) Siddhant-Rahasya: The Secret behind the Principles
6) Navratan Bodh: Nine jewels of instructions (Priceless instructions for a devotee)
7) Antah-Karan-Prabodhah: Consoling one’s Heart (Request to one’s own heart)
8 ) Vivek-Dhairy-Aashray: Of discretion, patience and surrender
9) Shree Krushna Aashray: Taking Shree Krushna’s shelter
10) Chatuhshloki: A Four Verses (Verser) illustrating the four principles of life; Dharma, Arth, Kaam, Moksh
11) Bhakti-Vardhini: Increase of devotion
12) Jal-Bhed: Difference in Waters
13) Pancha-Padyaani: Five instructive verses
14) Sannyasa-Nirnayah: Decision on taking Renunciation
15) Nirodh-Lakshanam: Identifying characteristics of detachment
16) Seva-Phalam: The reward of performing seva (worship) of the Lord
Pavitra Ekadashi
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Today, Jagadguru Shreemad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu obtained Brahmasambandha Mantra from Bhagwan Shree Krishna(Chand baba). On obtaining this Diksha (Initiation) Mantra, apshri brought in order the system of initiation and the spiritual course for the disciples for Pushti Bhakti.
Lord Shree krishna saw that the life of beings whom he had created for performing his pushti bhakti was wasted away. So he ordained Shreemad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu (Shree Krishnasya, Vadananavtaar of Lord Shree krishna) to manifest the sampraday i.e. sect of his pushti bhakti and to uplift Pushti beings who were down away in the flow of the time. The Path of devotion and resort of Shree Krishna which Shree Vallabhacharya proclaimed is known as Pushti Bhakti Sampraday – the devotional path of ‘Pushti’ i.e. Lord’s grace.
Shreemad Vallabhacharyaji, in one of apshri’s granthas, named “Siddhant Rahasya”, discloses this secret that how he got order to proclaim Pushti Sampraday by Shree Krishna. It was on this day in A.D.1492 at mid-night on the eleventh day of bright half of the month of Shravana that command of Lord came to him to give the initiation to people into the new way, Lord had revealed to him. During the course of his pilgrimage round india, he had come to realise something of the chaos that prevailed in the religious life of the country. Everywhere the people practised a type of religion, which had become altogether formal and lifeless. They followed more rituals and ceremonies which had lost their meaning and lost the sanctity with the consequence that there was no spiritual life amongst them worth the name. The situation is very well narrated by apshri in one of apshri’s granthas i.e. ‘Shree Krishnashraya’. Shree Vallabh felt this loss very much. What apshri saw in various places of pilgrimage he visited, had confirmed the above situation.
Apshri came to realise that nothing less then a new revelation of Lord Shree Krishna could meet the situation. Seeing the plight of daivi jeevas in the bhutal and inability of daivi jeevas to reach to their primary goal to attain Lord Shree Krishna, Shree Vallabhcharya became worried. Since the primary goal of apshri’s pragatya in butal was to guide Daivi Jeevas to attain their primary goal to attain Lord Shree krishna, apshri was worried about how will the daivi jeevas, who are filled with infinite doshas, can re-establish the relation with Lord Shree Krishna, who is completely void of doshas. This ‘Viraha’ of Vadanalavtar of Lord Shree Krishna i.e.
Shree Vallabhacharyaji culminated in bhagwad pragatya in Shreemad Gokul near Govindghat. Lord Shree Krishna himself appreared before Shree Vallabhacharyaji in the swaroop of Shree Gokulchandramaji wearing White Paagh, Chandrika, Pichoda.
Shreemad Vallabhacharyaji became so much excited and happy that apshri by having darshan of apshri entire shreeang, created a very famous ashtak in praise of Shree prabhu known as ‘Madhurashtakam’. Shree Vallabh at that time, had a Pavitra made from cotton(Pavitra is a cotton mala made up of 360 cotton threads knotted together) already ready to offer to lord on dwadashi. But as Shree Prabhu appeared before apshri on Ekadashi, it was not proper to miss this opportunity and offer on dwadashi. Thus, Shree Vallabh immediately offered the Pavitra made from cotton and also offered the kesar mixed mishri to Lord. After that, Lord ordered apshri to re-establish the lost bhavna of ‘Viraha’ of daivi jeevas for him by initiating daivi jeevas with 84 lettered anskrit mantra called as ‘Brahmsambandha Mantra’ and thus today is the prardhurbhavotsav of Pushti Sampraday. Pushtimarg is an eternal path of grace of Lord Shree krishna, which is eternal, but today Pushtimarg was also rendered as a Sampraday i.e. a sect by Lord himself and proclaimed by Shreemad Vallabhacharyaji.
Each year all the vaishnavs around the world adorn their Thakurjis with pavitra on this day. The reason behind the figure 360 is simple.Shrinathji has said that whoeveradorns me with a pavitra on pavitra ekadashi gets the ‘laabh’ of doing the seva of 365days of the year. Each thread in apavitra signifies one day’s seva. So no matter if you are unable to do seva round the year.Experienced vaishnavas prepare pavitra at home.
In A.D.1492 on the next day (i.e. Pavitra Baaras) Shree Damodardas Harsaniji adorned his Guru Shree Vallabhacharyaji with a pavitra. Thus its a tradition that today all vaishnavs adorn their Guru with a pavitra before taking prasad.
Pavitra: Literal meaning of Pavitra is ‘Sacred’. Pavitra is a cotton mala made up of 360cotton threads knotted together. It is not necessary that ALL pavitras offered to thakurji must have 360 cotton threads. There are various types of pavitras offered to Shree Thakurji. Shri Hariraiji Mahaprabhu has written a treatise named ‘PAVITRAMANDAN’. In a 360 thread cotton pavitra 180 knots are tied just as there are 108 knots in a mankamala (Japmala) through which, Bhagavad bhajan and bhava is perfected.
The different types of pavitras are below:
1. Cotton 360 threaded kesari pavitras
2. Reshami i.e. Silk Pavitras with different colors like Red, Blue, Yellow and Kesari
3. Badlani Pavitra made from threads of Gold and silver (specially offered to Lord Shree Dwarkadhish Prabhu – Kankroli)



