Pushtimarg: The Path of Grace. Jai Shri Krishna to All..!! Enjoy life with Love, Fun and Bhakti…
Pushti Sampradaya
Festivals in Pushtisampradaya
03 years ago
In pushtimarg , Seva is not done for achieving the grace of Shrinathji, but Seva includes festivals that are included in the curriculum of seva.
* Shri Vallabhacharya started the mode of Seva of Shrinathji in a simple form. But his second son Shri Vitthalnatji became the successor of Shri Vallabhacharya who was also incarnation of Shrinathji with some divine abilities as Shri Vallabhacharya. Shri Vitthalnathji introduced many reforms in this Seva of Pushtimarg, just as a small child would like to have variety of toys and dresses which would keep him happy. So also Shri Vitthalnathji introduced a variety of reforms in the performance of Seva of Shrinathji.
* He started observing festivals starting with the birth of Lord Shri Krishna. This Festival is known as Krishna Janmashtmi, in this festival all the rituals in minute form are observed which had taken place at the time of birth of Shri Krishna. In this festival Krishna Janmashatmi which is the main festival, which falls on eighth day of gujarati month shravan Krishna paksha which falls in the month of august according to English calendar.
* This festival is performed with all the pomp and joy as if a son is born in the family. On the night of shravan 8th Krishna paksha the birth of Lord Krishna took place at midnight, though the birth of Lord Krishna took place in jail of Mathura to Vasudev and devaki (For the details of Lord Krishna one should read the 10th skanda of Shrimath bhagavad) he was brought to Gokul by his father Vasudev for lord Krishna’s safety. As Devaki feared that her brother Kamsa will kill the small boy, which was the 8th child of Devaki.
* Preparation for this festival is made in a Vaishnav’s house some four or five days before the actual date. New clothes or vaghas of saffron color made of cotton or stitched by the ladies of Vaishnava family. Where the Seva of Lord Shrinathji (Lord Balakrishna) is done according to the guidance introduced by Shri Vitthalnathji, this guidance is known as Pranalika. Every Vaishnav has to strictly follow this guidance (Pranalika). These Vaishnava’s should not do Seva according to his whims and fancies.
Bhagwad seva through Brahma Sambandha
03 years ago
Bhagwad seva through Brahma Sambandha :
In order to provide upliftment of Pushti Jivas, the divine being HIMSELF appeared before Shri Mahaprabhuji and gave hi the Brahmasambandha diksha, and further promised him to accept all those beings/jeevs as his very own, (overlooking their doshas) to whom Shree MAhaprabhuji gave the Brahma Sambandha diksha. Brahma Sambandha means ” Establishment of the broken down relationship that remained so for thousands of years, between Jivatma and Paramatma through the means of Samarpana i.e., surrender. In other words to accept HIM once again as your Master. To declare your servitude (dasatva) to HIM.
There is a provision of bringing an alliance through marriage to bring out the concept of Samarpana with love. In this alliance a women accepts the state of servitude to a man and makes him her master. For the comfort of her master (husband) a women (wife) surrenders her self through her mind body and money and offers seva and she believes that the comfort of her husband are the primary considerations in life for her and with that notion in mind she dedicates herself in his seva.
The same concept can be seen in Brahma Sambandha in a transcendental form Jivatma consides himself as the servant of Paramatma. He accepts HIM as his Master. In marriage ceremoney three aspects are important viz., a Brahman to perform the rites, fire to stand as witness, and saptapadi – i.e., seven steps to conjugal union.
In Brahma Sambandha the part of a Purohit is played by “Tulsi” – Basil leaves. I performs the “Hasta Melaps” – holding the hand for life – between the Bhakta and devine being. Here Shri Mahaprabhuji stands for the form of fire (Agni) to act as a witness. In his presence a jiva utters the Mantra of Brahma Sambandha which stands for “Sapta padi” process. Through this mantra he promises that he surrender his complete body, mind , all members of the family, all his wealth, this life, all the lives to come in future, all kinds of activities along with his atma to Shri Krishna. He recites the “Panchakshara Mantra” three times and accepts a complete and unconditional “Saranagati” of Shri Krishna with his speech, conduct and thoughts.
Shri Mahaprabhuji has envisaged six aspects in “Saranagati” : 1. I will do whatever is to the liking of my master. 2. I will no do anything that is not to the liking of divine being. 3. I accept “Prabhu” as my Master for all times. 4. I will keep a firm faith in my heart about the fact that my Master will take care of me in all respects. 5. I will be always humble and serve HIM with an attitude of dasa (servant). 6. I will surrender all that I possess to HIM. This last is called “Atma Nivedana”.
We take this promise of “Saranagati” and “Samarpana” before Shri Thakurji through our speech. In other words it is “Brahma Sambandha” through words.
In Worldly affairs, a maiden will go and live with her husband to serve him and be dedicated. So we have to maintain the promise we have given under Brahma Sambandha through words by putting it into practive. For this purpose Shri Thakurji has HIMSELF shown the path of “Seva and Samarpana to Shri Mahaprabhuji” A Brahma Sambandha jiva should not utilize any object which is not offered to Shri Thakuqji. In other words you will not touch any “Asamarpita Vastu” (not offered). When we utilize objects offered to divine being then only the promoise made at the time of Brahma Sambandha can be fulfilled otherwise there is no way you can keep the promise valid.
Tyaga or relinquishing the non-offered and accepting that which is offered becomes a part of “Seva Marg”. Hence Shri Mahaprabhuji and Shri Gusaiji have stated clearly that for every person who receives Brahma Sambandha there is only one duty at all places and at all times. i.e., to offer seva to Shri Krishna who is the lord of Vraj. This is the “Atma Dharma” (Dharma is a religion fate, Atma is for self). That is the only duty. There is no other dharma for him at any time or at any place. That is the reason why so much regard is given to seva under “Pushti Marg”.
Vallabhacharyaj’s Life Philosophy & Works
03 years ago
Shri Vallabhacharyaji was the initiator of Pushtimarga-the path of divine grace of God-as well as the founder of Shhudhadvaita-the Vaishnav school of thought which believed in pure non-duailsm.
In the path shown by Shri Vallabh one could achieve salvation or Mukti only through the devotion to Lord Shri Krishna,who is the creator of the universe as well as who is omnipresent in each and every molecule of this universe.Shri Vallabha told the world that Shri Krishna was the supreme being and so there was nothing we could give to him Him so as to please Him.The only thing a mere living being could do was to serve Lord Krishna whereby he could please Lord Krishna and get blessings and could get out of the Sansar which is created around him and is misleading him.
Shri Vallabh’s philosophy is based on the teachings of the Upanishads.Shri Vallabh considers only four scriptures as pramans (proofs) for supporting his philosophy,they are:
1. The Vedas.
2. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita.
3. Vyas Sutras.
4. Shrimad Bhagwatji.
Based on these four pramans Shri Vallabh propogated a new system of philosophy known as the Shhudhadvaita.For the re-unision of the vaishnavas with Lord Shrinathji he started the sewa pranali of Lord Shrinathji on the order of the Lord himself.
How to experience God in our daily lives
03 years ago
It was the most natural expression of oneness with God that Shri Vallabh taught and espoused in the new sect. I feel, that is what we need to rejuvenate. Practically, that means experiencing God to be with you all the time by…
- Wake up with Him, take Him to enjoy the sunrise with you.
- Take a nice hot shower with Him !
- As you dress, let Him choose your clothes for you ! How wonderful to be dressed by God !!
- When you do seva, let Him choose his clothes, or if you choose them for Him, do so out of spontaneity and not ritualistic norms.
- When you have your breakfast, share your spoonfuls with Him.
- Read the morning news and make comments to Him, listen to His comments too !
- On your drive to work, chat to Him ! If someone annoys you on the road, why don’t you BOTH make a face at the annoying fellow driver(s) !
- When you relax, have a chat with Him, watch a film, listen to a CD, sit in the garden, do some planting, go for a swim – always with Him !
- When you get upset, talk to Him, let Him know how upset you are !
- Listen to Him, He has been here long enough and maybe He can sort out your upset with some good advise.
- When you play with your family, invite Him to join in !
- Let Him guide you and your parents / wife / partner in your private counsels. Let Him be confident to your hopes and plans for the future.
- With every mouthful of dinner, enjoy the dinner with Him, ask Him if He liked the pickle too !
- Before you go to sleep, put Him to sleep, caress the day’s cares from His brow and sing a simple lullaby or a shlok, or a mantra, or a dhoon to put Him at ease. When you go to sleep yourself, be at one with the one who is always at one with you !
- When you cook, when you sing, when you shout or are upset, when you get happy or angry, when you do satsang or read, keep God with you.
That is the only essence of Pushti Marg.
