>THE LIFE OF SHRI MAHAPRABHU VALLABHACHARYA (c. 1479-1531) > > > HIS APPEARANCE > >When Joy and Supreme Bliss incarnated as His face, a flow of immeasureable >grace descended to enlighten divine souls. He became the Beloved, Shri >Vallabh. This Beloved Vallabh, knower of the inner Veda, son of Lakshman >Bhatt, became a sun to the lotus of devotion. When its petals opened, the >fragrance of bhakti, the adoring practice, became available to those who >could fathom the call. They became Shri Krishna's beloveds. Shri >Vallabhacharya's path is grace-filled and its principles profound. >Compassion is the seed and Nectar is the reward. Beloved Vallabh has >appeared as Krishna's own face. > >When there is need for spiritual adjustment in this world, that is, when >the >paths of dharma and devotion are covered with the impurities of this age of >strife, an incarnation or wonderful saint arrives to make the world an >easier place to experience His remarkable Presence. Shri Krishna promises >in the Gita, "Whenever anti-dharma forces prevail, I take birth again and >again, for the establishment of dharma." >During the times of Shri Vallabhacharya's appearance, northern India had >been conquered by the Mughals. The Vedic dharmas were in distress. Shri >Vallabhacharya explained the situation precisely, "All the spiritual paths >have been destroyed in India. Hypocrisy is rampant." >The paths of loving devotion had become obscure, the holy places filled >with >business-minded people, the mantras ineffective and the devas no longer >visible. It was time for Shri Krishna's face to appear as Shri Vallabh, the >giver of the priceless award, the extremely generous one who would not be >understood by those devoted to physical matter. The scene was ready and the >time was ripe for the Beloved Sun of Devotion to arrive for the benefit of >the pure-hearted. > > >Shri Vallabhacharya's forefathers were from Kakarwad, a town on the >southern >banks of the Krishna river in present day Andhra Pradesh. Their family name >was Vellanadu. Shri Vallabh's father was Lakshman Bhatt, a devout Brahmin >who performed Soma Sacrifices as his ancestors had done. Shri >Yajnarnarayan >Bhatt, Lakshman Bhatt's great, great grandfather began the family >practice >of performing Soma Sacrifices. He was charitable to his people. During the >course of one Soma Sacrifice, a Svarupa, the very image of Lord Krishna >appeared in the sacrificial fire pit and the voice of God told him, "I will >appear in your family after one hundred soma sacrifices have been > completed." >The stage was now set for the divine appearance and Yajnarnarayan's son >Shri >Gangadhara performed twenty-eight additional Soma Sacrifices. His son Shri >Ganapati Bhatt contined the tradition and reinforced Vedic teachings during >his lifetime. His son, Shri Bal Bhatt completed five sacrifices. He had two >sons Shri Lakshman and Shri Janardan. Shri Lakshman married Ellamagaru, the >daughter of Shri Susharma, the royal priest of the prominant South Indian >Hindu Kingdom Vidyanagar. This is where our story begins. > >Shri Vallabh's father, Lakshman Bhatt, was a Tailanga Brahmin. He too was >steeped in Vedic lore and lived in Kakarwad. After the birth of a son and >two daughters, Lakshman Bhatt decided to renounce the world, but a sage >persuaded him not to do so. Lakshman Bhatt spent his time in devotion to >Gopal Krishna and pilgrimaged to many holy places. He eventually settled in >Benares. He was aware of the fact that the Lord would appear in his family >for he had completed his family's one hundredth Soma Sacrifice, but >wondered >how and when this appearance would take place. >When Muslim disturbance came to Benares, Laxshman Bhatt and his family fled >towards South India where Hindu kingdoms still dominated. Along the way he >halted at Champaranya near Raipura in Madhya Pradesh. There his pregnant >wife Ellamagaru suddenly gave birth, two months prematurely, to what >appeared to be a still-born baby. The parents sadly placed the infant >inside >a hollow of a tree and retreated to a nearby village. That evening, the >Blessed Lord appeared to Ellamagaru in a dream and told her, "I have >appeared as your son!" >They immediatley returned to the tree and were both astonished and >delighted >to find a glowing baby surrounded by fire. The blessed mother extended her >arms into the fire and received the divine child happily to her breast, >unscathed by the flames. >The element of fire played an important role throughout Shri >Vallabhacharya's life. He is seen as the incarnation of agni, or fire (from >the face of Shri Krishna). Fire is also the devata (deity) of speech, and >so >he is called Vaka Pati, the Lord of Speech. >They called the infant Vallabh, which means "Beloved". He was indeed dear >to >them. Shri Vallabh's extraordinary birth made Laxshman Bhatt realize that >the prophecy of his forefathers had finally come to be. It was a time for >celebration indeed. One of Vallabhacharya's followers, Harija had the >vision >of the Master's appearance and sang, > >O mother, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabh has appeared, >There are great celebrations in his father's home. >O mother, I sing a sweet song >Of how the blessed people have come to see. >O mother, the Brahmins are reciting the Vedas. >They are giving beautiful blessings. >O mother, the square is adorned with pearls, >Bards are singing his praises. >O mother in every home drums sound, >Flowers rain from the sky. >O mother clothes are gifted, >Men and women are wearing them. >O mother blessed is Shri Vallabh's mother, >All of her desires are now fulfilled >Sing's Haraji, >"On that day there were abundant pleasures!" > > SHRI VALLABH'S VIEW > >When social and political conditions improved, Laxshman Bhatt returned to >Benares and began Shri Vallabh's education. He engaged the best tutors and >they imparted knowledge of the Vedic systems in Sanskrit to his son. Shri >Vallabh's education commenced at the age of seven with the study of the >four >Vedas, each taught under a different specialist. By the time he was ten he >had acquired mastery not only over the six systems of Indian philosophy, >but >also over the philosophical systems of Shri Shankara, Shri Ramanuja, Shri >Madhva, Shri Nimbark as well as Jainism and Buddhism. His erudition and >intellect amazed everyone. He was called "The Wisdom Child, the Master of >Speech. >Shri Vallabh's main interest remained in reading the Shrimad Bhagavatam, >the >sacred text that reveals Shri Krishna's lilas. He was particularly fond of >the Rasa Lila chapters wherein the Blessed Lord dances with thousands of >Gopis, all enlightened dairy-maids, under Vrindavan's autumnal full moon. >His father's home was adorned with wall paintings depicting the divine >event >and Shri Vallabh often sat before them, oblivious to everything else. He >understood the inner essence of Shri Krishna's congregation of nectars. >Shri Vallabh was a genius of dharma and everyone was astonished by his >wisdom. Although he had many gurus, Shri Vallabh considered his ultimate >gurus to be the Gopis of Vrindavan and concluded that Shri Krishna is the >means as well as the reward and appears before those who have pure >devotion. >As a child, he taught a Path of Grace wherein everything is saturated with >devotion and known through love. Shri Vallabh focused on the Gopis of >Vrindavan, the gurus of bhakti-devotion and found Shri Krishna's lovely >lilas within their homes. He knew that everything can be attained by >emulating their bhakti. The story of love is an amazing affair and his >conclusion was, "Always, with every divine feeling, worship Shri Krishna, >the Lord of Gokul." >He fashioned his teachings to fit into the world, which he taught as being >Shri Krishna's perfect creation. Shri Vallabhacharya saw the world as Shri >Krishna's playground and urged his followers to offer Him things of the >highest quality. This inspired oceans of art, music and poetry to emerge >around his Path of Grace, and Shri Krishna clearly began to respond to His >blessed devotees. Very sensitive poets, artists, writers, kings, Muslim >mystics, pundits and even a few animals gained entrance into the Path of >Grace and have tasted the nectar of devotion. This path of intense >Radha-Krishna worship was embraced by the greatest poets of this era such >as >Surdas and Paramanandadas. > >Shri Vallabh's manifestation was multi-levelled. To some he simply appeared >as the son of Laxshman, to others as a great pundit, and to some a guru. >His >intimate disciples knew He was not only the incarnation of both Shri >Svamini >and Shri Krishna, but that he was Their witness as well. From his unique >position, he urged his followers to make Shri Krishna's seva, His loving >service within their daily lives. He taught them to emulate the Gopi's type >of selfless devotion to empower their minds and hearts towards Shri >Krishna. >He urged his blessed ones to follow Shri Krishna's movements throughout the >day. His Path became known as the Pushti Marga, "The Path of Grace". > >DIVINE CAUSE > >This is a description of the divine occurrence that caused Shri Vallabh's >appearance. It is said that Shri Krishna once desired to dance with Shri >Svaminiji. When she showed no interest, Shri Krishna, the Master of all >things, made another divine creation and danced there. When Shri Svaminiji >saw him dancing without Her, She went to her Beloved and pulled on His >necklace. The necklace broke and when all the gems scattered onto the >earth, >the Divine Couple then realized that the fallen jewels were actually divine >souls connected to Them. They immediately felt intense separation from >those >divine souls and two columns of fire emanated from Their hearts. Beloved >Vallabh manifested where the two fire columns converged. He was a >combination of Shri Krishna's love for Shri Svaminiji and Shri Svaminiji's >love for Shri Krishna, as well as Their witness. The intensity that issued >from Them and created him turned Beloved Vallabh into the divine fire God, >for he was filled with Their intensity. Beloved Vallabh then appeared on >the >earth to collect the dispersed divine souls and remind them, "Remember dear >soul! You have been separated from Beloved Krishna for thousands of births. >You have forgotten the nectar of His union. Do you remember the sweet pangs >of His separation?" >The search for these divine souls inspired Shri Vallabh to undertake three >pilgrimages around the four corners of India. >Vallabhacharya's Path of Grace is actually a continuation of Shri Vishnu >Swami's ancient bhakti lineage. It is said that Shri Vishnu Swami waited >for >Sri Vallabhacharya's appearance in order to give him the lineage. Once it >was done, Shri Vishnu Swami left for the eternal abode. The Vallabh lineage >also originates from the line of Rudra. The word rudra means literally "to >cry." Shri Vallabhacharya's intense path of love contains the essence of >the >divine tears that the Gopis, the blessed dairy-maids, shed while they >sought >their blessed Lord's presence in the bowers of Vrindavan. A bhakta explains >the cause for Shri Vallabhacharya's appearance, > >"O Vallabh >You have appeared to show the blessed way. >You are a giver of joy, >The very form of Supreme Bliss- >A grace-filled treasure. >You have appeared to show >The loving way the Gopis worshipped Shri Krishna >For the benefit of the world." > > CHILD WANDERINGS > >Even as a child, young Vallabh never wore any sewn cloth nor anything on >his >feet. He travelled wearing only a light cotton dhoti and shawl. The >eleven-year-old's lotus feet purified the earth wherever he went. He knew >that the path of devotion needed to be resurrected. Meanwhile, the >teachings >of Shri Shankaracharya had swept through India and Shri Vallabh felt that >Shankar's teachings, wherein the world and ultimately even Shri Krishna >were >considered false and that devotion was inferior to knowledge, was >misleading >the people. Shri Vallabh's mission was to revive the Vedantic truth of the >One Joyous God who lives in all things, whose creations are free of fault >and maya and who can be known through dedication and selfless devotion. As >Shri Vallabh carried his message across India, He became known as the >"Remover of the theory that this world is an illusion." He saw everything >as >purely Krishna and only Krishna. He is the purest non-dualist. >His divine assignment was manifold and this required the young Master to >wander extensively in order to spread the light of devotion according to >the >Vedic wisdoms, to clarify the paths of practice and most importantly, to >find the lost divine souls. He was not interested in mass conversion for he >was, "The Uplifter of Divine Souls." >It is not enough to list the sites he visited or to hear of the miracles he >performed to understand Shri Vallabh. He did not consider magical acts >important. The real attainment he taught was in becoming God's >unconditional >follower. He called himself a "Krishnadas", a follower of Shri Krishna. He >promoted the path of selfless, unconditional surrender to the Beloved of >the >Gopis, Shri Krishna. >Beloved Vallabh saw Shri Krishna as the essence of the Upanisads, as >comprised of pure nectar, unlimited, devoid of difference, the object of >the >Vedant, unattainable through meditation, yet He will happily appear and >dance for His bhaktas. This lovely Krishna is ineffable, yet described by >His lovers. He is unseen, yet appears before those who burn with His joyous >rapture. For the benefit of ignited souls, Shri Vallabhacharya spent more >than fifteen years of his life traversing the sub-continent of India three >times with a small group of followers. He was known as "The one who is >surrounded by other accomplished devotional adepts." >Even now we can get glimpses of the Beloved through the words of His >disciple Padmanabha, a great scholar and bhakta, > >Vallabh is a wearing a saffron-colored shawl and dhoti. >His forehead is graced with a tilak, >Auspicious mudras line his body. >From head to toe his beauty is so great >That a billion love-gods are vanquished >By his sheer loveliness. >Those who were able to see him >Were truly fortunate. > >Then it was the sound of Krishna's flute- >Now it is the words of my Beloved Vallabh. >He has left everything >To find and re-establish his divine souls. > >Many people along the way did not agree with the young Vallabh, but after >encountering his divine wisdom and words, they left their shallow thoughts >and turned towards his lotus feet. He visited most of the sacred places in >India and those who came to dispute his view became his true followers. He >became known as "The one with brilliant logic". >Today we find eighty-four seats spread across the Indian subcontinent where >the master sat and taught the Shrimad Bhagavatam, the most exalted text on >the yoga of devotion. Shrines called Baitaks have been erected at most of >the sites where he taught the sacred text. He came to these pilgrimage >places to infuse the Eternal Dharma with a new elan and to himself become, >as his son Shri Vitthalnathji has said, "Totally immersed in the nectar of >Krishna's lilas, names and teachings." >Again, let us turn to his bhaktas to understand Shri Vallabh. Gopaldas >sings. > >He manifested upon this earth >With unmeasurable brilliance and purity. >He is both the sun and the moon. > >On the pretense of pilgrimage >Shri Vallabh was spiritually victorious in every direction. >He uplifted all the holy places >With the dust that touched his feet. > > >After the passing of Shri Vallabh's father at Balaji's temple, he set out >on >his first pilgrimage from the north towards South India. He was eleven >years >old. The south was then comparatively free from Muslim dominance and >religious disturbance. Shri Vallabh was a South Indian Brahmin after all, >and South India had a long tradition of learning and piety. His wanderings >through Krishna creations brought him to the forests of Chitrakuta, where >Lord Ram lived in exile with his wife Sita and brother Laxshman. The bhakti >master found the world full of Brahman, a play of His name and forms and >every incarnation and sage that promoted the truth of eternal dharma was >honored by him. >From there he moved on to his birth place, Champaranya where he gave >teachings on the Bhagavat. The dates and routes the Beloved took may not be >exact, but they always reached deep into the heart of the land and people >he >visited. We find the accounts of Shri Vallabh's travels in a book written >by >his grandson, Shri Gokulnathji, called the Eighty-four seats of >Vallabhacharya. Shri Gokulnathji noted many of the events in the master's >life and each account presents us with another level of understanding into >Shri Vallabhacharya's life and mission. >In Mangalprastha, Dhondhi came to argue that the path of sacrifice was the >supreme way. When the young Vallabh explained to him that pure devotion to >God is the supreme path, Dhondhi attained wisdom and bowed at the master's >feet. From there, Shri Vallabh went to Kundipura where a follower of Shri >Shankaracharya was overwhelmed with admiration for him when Shri Vallabh >explained, "How can Brahman, who you claim to be totally formless, create a >reflection that is unreal?" >At Balaji's temple in South India, Ravinath tested Shri Vallabh's knowledge >of Vedic mantras and to his surprise, not only did Shri Vallabh correctly >recite hundreds of mantras from the beginning to the end of the text, but >he >also recited them in reverse order. Wherever he went, Shri Vallabh revealed >Shri Krishna's truth and refuted all other mayic theories that contradicted >the true spirit of the Upanisadas. Shri Vallabh became know as "The one who >established the teaching of Brahmavada, where everything is Brahman and >nothing but Brahman." >The Beloved extracted the essence of all teachings and wherever he went, he >implanted a divine view in the minds and hearts of the people. He always >retreated to isolated places and became known as "A lover of solitude". In >the inner recesses of the world and the heart, he contemplated the >movements >of the Beloved of the Gopis. He understood Shri Krishna's inner essence and >passed that priceless gift on to others. No qualified person was barred >from >his path of loving devotion. He was the uplifter of all and gave his >followers something even beyond liberation and enlightenment. He gave them >Shri Krishna's nectar. > > VIJAYNAGAR > >While he was visiting the great Balaji temple during his first pilgrimage, >he heard about a conference at Vijaynagar, a stronghold of Vedic dharma. It >was a debate between the followers of Shri Shankar Acharya and the >Vaishnavites of Shri Madhva Acharya. The controversy had been going on for >some time and the Beloved felt it was his duty to uphold the devotional >view. Shri Vallabh set out for the great southern Vedic kingdom where his >uncle held a position as king Krishnadeva's high priest. Upon arriving >there, even though he was only eleven, the young Vallabh was allowed to >participate in the debate. Vyas Tirth presided over the discussion. >Despite his age, Shri Vallabh's view was spiritually mature. He based his >teachings on the Vedas, Brahmasutra, Upanisadas, Gita, as well as the >Shrimad Bhagavatam and explained that the "Gayatri is the seed, the Vedas >are the tree and the Bhagavata is the fruit." The Bhagavat contains the >lilas of Shri Krishna and is therefore most beloved to him. Shri Vallabh >was >a non-dualist like Shankara, but did not accept Shri Shankar's view of the >universe. He refused the idea that souls are unreal and merely a product of >maya. He felt as if Shri Shankar and his followers appeared upon the stage >of the world to proclaim that the stage is false. If the stage is false, >then so are the players as well as what they say. Their non- dualism was >mixed with maya and did not reflect the true non-dualism of the ageless >Vedant. Furthermore, it was not conducive to devotion. >Shri Vallabh also differed with Shri Ramanuja's Vishistadvaita philosophy >wherein he considered the universe and the soul as Brahman's qualities. >Shri >Vallabh saw everything as a pure part and parcel of Brahman, full of God's >being and consciousness. Shri Vallabh also countered the great Vaishnava >Acharya Shri Madhva. Shri Madhva was a dualist and accepted Brahman as a >creator, yet considered the universe and the soul as different from Brahman >whereas Shri Vallabh only saw unqualified Brahman everywhere he looked. >Shri Vallabh explained to the assembled Vedic practitioners in front of >king >Krishnadeva, "The Upanisadas teach a pure non-dual view. This is the >correct >view of Brahman and is in consonance with all scriptures. God is real in >every form. Maya is not in objects, but exists only in faulty perception >like when a dizzy person sees a stable pot spinning. The pot is real, but >the spinning aspect of the pot is a product of maya, it is an illusion. In >a >similar way, the world is a perfect result and maya arises when we do not >see it properly. Maya misconstrues the view of the ideal real world. To >consider the world as false or mayic is contrary to the spirit of the >Vedant. The only time the world is ever mentioned as being mayic is to >enforce a sense of detachment from worldliness in the practitioners, >otherwise it is quite clear that the world is God's creation. It is only >ignorance that makes it appear otherwise. >"Understand my point with reference to the Ganges river. She has three >forms >and all of them are real. One form of the Ganges is comprised of water, the >second is a holy place of pilgrimage, while the third form of the Ganges is >the divine goddess. The river Ganges is seen by all, Her holy aspect is >known to those who have faith and knowledge, while her goddess form is >known >only to those who love her and see a unity between her water, her holy >pilgrimage aspect and her divine form. In a similar way, Brahman has three >forms. Brahman manifests as the world, as well as the unmanifested source >of >creation (the goal of the Yogi's abstract meditation) and as the divine >Krishna who is known by those who have attained not only wisdom, but have >developed a firm and all-encompassing love that is felt in every atom of >creation. For them alone Krishna appears everywhere. >"The followers of Shri Shankar have distorted the Vedant in order to >popularize their own theory which actually follows certain Buddhist views >and not the pure teachings of the Upanisadas. The Upanisadas claim, "This >is >all Brahman" and inspire us when they reveal, "He is comprised of pure >nectar. Whoever knows this becomes fearless." Brahman manifests creation >because Brahman did not feel totally complete until He became many. Brahman >is devoid of difference, unlimited, and when Brahman is formless His joy is >almost perfect, but understand that Brahman's essential form is Shri >Krishna, comprised of perfect truth consciousness and bliss. When knowledge >of Brahman is mixed with all-encompassing love, then it becomes devotion. >This is the way to liberation. Like impure water that joins the Ganga >becomes the Ganga and is no longer considered as pure or impure, but as >sacred Ganga, similarly, everything that is offered to God becomes God. >After understanding the meaning of scriptures, serious practitioners should >serve Shri Krishna with their minds, bodies and speech. Dedication is the >way." > >Hearing the young Vallabh's enlightening words, the entire court rose in >applause and offered him the highest seat of honor. He was given the title >Acharya and from that day he was known as Shri Vallabhacharya. He was >hailed >for his great learning and clarity of thought. The king stood up and bowed >to him. Shri Vallabh was declared victorious. >In honor of his victory, King Krishnadeva annointed the young Bhakti Master >with water from golden vessels and then presented him with many kilos of >gold. Shri Vallabh took only seven coins and distributed the rest to other >brahmins. He later used the seven coins to make ornaments for Shri >Krishna. >Shri Vallabhacharya stayed and gave teachings in Vijaynagar for about one >year. Vyas Tirth requested him to become head of the Madhva lineage, but he >humbly declined. Gopaldas sings of the event. > >King Krishnadeva honored Shri Vallabhacharya >With a golden bath, >And four thousand kilos of gold. >Shri Vallabh quickly took leave of his palace >Without even looking back upon the gold. > > FIRST PILGRIMAGE > > Shri Vallabhacharya attained fame and power at Vijaynagar, but his >interests were non-worldly and he was again inspired to continue his >pilgrimage in order to bless the land and people of India. Shri >Vallabhacharya visited Pampa Sarovara, a place sacred to Lord Ram. It was >there that the low caste Shabari offered berries to Lord Ram after tasting >them first to make sure they were ripe. When Lord Ram accepted her >half-eaten offerings, He demonstrated to the world how simple loving >devotion can win the grace of God. Pure devotion that sways God's heart is >a >repeated theme in Shri Vallabhacharya's Path of Grace. The bhakti master >himself explains in his Shri Subodhini, > >"We do not believe that a reward as excellent as Krishna >Can be attained through effort or practice. >In the light of grace, >Prescribed practice appears inadequate" > > Shri Vallabhacharya then continued on to Kumarapada where the yogi >Kapalika >boasted of his yogic powers, "I can stop the motions of the sun and moon." >Shri Vallabhacharya calmly replied, "I will believe in your powers if you >can get up from your seat." >When Kapalika could not even stir from his position, he requested Shri >Vallabhacharya to withdraw his magical power. The master told him, "I am >not >aware of any magical power. The only power I have is the name of God. Give >up your miraculous powers and believe only in the power of Shri Krishna." >Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya continued to teach his Path of Grace in many >places. At Agala, a place associated with Shri Ramanujacharaya, he was >given >a warm welcome. He addressed an audience on the nature of Brahmavada, the >teaching that holds everything as purely Krishna. In Vishnu Kanchi, at the >well-known shrine of Shri Varadeswara Shri Vallabhacharya refused to climb >the steps that went up to the shrine because they were inscribed with >Sanskrit verses from Jayadeva's Ashtapadi, all in praise of Shri Krishna's >lila. The head priest then arranged for the Bhakti Master to enter the >sanctum from another side. > >Shri Vallabhacharya's respect for Krishna's name and form was at the >center >of his teachings. He taught his disciples, "A bhakta who has firm >attachment >to Shri Krishna's names and divine service (seva) will never be >destroyed." >Shri Vallabhacharya's Path of Grace is contagious devotion. He taught his >followers, "Remember your dedication in the company of other accomplished >bhaktas." Satsang, the holy association with other bhaktas, is the direct >path and people from all over India flocked to Shri Vallabhacharya to have >his satsang, his enlightened association. >Incidents in the master's life always turned into teachings. At Padma >Tirth, >the king asked Shri Vallabhacharya to cure his queen who was possessed by >an >evil spirit. Shri Vallabhacharya instructed his beloved disciple Damodardas >to give her some sacred earth from Vrindavan mixed with water. The evil >spirit left her as soon as she took it. Shri Vallabhacharya then explained >to the king, "Faith in God is the only protection against evil spirits. >They >can never enter a devotee." >His South Indian tour continued on to Udupi, the birth place of Shri >Madhvacharya and then to Gokarna before he returned to Vijaynagar where he >again met his mother and other relatives. The king and queen requested Shri >Vallabh to settle down in their kingdom, but his desire to pilgrimage to >the >North, the eventual seat of his devotion, spurred him onwards. >Other places he visited in South India during his first pilgrimage included >Varkala, where Lord Janardhan left His temple to attend Shri >Vallabhacharya' >s teachings. Shri Vallabhacharya also visited Shri Rangan, Mount Malayachal >and the ashram of the sage Kaudinya. > > DIVINE COMMANDS > >While Shri Vallabhacharya was in South India in the year 1493 on the >eleventh day during the bright half of the month of Phalgun, Shri Krishna >appeared as Shri Nathji and told him in Jharakanda, "I have appeared as >Shri >Nathji in a cave on the Govardhan Hill in north India. You know that the >Braja Vasis have seen Me here. I am thinking of appearing in My complete >form, but I am waiting for you. Quickly come here and perform My seva. >There are some souls here in Braja left over from My Krishna avatar. Take >them in your shelter. Only then will I agree to play with them. I will meet >you on top of the Govardhan Hill." >After hearing Shri Nathji's command, Shri Vallabhacharya set off for Braja >in Northern India from Jharakanda. While making his way north he visited >the >famous temple of Shri Vitthal in Pandharpur, Maharastra and received a >special message that was to decide the future direction of his Path of >Grace. Shri Krishna, appearing as Lord Vittal, told Shri Vallabhacharya, >"You are a great Acharya and not an asectic. As a householder you will >preach your message of love more effectively than as an asectic. It is My >wish that you marry. When an offer of matrimony comes to you, accept it. >Name your younger son after Me. He will continue to embellish the Path of >Grace. Shri Gopaldas sings of that special occasion. > >From there he went south to Pandu Rang >To Lord Krishna's Shri Vitthal temple. >There, his eyes met Hari's >And through a silent gaze he asked, >"Give me your words." > >He then spoke with the Lord of Shri >Who said with certainty, >"It is My wish to become your son, >Shri Vitthalnathji. >Become my father." > >Krishna will now appear as Shri Vitthalnathji. >His form is a treasure, >His eyes are like the lotus >Filled with numerous bhavas. >He will be worshipped by bhaktas in many lands. > >Shri Vallabhacharya then continued north to Nasik, Tranbaka and then on to >Ujjain, shedding light on the Path of Grace wherever he went. Finally the >young Vallabh reached his beloved land of Braja, Shri Krishna's land of >lila, God's playground. He first went to Mathura and bathed in the Yamuna >at >Vishranti Ghat. His entrance into the land of Braja, Shri Krishna's circle >of twelve forests was going to further enhance the direction and scope of >his divine mission. He chose a Brahmin Choba named Ujagar to help him in >Braja and then in Mathura he gave a discourse on the Shrimad Bhagavatam. >One day as Shri Vallabhacharya was going to Vishranti Ghat in Mathura to >take his bath, Ujagar Choube informed him, "The Emperor's minister >Rustamalli came to Mathura and got angry with the local Brahmins. He >returned to Delhi and had a charm made and attached it to the gate by >Vishranti Ghat where a Muslim guard sits. Any Hindu who passes under the >gate loses his tuft of hair, and immediately grows a Muslim type of beard. >That spell has stopped all Hindus from bathing at the ghat." >Shri Mahaprabhuji then created his own charm and attached it to a piece of >paper and told his disciples Vasudevadas and Krishnadas, "Go to Delhi and >attach this charm to the main gate there." >They went to Delhi and as soon as they attached Shri Vallabhacharya's charm >to the main gate, any Muslim that walked beneath it lost his beard and >suddenly grew a tuft of hair like a Hindu. The emperor, Sikandar Lodi, >heard >of the troublesome spell and summoned Vasudevadas and Krishnadas. When they >explained the entire situation to the Emperor, he immediately had the spell >removed from Mathura and told Rustamalli, "Don't be so intimidated by petty >taunts." >Shri Vallabhacharya rarely demonstrated any supernatural powers for he only >believed in devotional powers. When he went to the Yamuna river, he bowed >his head happily before the divine Yamuna Goddess and sang her praises. >"I joyfully bow to you Shri Yamuna! You are the holder of all divine > powers." >The Bhakti Master was not interested in the manipulation of matter, but in >the transformation of the being so that the sensitive lover of God can >strenghthen her love for Shri Krishna. Her strong sense of love allows her >to participate in His love games and feel His Presence everywhere. Shri >Vallabhacharya explains to his followers in his Shri Subodhini, > >"Only Hari can cause the awakening. It occurs after the experiences of >renunciation, knowledge, yoga, austerity and devotion." > >Renunciation in the Path of Grace does not embrace any negativity towards >the world. It is spontaneous and derived from unflinching love and devotion >to Shri Krishna. It is through all-encompassing love that other attachments >are naturally shed without a trace of resentment. > Knowledge for these blessed bhaktas appears when they have the intuitive >and direct experience of Shri Krishna's divine form. Yoga is not a >meditative exercise, but a one-pointed yoking of one's heart and mind >directly to Shri Krishna. It is not based upon any practice, but upon >Krishna. >Tapa or austerity is perfected when one feels Shri Krishna's presence and >then His separation. Separation is a result of direct contact with Brahman. >Separation is Krishna in the heart while union is Krishna in the world. >Know >that union and separation are the two sides of the single petal of Love. > When there is devotion, all other pursuits are naturally renounced, >including the desire for liberation or enlightenment. What is there to be >liberated from when the Lord of enlightenment chases after His bhaktas? > >Beloved Vallabh admired Shri Yamuna's water; dark like Krishna with >expansive sands shining bright like Krishna's lotus feet. He smelled >Yamuna' >s waters, made fragrant by flowers from the lovely forests that graced her >banks. He felt that Shri Yamuna contains the splendor of Shri Krishna. This >inspired the master to follow her waters downstream a few miles to Gokul. > >BRAHMA SAMBANDHA > >He reached Gokul on the eleventh day of the bright phase of the moon during >the month of Shravana (August) in 1494. At that time the master's mind was >concerned with the upliftment of divine souls. He had noticed that people >were spiritually divided and felt that the Vedic rituals had lost their >significance and that mantras were mostly ineffective. In such a time, he >thought, "what is the fate of the blessed ones?" >He took his rest that evening on Thakurani Ghat by the banks of the Yamuna >river. At midnight the Blessed Lord Krishna appeared to him and the >following morning Shri Vallabhacharya wrote about his divine experience and >the teachings he received from the Blessed Lord in Sanskrit. In the >Master's >own words. > >"At midnight during the bright half of the month of Sravana, Shri Krishna >appeared before me and I will now disclose the words he spoke. Krishna >said, >"When the connection to Brahman is established, that is, when the Brahma >Sambandha initiation is given, the impurities of that soul are completely >removed. They are of five kinds and have been spoken of in the world and >scripture as arising from natural causes, from place, from time, from >unions >and by physical contact. Once the Divine Connection is established, these >impurities are no longer worthy of being believed. Without a connection to >Brahman, these impurities will never be removed. Therefore do not use >anything that has not been offered. Dedicated souls offer all of their >activities. Also, anything that has been previously enjoyed should not be >offered to Shri Krishna, the Lord of all. Just like good servants are known >in the world for their selfless service, so here the bhakta offers herself >in every undertaking and then everything for her becomes God. Like impure >water that joins the Ganga is no longer consider to be either pure or >impure, but as a portion the sacred Ganga, similarly everything once >offered >to God becomes God." > >Shri Krishna then told his Beloved Vallabh to help his disciples consecrate >their lives with the Brahma Sambandha mantra by offereing their, bodies, >senses and what they focus on along with their breath, consciousness, >minds, >intelligence, sense of self as well as their homes, spouse, children and >wealth and whatever else they have either in this world or in any other >along with their souls to the Beloved of the Gopis, Shri Krishna. This was >to become Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya's main initiation. Those who >received the Brahma Sambandha initiation would become eligible to perform >Shri Krishna's seva, His loving service. The translation of the Brahma >Sambandha mantra is given below. > >"Thousands of years have passed in separation from You and I am filled with >intense pain and anguish. I have lost my true joy and now dedicate my body, >senses, vital breath, mind, intelligence, reason and sense of I along with >all their functions as well as my spouse, children, house, relatives, >wealth >and this world or any other, along with my soul, to you Shri Krishna. O >Krishna, I am yours." > >The following morning he asked his closest disciple, Damala, who was >sleeping next to him, "Did you hear the Lord speaking to me last night?" >Damala replied, "I heard something, but was I not able to understand Him." >In this way Damala showed his devotion and humility before Shri >Vallabhacharya and set the perfect example for other followers of grace. >Shri Vallabhacharya then initiated him with the mantra Shri Krishna had >empowered him with and Damala became the first disciple of the Path of >Grace. > >SHRI NATHJI > >Remembering what Shri Nathji had told him in South India, Shri Mahaprabhu >Vallabhacharya then proceeded from Gokul to the Govardhan Hill and reached >Saddu Pande's house in Anyor. Many local Braja Vasis came to see him and >thought, "He is truly a great soul." >Suddenly, Shri Nathji called from the top of the Govardhan Hill and Shri >Vallabhacharya overheard Him saying to Saddu Pande's daughter Naro, "O >Naro, >bring Me some milk." >Naro replied, "Today we have a guest." >"Good for the guest, but could you bring Me some milk please." >After giving Shri Nathji His milk, she brought down His bowl that contained >some of His leftover milk and Shri Mahaprabhuji Vallabhacharya said, >"Please >give me some of that leftover milk." >Naro replied, "Maharaja, we have a lot of milk in the house. Take as much >as >you like." >"I am not interested in any other milk, just what is in that bowl." > >Saddu Pande then told Shri Vallabhacharya all about Shri Nathji's >appearance >and the Bhakti Master's heart filled with joy. On the following day, Shri >Vallabhacharya joyfully climbed up the Govardhan Hill and Shri Nathji >greeted Shri Vallabhacharya with a warm embrace. Shri Vallabhacharya then >established Shri Nathji's daily worship on top of the Govardhan hill for he >knew that without seva, there is no entrance into the Path of Grace. >Nearby, next to the Apsara Lake, there is a cave where the great bhakta >Ramdas lived. Shri Mahaprabhuji went there and after Ramdas become his >disciple, the guru told him, "Perform Shri Nathji's seva." >"I don't know anything about seva." Said Ramdas. >"Don't worry, Shri Nathji will teach you." >Shri Mahaprabhuji then had a peacock feather crown prepared and made Shri >Nathji's ornamentation. He later instructed Ramdas in the arts of seva and >explained to him, "Everyday after you bathe in the Govinda Lake, take a pot >of water and bathe Shri Nathji. Then put some clothes on Him just as I have >done. Adorn Shri Nathji with a peacock feather crown and a gunja bead >necklace. Whatever you are able to attain through His wish, prepare it and >offer it to Shri Nathji. The Braja residents will bring their milk and >curds >for offering." >Shri Mahaprabhuji then told Saddu Pande and the other Braja residents, >"Shri >Nathji is my all and everything. Remain attached to His seva and be ever >ready to react to any complication. Most of all, keep Shri Nathji happy." >Then with his own hands, Shri Vallabhacharya prepared an offering of cooked >grains. Until that day, Shri Nathji had only taken milk and curds. After >Shri Vallabhacharya cooked Shri Nathji His first meal, the Blessed Lord >started to grab food from the Braja Vasis's lunch boxes as they went out to >herd their cows. >In the year 1499 during the second day of the bright half of the month of >Chaitra, Shri Nathji appeared in Purnamall's dream and told him, "Come to >Braja and build a large temple for Me." >He gathered his wealth and left his town of Ambalya and travelled to the >Govarhdan Hill where Shri Mahaprabhuji told him, "Yes quickly build the >temple. >Shri Mahaprabhuji asked the Govardhan Hill if He would mind if a temple was >constructed upon the sacred stones. The Govardhan Hill replied, "Shri >Nathji >always resides in My heart. I will not be troubled. With pleasure, >construct >the temple." >When a design was brought for Shri Nathji's temple, Shri Mahaprabhu >Vallabhacharya noticed the temple towers and told Hiramani, the designer to >make another design without any towers. When the second design also >included >two towers, Shri Mahaprabhuji again told Hiramani to make a third design >without any temple towers. When the third design came, it also had temple >towers. Shri Mahaprabhuji told Damodardas, "It must be Shri Nathji's wish >to >have a temple with towers on it. Shri Nathji will stay in this temple for a >while, but when conflict with the Mughals arises, Shri Nathji will move >west. He will stay there for some time and will again return to Braja to >live by Punchari on the south end of the Govardhan Hill." >It was Shri Nathji's wish that His temple along with its towers be built >and >seen by all. While Shri Vallabhacharya preferred to live in isolation, Shri >Nathji was the uplifter of not only divine souls, but of all souls. For the >time being Shri Nathji played with his local bhaktas and waited twenty >years >for His temple to be finally completed. Then Shri Mahaprabhuji returned to >Braja and established Shri Nathji in His new temple in the year 1519 on the >third day of the bright half of the month of Vaishaka. >Shri Vallabhacharya loved living in Shri Krishna's land of Braja. >Mahaprabhuji's followers called him, "The One who adores Braja." Shri >Krishna's lilas, the focus of Shri Vallabhacharya's teachings could easily >be felt in the sacred forests of Vrindavan and Shri Vallabhacharya revelled >there in Shri Krishna's constant divine presence. >After Shri Nathji began to reside in His new temple, Shri Vallabhacharya >blessed Purnamall, "Ask anything you desire of me." >Purnamall replied, "I would like to offer Shri Nathji some very fine >sandalwood oil with my own hands." >"Happily offer your oil." >Then Shri Mahaprabhuji adorned Shri Nathji with clothes and ornaments. On >that day, the joy experienced there was ineffable. There was a huge >festival. Afterwards, Shri Mahaprabhuji put Madhavendrapuri in charge of >the >worship and appointed his disciple Krishnadas, as manager. Kumbhandas was >the temple singer. Shri Mahaprabhuji told them what foods should be offered >to Shri Nathji daily and Saddu Pande made sure that the necessary >ingredients were delivered to the temple. >On the day before Shri Mahaprabhuji was going to leave, Shri Nathji told >him, "I want a cow." >"I will arrange for one." replied Mahaprabhuji. >Shri Vallabhacharya then told Saddu Pande, "Shri Nathji wants a cow. Sell >this golden ring of mine and purchase a cow for Shri Nathji with the >money." >Saddu Pande replied, "I have so many cows and buffaloes. They are all >yours. >Just tell me how many cows you want." >"If you give your cows to Shri Nathji then I have not truly given Him any. >So sell my ring and purchase a cow for Shri Nathji!" said Mahaprabhuji. >Saddu Pande purchased a cow and brought her before Shri Nathji. He was very >pleased. When all the Braja Vasis heard that Shri Nathji loves cows, one by >one they all started to present Shri Nathji with cows. Someone gave Shri >Nathji four cows and someone else gave Him eight. Many people gifted Shri >Nathji cows and His herd grew into thousands. Shri Mahaprabhuji started to >call Shri Nathji "Gopal". The bhakta poet Chittasvami sings of Shri Nathji >and His cows. > >In front of Him there are cows. >In back of Him there are cows. >Here there are cows >There there are cows. >Govinda loves to live among His cows. > >He runs with His cows. >He is content with His cows. >He anoints His body >With the dust that is raised by those cows. > >When the cows cover Braja >One forgets the eternal realm of Vaikuntha. > > BRAJA LILAS > >After arranging Shri Nathji's temple affairs, the bhakti master went to >Vrindavan. The bhakta Gopaldas sings of that lila realm, > >Where black bees buzz >While the trees, flowers and jasmine buds >Perfume the air with unlimted fragrance. >There a delightful Shyam Tamal tree grows >With clusters of iridescent flowers >In Vrindavan, the blessed Svaminis please Krishna >With their lovely lilting movements and gestures. > >Upon hearing the divine notes and sounds, >Sages appearing as Vrindavan peacocks >Fall into meditative trance >As they imbibe the endless lila's nectar. > >Boundless radiance engulfs the >Lovely lila abode- >Krishna delights there >Playing in diverse rasa lila circles. > >After arriving in the divine area of Vrindavan, Shri Vallabhacharya >offered >some "prasada" to his disciple Prabhudas. >"I can not accept this now, I have not bathed yet." >Shri Vallabhacharya explained, "In this sacred land of Vrindavan Shri >Krishna lives within every leaf and plays a lovely melody on His flute. In >such a sacred land, where every grain of sand is sacred, why consider if >you >have bathed or not?" >When Prabhudas turned towards the trees, he saw Shri Krishna's face beaming >in every leaf and flower. > >Shri Vallabhacharya worshipped many different forms of Vrindavan Krishna. >Sometimes he worshipped Him as a child (as Bal Krishna) or as youthful Shri >Nathji, or as Gokul Chandramaji, Shri Krishna as the divine flute player. >He >spoke to his followers about Vrindavan and his devotion to Shri Krishna, > >"Krishna enters this magical forest of Vrindavan and awakens the >divinities >who reside there. He accomplishes this through the call of His flute. He >has >opened the gates of love and the blessed women of Braja who are swept away >in a current of bhava, play with Him. This takes place very close to their >homes here in Vrindavan. The lakes of Braja, the Yamuna river and the >adjoining hillsides are all abodes of divine dalliance. Krishna is ready >to >love and prepares others. Shri Krishna is Love's personified form. The >Braja >Gopis nourish that love and inspire it to arise." > >Shri Vallabhacharya was not only the perfect witness to Krishna's lila, but >was also the Lord of speech. His words not only taught experience, but >created it as well. He then continued to reveal the mysteries of Vrindavan. > >"In order to awaken divine attachment, Hari enters Vrindavan playing His >flute. The Gopis sang about the song of His flute. Whoever is attracted to >His attributes ends up attached to Him." > >The souls Shri Vallabhacharya accepted became the beloveds of the Lord of >the Gopis. He gave his eligible followers the direct experience of Shri >Krishna and brought the divine realm of Vrindavan to this earth for them. >He >taught them that the highest reward was not to return to God, but to have >God return to the soul here in this world. Human birth was not the result >of >negative karmas, but a supreme opportunity to have enchanges with Shri >Krishna in this world, in your very home. A way to dedicate everything and >use it for Krishna's pleasure and then to subsist on His prasada. To wear >offered cloth and live in a totally offered world is not only the key to >rise above all forms of anxiety, but it is the Path to Presence. The search >for the Beloved is a continual process. The Path of Grace is a fiery affair >with revolving experiences of finding Him in the world and then in the >heart. >Beloved Vallabh's speech was Brahmic in every direction. Shri >Vallabhacharya >did not see Vrindavan, the sacred lands of Shri Krishna's lilas as a >pilgrimage land, but rather as Shri Krishna's divine abode appearing in the >world. He urged his followers to serve Shri Krishna, for wherever one makes >Shri Krishna's seva becomes Vrindavan. To experience Krishna with all of >one >'s senses is the highest reward of human life. True liberation is to make >yourself so spiritually attractive that Shri Krishna can't wait to find >you! >In the Path of Grace, exalted souls find Shri Krishna everywhere they look >and there is a constant exchange. > >Braja is the area with the highest concentration of seats dedicated to the >Master who taught Shri Krishna's divine essences. Shri Vallabhacharya is >brilliant at giving the unattainable gift; direct insights into the nature >of Shri Krishna. Anywhere his lotus feet touched the ground became a >non-dual divine realm. The bhakti master wandered the twelve forests of >Braja with a handful of dedicated followers. In Braja, as elsewhere, his >mission was to awaken Shri Krishna's presence in the people that he met. >To >his scribe, Kashmiri Bhatt and other intimate followers, he conveyed the >inner mood of Vrindavan now in the voice of the Beloved Gopis, > >"We experience Krishna with our eyes, we feel Him through all of our >senses. >Hari is the desire, the festival of our hearts. To imbibe Krishna's form is >the ultimate reward. To have conversations with God, to behold Him, to >embrace Him >Is what we live for. > "We have heard the nectar of His flute and now savor His fragrance >everywhere. We approach Krishna directly and stand in His joyful proximity. >We integrate all of these bhavas continually into our devotion. Understand >us. We know that the fruit of attaining human form is to use God-given >senses to experience God. To join them in Hari's pleasure. To behold Him >with eyes or better yet, with all senses. To imbibe His form, His divine >essence, for us, that alone is the reward. We have no use for that >liberation of merging into Brahman where the ability to taste and discern >Him is annihilated. If we merged with Hari, we would not be allowed the >opportunity to experience Him." > > This intense devotion was not understood by all. Once in Mathura, Sanatan >Goswami approached Shri Vallabhacharya and said, "Yours is the Path of >Grace, the path of nourishment, yet all of your followers are thin." > Shri Vallabhacharya turned to him and explained, "I told them not to >come, >but they came and that is why they are thin." >Sanatan Goswami did not understand the reply, but when he mentioned Shri >Vallabhacharya's words to his guru, Shri Krishna Chaitanya, the guru fell >to >the ground in a divine swoon. When he arose several hours later, he asked >Sanatan again what Shri Vallabhacharya had said and when he heard the >master >'s words for a second time, he fell unconscious again. >The teaching that Shri Vallabhacharya gave here is from the Shrimad >Bhagavatam. When Shri Vallabhacharya said. "I told them not to come," he >was >referring to Shri Krishna's lila in the forest when the Blessed Lord told >the Gopis of Braja to return home when they first met Him under the full >moon in the forest of Vrindavan. >"But they came and that is why they are thin," refers to the Gopi's divine >condition. After Shri Krishna told them to go, they refused His worldly >advice and then enjoyed His divine company and dance. Later, after the >divine union with Shri Krishna, they returned home and experienced Shri >Krishna's separation. This is what made them thin. Shri Krishna Chaitanya >truly took Shri Vallabhacharya's words to heart. > >The Path of Grace embraces contradictions. It is where fire can burn on >water, where union is found in separation, where there is intensity with >humility and the Path is never dependant on a particular practice. >Dependancy is only on Shri Krishna. Master Vallabh was also a very >practical >man and understood the pitfalls of spiritual life. The only means whereby a >practitioner can attain the Blessed State is through humility laced with an >overwhelming desire to come face to face. Pride of practice, anxiety and >false expectations are all obstructions to attainment. > >One day while wandering around Braja he passed through the Gahvara forest >near Barsana, Shri Radha's town. There the master's attention was drawn to >a >large boa constrictor in an adjacent field that was covered with ants. He >was deeply moved by the sight and explained to his disciples, "In its >previous birth, this snake was a false guru, a man who posed as an >enlightened being. These ants were his disciples that he failed to uplift. >Bhaktas always relinquish all sense of false pride and come humbly before >the Blessed One. They adore Him with every sentiment and if any anxiety >creeps into their lives for some reason, they realize it as His play and >quickly stop being concerned. The Lord of all, Shri Krishna, will never >enter the heart of the one who is filled with wordly hankerings. Krishna >comes before us when we sing his praises full of devotion. That unmatched >divine pleasure surpasses liberation and that is why Shri Krishna brought >His bhaktas to this special land of Vrindavan. It is to free them from the >a >bode of liberation. He came to Vrindavan to play and award them the >pleasure >of His divine being. The life of the divine soul is to enter His love plays >and serve." > >Padmanabhdas, a great pandit, became Shri Vallabhacharya's disciple and >joined him on his pilgrimage to Braja. He was very intellectual and said he >would only be convinced of Shri Krishna's personal divine reality if he >could see the Blessed Lord. Shri Vallabhacharya who provides all rewards, >understood the desire of his heart and one day while they were walking near >Gokul, a part of the Yamuna river's bank broke off into the river and from >the sandy crevice a one hundred foot tall image of four-armed Shri Krishna >appeared. >"Look!" Shri Vallabhacharya exclaimed, "Padmanabha, your Krishna has >arrived. Now go and serve Him." >"Master, how is it possible to serve Him? He is too tall." >When Shri Vallabh approached Shri Krishna's divine manifestation, the tall >Lord with four arms became small enough to sit on the Master's lap. Shri >Krishna appeared for Padmanabhadas as Shri Mathureshji and as He rested in >Shri Vallabhacharya's lap, His head touched the Master's chin. >"Padmanabhadas, now perform His seva, His loving worship and know that the >Blessed Lord plays according to the desires of bhaktas." > >Souls established in grace see God as full of Grace. They appear in this >world to serve His divine form and their bodies become transformed and >capable of attending to the Lord of Sweetness. Shri Vallabhacharya, the >knower of Krishna's heart, reached Gokul and sang, > >His lips are sweet. >His face is sweet. >His eyes are sweet. >His laugh is sweet. >His heart is sweet. >His movements are sweet. >He is the Lord of sweetness. >And everything is perfectly sweet. > >Many separated divine souls needed the Master's touch to awaken their inner >divinity so they could feel His presence and please the Lord of sweetness. >Who besides the bhakta, the follower of the Blissful Hari, is able to >relieve His burden? One day, while looking towards a Vrindavan cloud, Shri >Vallabh explained to his intimate disciples, > >"See that Cloud. She was first moved by love that increased when she heard >His glories. That love then matured into a fast friendship with Shri >Krishna. Love inspired her to take her form. >"Clouds are the forms of desire and can take on any shape at will. It was >because of her great affection and the nature of Hari's play that she >expanded and shaded Krishna and all of his friends when they played under >the hot Vrindavan sun. She is never troubled by her efforts, instead she is >enthralled." > The bhakti master reflected and then continued, "One who is born and can >develop and cultivate devotion attains "atmanivedanam", the blessed state >of Soulful Dedication. This cloud has attained the perfect state of being. >Some people compare that cloud to Krishna since she is: > >Charitable like Hari. >She also shares His hue and >Like Him, nourishes and helps create life >With her nourishing waters." > >His followers listened with rapt attention. The words of the Master of >Speech brought them into total awareness of Krishna. He then continued, >"Those who share similar qualities are generally friends. This cloud excels >even in friendship. She has given everything she owns to Krishna. Her >nectar essence of flowers is freely offered to Hari. It is an act of >selfless love." > > THE SECOND PILGRIMAGE > >To expand the teachings of loving bhakti, Shri Vallabhacharya left his >beloved Braja and started his second pilgrimage around India by heading >westward into Rajasthan. He first stopped at Pushkara, a pilgrimage site >sacred to Lord Brahma, to give teachings on the Bhagavat. From there he >entered Gujarat where he taught at many places throughout the region and >made many disciples. Even today, the largest concentration of followers is >found in Gujarat. The bhakti master went to Vadanagar, Visnagar, Kheralu, >Dakor, and Broach. In Durvasa Shri Vallabhacharya met a man who was >practicing severe penance and explained to him, "This is not the right way >to attain God. You are torturing yourself. To understand God, love is >required. Devotion is the key. One can see God by understanding and >emulating the devotion of the great bhaktas." > Shri Vallabhcharya's great grandson, Harirayaji, would later sing. > >Fool, why are you harassing your body >With all your silly practices? >Missing the Bliss at hand, >You are running the wrong way! > > From there Shri Vallabhacharya went to Bhanu, Kapisha and then on to >Tagadi where hundreds of people came to him. There he spoke on the lilas of >Lord Krishna and explained that children should be loved as images of God, >just as Krishna's mother Yashoda loved her two sons Shri Krishna and >Balaram. A Brahmin couple who attended the teachings later found their sons >eating butter from the churning pot and called Shri Vallabhacharya to their >house and showed him their children's divine activities. >Shri Vallabhacharya insisted that his disciple should serve Shri Krishna's >Svarupa, (literally Shri Krishna's own form) and established Shri Krishna >in >his followers' home. He initiated his followers into the modes of loving >service and told them, "Always perform Shri Krishna's pleasing service or >seva. The highest form of seva is when it spontaneously fills the mind and >heart. This state of being arises when one's consciousness is threaded into >Krishna. In order to attain this state, bhaktas employ their bodies >together >with their wealth in Shri Krishna's beloved service. Then the pains of the >world are removed and knowledge of Brahman arises." > >Shri Vallabhacharya then continued on his way and visited Veraval and >Junagarh before he went on to Dwarka where many followers of Shri >Shankaracharya came to debate with the bhakti master and ended up becoming >his disciples. Near Gopi Talaiya, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya told his >disciples the following story. > > "Once in Dwarka, when Shri Krishna mentioned to Shri Rukminiji how He >played the flute and called the Gopis out to dance in the forest of >Vrindavan, Shri Rukmini remarked, "I would like to experience that Rasa >Lila." >"Shri Krishna laughed and said, 'How will you make it to the forest at >night? You will not be able to renounce your worldly concerns like the >Gopis >of Vrindavan did.' >'"Just play Your flute and see."' She said. >'Rukmini then returned to the palace and told all the other Dwarka Queens >to >adorn and ready themselves for Krishna's night-time forest lila. Later that >evening, Shri Krishna went to the Gopi lake and played His flute. Hearing >the call, Shri Rukminiji and other Dwarka Queens, along with their women >associates and attendants headed out of their palaces, everyone fully >adorned. When they approached the main gates and saw their inlaws and >senior >family members there, they hesitated, '"What will we say if they ask us >where we are going? We better stay home tonight." >'While the Queens retreated to their respectful palaces, Shri Krishna, Who >was ready for dance, knew what was happening and called the Gopis of Braja >there. Along with the Vrindavan Gopis, out of Shri Krishna's sixteen >thousand Dwarka wives, only five managed to get out of their palaces to >experience the Lord's delightful grace-filled form and His Vrindavan lila.' > > Wherever Shri Vallabhacharya went, his presence was so powerful that the >fragrance from his lotus feet was able to uplift fallen souls who did not >even get close enough to see him! The Krishna Deities that resided in the >temples where Shri Vallabhacharya visited would often come in living form >before the master. Sometimes They appeared to him when he visited Their >temple and at other times They would visit his camp. It was an amazing >time. >Shri Vallabhacharya created a devotional renaissance wherever he went. >He taught even as he walked, "This creation is a lila, a play of God >wherein >every being is searching for its core of Bliss. Since Bliss is concealed, >it >needs to be discovered and for that disclosure, wisdom enhanced with >overwhelming love is required. Only then can Blissful Brahman be found >within all divine manifestations. Then the bhakta is able to truly >experience life and flourish within a world where perceptible names and >forms are held perfectly within a wholistic non-dual experience." > >The Beloved then turned to the Himalayas and went to Hardvara, Kedarnath >and >Badrinath. In Badrinath he met the famous sage, Veda Vyas, and in his high >Himalayan cave they discussed the inner meanings of the Shrimad Bhagavatam. >Returning to the plains, in Naimisharanya, Mahaprahuji told his listeners >that knowledge devoid of devotion is ineffectual and that devotees should >seek the grace of God through selfless love. > The bhakti master then halted at Ayodhya, Prayaga, Benares, Harehar, Gaya >and then went to Ganga Sagar where the sacred Ganges river meets the ocean. >He stayed in Ganga Sagar for six months and worked on the his commentary on >the third canto of the Shrimad Bhagavatam. Shri Krishna appeared again to >Shri Vallabhacharya and told him that it was time for him to complete his >earthly mission and return to Him. Feeling that his work was incomplete, he >postponed his worldly departure and went on to Jagannath Puri where he was >handed some rice prasada on a fast day. Not wanting to pay disrespect to >the >offering nor break his fast by eating the grain, he stood for the entire >night in the temple, singing the praises of the food that has been offered >to Shri Krishna. When the sun rose on the following day, marking the end of >his fast, he ate the blessed morsel. >Later the king of Jagannath Puri questioned Shri Vallabhacharya, "Who is >the >highest Deity? What is the main scripture as well as the most holy mantra? >Finally, what is the most exalted work we can do?" >The bhakti master put these questions onto a piece of paper and placed them >in the inner temple and closed the doors. He awaited the Lord's response. >When the temple opened, each question was percisely answered by Lord >Jagannath in Sanskrit. > >"Know that the Gita is the main scripture. Lord Krishna is the God of gods. >His name is the highest mantra and no work surpasses His service." > > MARRIAGE AND THIRD PILGRIMAGE > >From the coast of eastern India, Shri Vallabhacharya returned to Benares >and >accepted Mahalakshmi as his wife. The master spent many years in Benares. >He >composed many devotional works for his disciples. While living there his >disciple Govinda Dube approached him and said that he was unable to focus >his mind on Shri Krishna's seva because he was plagued with anxiety. Shri >Vallabhacharya composed a teachings called Nine Jewels for him and >explained >to him, > >"Those who have dedicated their very selves should never worry because Shri >Krishna is set in grace and will never give you a mundane life. The Lord is >the the inner soul of all beings and does as He pleases. He fulfills His >bhakta's desires. When those who have dedicated themselves either with or >without proper understanding have no worries, then what to say of the >blessed ones who have established their very life-force with Shri Krishna? >Give up all anxieties regarding any other involvments in your life and know >that Hari Himself is capable of taking care of His bhaktas. With a heart >full of Krishna devotion continually recite the mantra; 'Shri Krishna is my >refuge.' > Govinda Dube's anxieties were removed when he recited these teachings. > >Shri Vallabhacharya's third and last pilgrimage through India lasted four >years and he revisited many of the places he had been to on his first and >second pilgrimages. Everywhere he went, he was hailed as the greatest >teacher of his time. His disciples were kings, yogis, untouchables, >Muslims, >the rich and the poor. By the intervention of Shri Vallabhacharya, everyone >obtained the grace of God through their soulful dedications. It was perhaps >during Shri Mahaprabhuji's third visit to Braja that the great blind poet >Shri Surdas came before the bhakti master by the banks of Yamuna just south >of Mathura at Go Ghat. Surdas had already created a large following of his >own, but humbly came before Shri Vallabhacharya who had heard of Surdas' >poetic and musical skill and requested, "Surdas, sing something about Shri >Krishna's lila." >Surdas immediately sang, > >"I am the king of all sinners. >Others may have sinned a few times, >I have commited sin after sin >From my very birth." > >"Surdas!" Shri Vallabhacharya interjected, "I asked you to sing the glories >of Shri Krishna and not about your own shortcomings!" >"But I have never experienced Shri Krishna's lila." >"Bathe in the Yamnua, then I will show you." >Shri Vallabhacharya then initiated the blind bard and after empowering >Surdas with divine understanding, the bhakti master explained to him, >"I always bow to Shri Krishna. He is an ocean of artistry and is served by >thousands of Laxshmis and their lilas. They all rest within the limitless >heart that contains the milky ocean of His nectar lila." >As soon as Surdas heard Shri Vallabhacharya's words, his spiritual eyes >opened and he realized Krishna's bliss form and lila. He immediately sang, > >Let's go my friend >To the reservoir of His lotus feet >Where there is never >Any separation from his love. >Now I no longer have any taste >For the shallow pleasures of this world, >Just a desire to immerse myself >In the ocean of Krishna. > >As Surdas' heart opened, the lilas of Shri Krishna gushed into him and >allowed the blind poet to witness Shri Krishna's appearance. He then sang >before Shri Vallabhacharya, > >When the bhaktas of Braja heard that Krishna was born >As the son of Yashoda, >everyone was blissed.. > >By the guru's grace, Lord Krishna had now appeared to the blind poet and as >he witnessed Shri Krishna's appearance in Gokul, Surdas described the >divine >event at great length. When he was about to sing about the intimate love >the >Gopis felt for Shri Krishna, Shri Vallabhacharya stopped him in the middle >of his verse and himself sang, > >Listen Sur >Everyone will attain this >If they worship Hari's feet. > >Shri Vallabhacharya interrupted Surdas' song because he did not want the >blind bhakti-poet to reveal the inner lilas before all the people present >there. Nectar flourishes in privacy. He also wanted to impress upon Surdas >that all the followers he had made would also attain if they were to >dedicate themselves at Shri Krishna's feet. Surdas later went on to sing >thousands of poems in praise of Child Krishna as well as Radha and Krishna >in front of Shri Nathji on the Govardhan hill. He wrote 125,000 poems and >ascribed the inspiration behind all of his writing to his Beloved Vallabh. >On his death bed he sang, > >I keep my faith >In his feet. >Without the light >From Shri Vallabh's toe nails >The entire world falls into darkness. >In this age of struggle, there is no practice >Strong enough to bring me before Him. >Sings Sur, I may be blind in two ways >But I am his priceless servant. > > ADEL AND BEYOND > >From Braja, Shri Vallabhacharya again returned home to Benares where he >devoted his time to seva and experiencing the joys of Shri Krishna. In >Benares many of the followers of Shri Shankaracharya were hostile towards >Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya and his devotional views. To silence them, >Shri Vallabhacharya wrote a text called the Patravalamban and placed it on >the wall of the main Shiva temple in Benares. In that text he explained >that >the Vedic texts that address action as well as those that reveal knowledge >are completely complimentary. Still, the bhakti master desired to live in >peace and shifted his residence from Benares to Adel, a quiet residence at >the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers facing Prayag. >In 1512, Mahaprabhuji's first son, Gopinathji, was born in Adel and in 1516 >his second son, Shri Vitthalnathji was born in Charanat, near Benares. >Gopinathji's lineage did not continue and Shri Vitthalnathji, also called >Shri Gusainji, continued his father's work and greatly embellished the Path >of Grace. In Adel Shri Mahaprabhuji found the time and inspiration to >compose works that would shed light upon the loving path of devotion as >well >as upon the inner meanings of the Upanisadas, Gita, Brahma Sutra and of >course the Shrimad Bhagavatam. When his devoted scribe Kashmiri Bhatt >suddenly died, Shri Vallabhacharya stopped his writing. He had already >heard >Shri Krishna's call to return to Him a second time at Madhuvan when he was >in Braja. At the age of fifty-two, he informed his wife that he was taking >sanyasa and that he would renounce his home and family. >Madhevendrapuri initiated him as a sannyasi and after remaining in his >house >in solitude for one week, singing the Gopi's song with tears pouring from >his eyes, he left his home and went to Benares where he spent another week >all alone on the banks of the holy Ganga. Just before he left his physical >body, his family and disciples came before him and the master wrote his >final teaching in the sands of the Ganga for them to reflect upon. > >"If you turn away from Shri Krishna, I know that time will devour your body >and senses. Shri Krishna is not worldly nor will He accept service from >worldly people. Worship Shri Krishna, the Beloved of the Gopis always with >every sort of loving bhava. Know that Krishna is the Supreme reward here >and >beyond. He perfects everything." > >Then Shri Krishna suddenly appeared there by the Ganges banks and added, > >"If you believe in Me, the Beloved of the Gopis, you will become >devotionally accomplished. You should not be concerned with anything else." > >In the year 1532, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, Shri Krishna's very face, >entered the Gangea river singing the verse, > >"Glories, Glories to You Beloved Krishna, You have appeared in Braja where >even Lakshmi takes Your constant shelter. With bated breath we serach for >you in all the quarters. O Beloved, come and look at us." > >Then the Master's body ascended into the firmament in a column of divine >fire and merged into the Govardhan Hill hundreds of miles away. Shri >Mahaprabhuji Vallabhacharya, the Beloved of Shri Krishna, entered into Shri >Krishna's lila with his physical body. He left us a rapturous path of >devotion to contemplate and follow. "Always make Shri Krishna's seva." > >His son Shri Vitthalnathji later wrote. > >"In this world you may find a great scholar, but will he understand the >inner movement of the Vedas? Even if such a person exists, will his actions >be consistant with his lofty precepts? You may be able to find such a >person, but it is unlikely that he will be steeped in the loving path of >Hari's worship. If you do find such a remarkable being, will he have loving >devotion for Vrindavan Krishna, the beloved of the Gopis? Besides Shri >Vallabhacharya, no one is endowed with all of these qualities."