Jai Jai ShriGokulesh

    Why we take Brahmasambandh? Because in Shastras there are the other ways shown for Kalyan, and by that pathways also a Jeeva-Soul gets Liberation. Free from Sins............. Then what is so importance of our Pushtimargiya Brahmasambandh??????

-------->PushtiBhaktimarg is the special and non-common pathway, by which the Jeev-soul gets the extremees of the Devotion. What type of Extremees?The height of Devotion, the service to Lord by his grace. But only by Deviton? There are many other ways like Karma-marga, Gyan-marga, etc. So why only the Bhakti-marga?

  Ok, for your answer lets us discuss the notations from Shrimad Bhagwad, where Lord Himself gives the orders.

Yogas trayo Maya Proktam

Naram shreyovidhitsaya

gyanaKarma Cha Bhaktis cha

Nopayo Nyo Sti Kutracit || (11.20.6)

The Supreme Personality of Godhead ShriGokulesh Gives Aagyna: My dear Uddhava because I desire that human beings may achieve perfection, I have presented three paths of advancement — the path of knowledge, the path of work and the path of devotion. Besides these three there is absolutely no other means of elevation.

     That means the Karma, Gyana and Bhakti elements r shown in this ShriBhagwatji. Then how can you differentiate it?? We can differentiate it, directly, because it this orders of ShriPrabhu is been given on the basis of the Adhikaar and Swabhaav of the Soul-Jeev. Also in Shrimad Bhagwat (7.7.53-53)

Na Danam Na Tapo Nejya Na Saucam Na Vratani Cha |

Priyate Malaya Bhaktya Harir Anyad vidambanam || (7.7.52)

None of these qualifications can awaken the pleasure of the Lord. Nor by charity, austerity, sacrifice, cleanliness or vows can one satisfy the Lord. The Lord is pleased only if one has unflinching, unalloyed devotion to Him. Without sincere devotional service, everything is simply a show.

Tato Harau Bhagawati Bhaktim Kuruta Danavaha |

Atmaupamayenu Sarvatra Sarva-Bhutatmanisvare || (7.7.53)

My dear friends, O sons of the demons, in the same favorable way that one sees himself and takes care of himself, take to devotional service to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present everywhere as the Supersoul of all living entities.

     But by this Bhakti - Devotion, it doesn't implies that the Karmamarg of Gyanmarg to be different. Ok, then take a note of this Bhagwad Vachan from Shrimad Bhagwat (6.1.11-19), The Vachans quoted by Bhagwan SukhMuni.

Karmana Karma-Nirharo Na Hy-atyantika Isyate |

Avidvad Adhikarivat Prayaschittam Vimarsanam || 6-1-11

Sukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vedavyāsa, answered: My dear King, since acts meant to neutralize impious actions are also fruitive, they will not release one from the tendency to act fruitively. Persons who subject themselves to the rules and regulations of atonement are not at all intelligent. Indeed, they are in the mode of darkness. Unless one is freed from the mode of ignorance, trying to counteract one action through another is useless because this will not uproot one's desires. Thus even though one may superficially seem pious, he will undoubtedly be prone to act impiously. Therefore real atonement is enlightenment in perfect knowledge, Vedanta, by which one understands the Supreme Absolute Truth.

 Nasnatah Pathyam Evannam Vyadhayo Bhibhavanti Hi |

Evam Niyamakrd Rajan Sanaih Ksemaya Kalpte || 6.1.12

My dear King, if a diseased person eats the pure, uncontaminated food prescribed by a physician, he is gradually cured, and the infection of disease can no longer touch him. Similarly, if one follows the regulative principles of knowledge, he gradually progresses toward liberation from material contamination.

Tapasa Brahmacaryena Samena Cha Damena Cha |

Tyagena Satya SauchaBhyam Yamena Niyamena Va || 6.1.13

Deha Vag Buddhijam Dhira Dharmajnah Sraddhayanvitah |

Ksipanty Agham Mahad Api Venu-Gulman Ivanalah || 6.1.14

Kechit Kevalaya Bhaktya Vasudeva Parayana |

Agham Dhunvanti Kartsnyena Niharam Iva Bhaskarah || 6.1.15

Only a rare person who has adopted complete, unalloyed devotional service to ShriKrishna- Vaasudev can uproot the weeds of sinful actions with no possibility that they will revive. He can do this simply by discharging devotional service, just as the sun can immediately dissipate fog by its rays.

Jai Jai ShriGokulesh Parivaar, Baroda

Jai Jai ShriGokulesh

    Na Tatha HyAghavan rajan Puyeta Tapa Adibhihi |

Yatha Krishnarpit Pranas Tat Purusa Nisevaya || 6.1.16

My dear King, if a sinful person engages in the service of a bona fide devotee of the Lord and thus learns how to dedicate his life unto the lotus feet of ShriKRishna, he can be completely purified. One cannot be purified merely by undergoing austerity, penance, brahmacarya and the other methods of atonement I have previously described

Sadhrichino Hyayam Loke Panthah Ksemo Kuto Bhayah |

Susilah Sadhavo Yatra Narayana Parayana || 6.1.17

The path followed by pure devotees, who are well behaved and fully endowed with the best qualifications, is certainly the most auspicious path in this material world. It is free from fear, and it is authorized by the Shastras

Prayaschittani Cirnani Narayana Paranmukham |

Nanispunanti Rajendra Sura Kumbham Ivapagah || 6.1.18

My dear King, as a pot containing liquor cannot be purified even if washed in the waters of many rivers, nondevotees cannot be purified by processes of atonement even if they perform them very well.

Sakrnmanah Krishna Padarvindayor Nivesitam Tad Gunaragi Yair Iha |

Na Te yaman Pasa Bhartas Cha Tad Bhajan Svapne Pi Pasyanti hi CirnaNiskirtah || 6.1.19

Although not having fully realized Krishna, persons who have even once surrendered completely unto His lotus feet and who have become attracted to His name, form, qualities and pastimes are completely freed of all sinful reactions, for they have thus accepted the true method of atonement. Even in dreams, such surrendered souls do not see Yamaraja or his order carriers, who are equipped with ropes to bind the sinful.

       So by this we understand the importance of Devotion (Bhakti) and its path of grace i.e. PushtiBhaktiMarg.

    but what about the 5 sins which are always there with a jeev like Sahaj, Desh-Kalotha, Sanyog, Sparsh.  Because you know that for curing such sins, prayaschit-process for purification . No, it is not so by doing Brahmasambandh ( Self dedication or consecration of God). The purification, by which the soul is to be freed from all kinds of sins by taking Brahmasambandh, the sins does not get abolished by the elements of karma-gyana-bhakti. Because sins are mainly due to Karma-Desh-Kaal, which are continously there, But by Aatmanivedan-Brahmasambandh these sins does not bother the souls by keeping regular intact of having Brahma-Sambandh. So even if these sins are present, but it does not effect the souls for getting engaging in Pushti-Bhakti-Marg. Moreover even by taking other Pushtimargiya Diksha i.e. Sharan margiya Diksha (Astakshar mantra Diksha -- Naam paamvu) the same applies.

     ShriPrabhu had shown the Upliftment (Kalyan) of souls by Karma, GYan and Bhakti. Kalyan means lack of pains and gaining Happiness. And also in Shrimad Bhagwat 4.25.4 --- the discussion between Narada and King Parikshit

Shreyas Tvam Katamad Rajan Karmanatmana Ihase |

Dukha-Hanih Sukhavaptih Shreyas Tana Neha Cesyate || 4.25.4

ShriNarada asks King Parikshit :My dear King, what do you desire to achieve by performing these fruitive activities? The chief aim of life is to get rid of all miseries and enjoy happiness, but these two things cannot be realized by fruitive activity.

    So, Only Bhakti -- Devotion clears up all sins, just as when the Sun rises to its extremees, the fog gets disappared. similarly Devotion is Sun, and when it reaches to it's extremees, it destroys fog-filled-sins, and for keeping this Bhakti Dhradh-strng, reqiires grace of Pushtimargiya Diksha. (Brahmasambandh and Astakshar Mantra Diksha.)

Jai Jai ShriGokulesh Parivaar, Baroda

Jai Jai ShriGokulesh

     But One question is still there that Some might argue regarding that there are also other Bhaktimargiya Pathways like the ShriVishnumargs of ShriRamanuja, ShriMadhava, ShriNimbarka, and the pathway of devotion of ShriKrishna Chaitanya. Then how can we differentiate our pushtibhaktimarg and it's Devotion and it's diksha.

Jai Jai ShriGokulesh Parivaar, Baroda

Dear gopal bhai

Jai Shree Krishna. you have brought abt a very very relevant topic , since it will help us all understand not only the mool of this marg but also its relevance as regards our daily lives. i am going to add a very simplified and juvenile perspective as i comes to my mind.

When my mother informed me years back about Pushtimarg, she told me that unlike all other paths which advocate Krishna bhakti, this is  the only marg which brings us closest to the path of absolute devotion while doing the regular Karma like being in the usual GrahsthaAshram mode of living. Can this be a difference , small or big, which may differentiate it from other Paths.

Jaishree Krishna

Monica