Pushti Marg

What is Pushti Marg?
Pushti Marg is a Vaishnav sect founded by Shri Vallabhacharya of the ‘Vishnu Swami’ lineage of Shudhadvita philosophy. The uniqueness of Pushti philosophy is that it believes EVERYTHING in the universe is part and parcel of the divine. There is only God, nothing other than God in the entire universe. In Pushti Marg, this divine essence is called Shri Krushna. It is the truest form of monotheism.

Pushti Marg’s central tenent is that God is only attainable by God’s own grace. Seva (service) of God is the ‘sadhana’ and ‘fal’. Even Moksha pales in comparison to serving God with love. Devotion and love for God should be spontaneous. Seva should be offered for the pleasure of God and unadulterated by desires for our material gain.

Devotees of Pushti Marg worship Shri Krushna in his various forms from a baby, toddler, and youth to a divine king. The seva (worship) is performed to facilitate an interpersonal, 1–1 relationship between God and devotee.

Founded in 1493 AD, the sect flourished under Shri Vallabh’s youngest son, Shri Vitthalnathji (Gusaiji) in Vraj, near Mathura. The sect’s signature concepts of ‘Raag, Bhog, and Shringar’ were developed by Gusaiji. They blossomed under his 7 sons. Concepts of ‘Raag, Bhog, and Shringar’ are so intertwined in the Seva of Thakorji, that they bring a unique flair and charm to Pushti Marg.

The current seat of Pushti Marg is at Nathdwara in Rajasthan. There are regional centers across India where his descendants have settled.

Pushti Marg

What is Pushti Marg?
Pushti Marg is a Vaishnav sect founded by Shri Vallabhacharya of the ‘Vishnu Swami’ lineage of Shudhadvita philosophy. The uniqueness of Pushti philosophy is that it believes EVERYTHING in the universe is part and parcel of the divine. There is only God, nothing other than God in the entire universe. In Pushti Marg, this divine essence is called Shri Krushna. It is the truest form of monotheism.

Pushti Marg’s central tenent is that God is only attainable by God’s own grace. Seva (service) of God is the ‘sadhana’ and ‘fal’. Even Moksha pales in comparison to serving God with love. Devotion and love for God should be spontaneous. Seva should be offered for the pleasure of God and unadulterated by desires for our material gain.

Devotees of Pushti Marg worship Shri Krushna in his various forms from a baby, toddler, and youth to a divine king. The seva (worship) is performed to facilitate an interpersonal, 1–1 relationship between God and devotee.

Founded in 1493 AD, the sect flourished under Shri Vallabh’s youngest son, Shri Vitthalnathji (Gusaiji) in Vraj, near Mathura. The sect’s signature concepts of ‘Raag, Bhog, and Shringar’ were developed by Gusaiji. They blossomed under his 7 sons. Concepts of ‘Raag, Bhog, and Shringar’ are so intertwined in the Seva of Thakorji, that they bring a unique flair and charm to Pushti Marg.

The current seat of Pushti Marg is at Nathdwara in Rajasthan. There are regional centers across India where his descendants have settled.

Timelines of ShriNathji and his Havelis

Shri Vallabh called him Gopalalji
Shri Vitthal called him GovardhanNathji
Shri GovardhanNathji was later shorted to ShriNathji

ShriNathji’s svaroop first came to the notice of the villagers in 1410, when the left hand of the Lord
was worshiped as a snake deity.  The face of the image was revealed in 1479.  The rest of the image was discovered and worshiped as Devdamanji by Madhavendra Yati, Shri Vallabha’s teacher from Varanasi.  In 1493, Shri Vallabh arrived during the monsoon season and identified the svaroop of the Lord as Shri Krushna, Gopal-Lal Ji who had called out to him in a dream.  Work on the first “Temple” was started in 1500 AD and completed in two stages by 1520 AD.

The first temple of ShriNathji was commissioned by Shri Vallabh and paid for by a Vaishnav called Puranmal.  Being brave and having full faith in GOD, Shri Vallabh built a traditional Hindu-style temple, with a spire, on top of a hill, within an easy ride of Dehli / Agra.  This was one of the toughest political periods in India and Shri Mahaprabhuji stood up to the religious injustice of the Dehli Sultanate on several occasions. (read various episodes of his life to confirm this).  These were tricky times and during these early years, ShriNathji was moved to Tod-ka-Ghana, Shyam-dhak and Gantholi on three occasions to avoid marauding Muslim troops.

After the 1560s, during Mughal emperor Akbar’s reign, peace prevailed and temple building began in earnest in and around the Vraj area.  All Hindu sects established their own temples and institutions in Vraj during this rare period of peace, prosperity, and communal harmony.  Pushti Marg also flourished and acquired land in and around Vraj at this time.  Shri Vallabh’s second son, Shri Gusaiji, was well connected with the imperial court at Agra / Sikri and emperor Akbar was an open admirer of his.  Akber passed several imperial farmans in favour of the sect and presented a large diamond to the temple which still graces the chin of ShriNathji.

Shri Gusaiji built several “havelis” in Vraj for the “nidhi svaroops” he passed on to his sons. These were built in the style of royal mansions through generous donations by several royal families including the queen Durgavati of Gond.  Some of the best examples of these Havelis are still around in Gokul where each Nidhi svaroop was established in His own haveli.

After Shri Gausaiji, Girdharji > Damodarji > Vitthalraiji (first to be granted title of Tilkayat by the Emperor) > Lal Girdharji > Damodarji became the head of the sect.