Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Haveli Sangit: Music in the Vallabha Tradition

Guy L. Beck — 2022-09-21

The Bhakti Movements of the medeival period in North India brought with them many new dimensions of Indian Arts and Culture. The new surge of devotion of the god Krishna, especially in the Braj area, was accompanied by uniques developments in Indian music, both vocal and instrumental. Indeed, what became known in suceeding centuries as Hindustani classical music had its roots in the music of the temples of Mathura and Vrindavan, religious sancturies founded by Vaisnava saintsand their disciples.

Krishna's own form: Image Worship and Pusti Marga

Peter Bennett — 2022-09-21

Heirs of Judaic, Christain and Islamic traditions have regarded image worship in India with curiosity if not contempt, accustomed as they are to evil of idolatry and its sinister hold over the pagran and the infidel. Indologists in the main have concentrated on formal, symbolic and stylistic aspect of iconograpgy, often ignoring what is crucial to a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Raganuga Bhakti : Pro and Con

Ramdas Lamb — 2022-09-21

Thank you for your recent issue on raganuga bhakti. For centuries now Hinduism has been cheifly concerned with the hierarchy of social status and its interaction with Muslim and Christian neighbors. In addition to this, those with a religious bent have emphasizeda need merely to follow the scriptures, and the normative basis for Hindu life has been vaguely defined tradition and the vast literature of the Vedas their commentaries and commentaries upon their commentaries. The focus has ben the letter of the law, with little recognition of the claims of the heart.

Srinathji and the Vallabhites of Jatipura : A Conversation with Paul M. Toomey

Paul M. Toomey — 2022-09-21

The following conversation which occured on March 3, 1991, rveals quite a bit about Vallabha tradition and the early history of the Srinathji deity. Paul Toomey was a pioneer scholar, conducting extensive feild research at Mount Govardhana and Radha-Kunda. His special area of interest was food ritual in popular Vaisnava tradition, and this culminated in his doctoral dissertation at the University of Virginia.

The Forest Pilgrimage as Darsan

Owen M. Lynch — 2022-09-21

On 12 Septemeber 1981 Iset out omn the most extraordinary journey of my life. I had come to the pilgrimage place of Krishna's birthplace, Mathura about 100 miles south of New Delhi, to make the forest Pilgrimage or, as it is also called, 160 mile Pilgrimage of Braj, tha land of Krishna's childhood play. Having the day before taken on river Yumnaji's holy waters vows to avoid lust, anger attachments to the world and greed; to walk barefoot and obey my guide and to refrain from using soap in cleaning myself or my garments as well as grm breaking tree branches or trampling vegetation, I anxiously bobbled on tender feet towwards the village of Madhuban.

Shri Vallabhaharya's Divine Command

Goswami Shri Prathmeshji — 2022-09-21

The setting is Gokul, atown in Braj, Krishna's birthplace. There Shri Vallabhacharya is wondering how to reunite souls with their Lord. The rays of the afternoon sun diminish, the atmosphere cools as the rippling waters of the Yamuna river mingle with sandalwood fragnant forestbreezes. Singing birds and the russles of the new leaves awaken joy in the heart. Passing by the Brahmachokar tree, Shri Vallabhacharya, accompanied by his disciple Damala, reaches the banks o the Yamuna. Her pure dark waters are the embodiment of grace. Devotional songs gently fill the air of Gokul. Devotees absorbed in perfect mood narrate to each other Krishna's divine sportings.

The last days of Vallabhacarya

James D. Redington, S.J. — 2022-09-21

The events of the last month or so of the life of the founder-saint Vallabhacarya are unusual, poignant and instructive. Fortunately, Vallabha described for his followers, in short verse-treaties, both the deeply human anxiety which pressede, and the all-consuming love of Krsna which pervaded, these last three days.

Teaching the teacher: The Sakhi's Role in Paramanand's Mana Poems

A. Whitney Sanford — 2022-09-21

In his participation of the seva of Srinathaji, Paramanand composed peoms which told of the different aspects of Krishna's Life and loves. These poems chronicle and praise Krishna's sport in Braj, and Paramanand's acute vision of these sacred games brings Krishna-lila into the world so that the devotee may also know of the lila and worship Krishna.

The Samnyasanirnaya, A suddhadvaita Text on Renunciation by Vallabhacarya

Frederick M. Smith — 2022-09-21

Very few of the primary texts of Vallabhacarya or of the tradition that bears his name have been translated into English. This is a natural result of the fact that the sampradaya has, until very recently, received comparitevely little scholarly attention. Though the reasons forn this are not particularly relevant to the content of the work presented here, it might be mentioned that a libel suit filed in the year 1862 seriously questioned the morals of the Maharajas, the descendantsvof Vallabha who are regional gurus or "Liniage holders" and who have served as the s[pioritual leaders of the sampreadaya.

Vallabha's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita

Jeffrey R. Timm — 2022-09-21

In his book, The Bhakati Sect of Vallabhacarya, Richard Barz related a story about Vallabha's victory at Puri in the debate with the proponents of Advita Vedanta. Unwilling to accept their defeat the Advaitinis insisted that Vallabha's position be approved b none other than Jagannatha himself.