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The Puṣṭimārga or Pushtimarg (lit. 'Path of Nourishing, Flourishing'), also known as Vallabha Sampradāya, is a sect of Vaishnavism. It was founded in the early 16th century by Vallabha (1479–1531) and was later expanded by his descendants, particularly Vitthalanatha. Pushtimarg adherents worship Krishna, and tradition follows universal-love-themed devotional practices of youthful Krishna which are found in the Bhagavata Purana and those related to pastimes of Govardhana Hill.[1][2][3]
The Pushtimarg sect subscribes to the Shuddhadvaita philosophy of Vallabha. According to this philosophy, Krishna is considered the supreme being, the source of everything that exists. The human soul is imbued with Krishna's divine light and spiritual liberation results from Krishna's grace.[4] Krishna is worshipped by the sect through sevā, in which his svarūpas or idols are meticulously and lavishly served and entertained with food, drink, music, and art in which his daily routine as a youth in Braj is recreated.
The followers of this tradition are called Pushtimargis[5] or Pushtimargiya Vaishnavas.[6] It has significant following in Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, as well as its regional diaspora around the world.[1][7] The followers in Gujarat tend to be of the Bhatia, Lohana, Bania, Marwari, and Kanabi Paṭela castes.[8] The Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara is the main shrine of Pushtimarg, which traces its origin back to 1669.[7][9]
- ^ a b Vallabhacharya, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Matt Stefon and Wendy Doniger (2015)
- ^ E. Allen Richardson (2014). Seeing Krishna in America: The Hindu Bhakti Tradition of Vallabhacharya in India and Its Movement to the West. McFarland. pp. 12–21. ISBN 978-1-4766-1596-7.
- ^ Edwin F. Bryant (2007). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. pp. 477–484. ISBN 978-0-19-972431-4.
- ^ Lochtefeld, James G (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen Publishing. pp. 539-540. ISBN 978-0823931804.
- ^ Kim, Hanna H. (2016), "In service of God and Geography: Tracing Five Centuries of the Vallabhacharya Sampradaya. Book review: Seeing Krishna in America: The Hindu Bhakti Tradition of Vallabhacharya in India and its Movement to the West, by E. Allen Richardson", Anthropology Faculty Publications 29, Adelphi University
- ^ Harirāya (1972). 41 [i.e. Ikatālīsa] baṛe śikshāpatra: mūḷa śloka, ślokārtha, evaṃ vyākhyā sahita (in Hindi). Śrī Vaishṇava Mitra Maṇḍala. p. 297.
- ^ a b Jindel, Rajendra (1976). Culture of a Sacred Town: A Sociological Study of Nathdwara. Popular Prakashan. pp. 21–22, 34, 37. ISBN 978-8-17154-0402.
- ^ Mallison, Francoise (1994). "Early Kr̥ṣṇa Bhakti in Gujarat: The Evidence of Old Gujarati Texts Recently Brought to Light". In Entwistle, Alan W.; Mallison, Francoise (eds.). Studies in South Asian Devotional Literature: Research Papers 1981-1991. École Française d'Extrême-Orient. p. 51.
- ^ Wendy Doniger (1999). Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster. p. 781. ISBN 978-0-87779-044-0.