Composing…
Composing…
वल्लभाचार्य
1479–1531 CE · Champaran (Chhattisgarh) — birthplace; Vraj — work
Tradition: Pushti Marga (Shuddhadvaita)
Shuddhadvaita — pure non-dualism. The world is the real self-manifestation of Krishna. Pushti (divine grace) is the path; bhakti to Bal-Krishna.
Born to Telugu Brahmins in transit; performed 84 baithaks (seats of teaching) across India; final meditation at Hanuman Ghat in Kashi where he entered the Ganga.
Founded Pushti Marga; established seva of Bal-Krishna at Govardhan and Nathdwara; emphasized householder devotion; bhakti through aesthetic-emotional offering.
Vallabhacharya stands within the lineage of Pushti Marga (Shuddhadvaita). Understanding a saint requires understanding the school of thought, the lineage of teachers, and the historical context that shaped them. The Pushti Marga (Shuddhadvaita) tradition has shaped Hindu spiritual life through its philosophical foundations, its liturgy, its scriptures, and the institutions its founding ācāryas built and sustained across generations.
Saints in this tradition are not abstract figures from history — they are the living chain through which the tradition transmits itself. To read Vallabhacharya correctly is to read both the writings (where they survive) and the institutions they founded, the disciples they taught, and the practices they reinterpreted. Where written works are listed above, they remain the primary source for studying their thought; for the practical transmission, one studies under a teacher of the same lineage.
The dates and biographical details preserved in tradition often differ from those accepted by modern academic historians. Where the difference matters for interpretation, both views are noted; otherwise the traditional account is given with sources cited.
Awaiting scholar verification. If you spot a factual error in dates, lineage, or teaching, please write to us.