VALLABHA

also called Vallabhacarya born 1479, Benares, Jaunpur, India died 1531, Benares Hindu philosopher and founder of the important devotional sect the Vallabhacaryas, also known as the pustimarga (the way of prosperity, or well-being). Born to a Telegu Brahman family, Vallabha showed precocity in spiritual and intellectual matters from an early age. He initiated his first disciple in 1493 at Mathura, which became the centre of his activities, though he undertook several pilgrimages throughout India, propagating his doctrine of bhakti (devotion) to the god Krishna. It was near Mathura, at the foot of Mount Govardhana, that Vallabha discovered the central cult object of the sect, an image of Krishna called Sri-Nathaji. Vallabhacarya (acarya, teacher) himself belonged to the Rudra sect established by Visnusvamin, and his philosophical system of pure nondualism (suddhadvaita)i.e., the identity of God and the universeclosely follows that of the Visnusvamin tradition. God is worshiped not by fasting and physical austerities but by love of him and of the universe. Salvation arises only by virtue of the grace of God. In order to receive divine love, the devotee must surrender himself wholly (samarpana) to God's gift of love. Vallabha was married and had two sons, though he became a sannyasin (ascetic) shortly before his death. His son Vitthala succeeded him as head of the Vallabhacarya sect.