VALLABHACHARYA'S UNDYING DEVOTION FOR LORD KRISHNA

WHAT if you try hard to overcome loss and achieve a meaningful life, but the very force that blessed you with success changes your path? The poignant story of Sri Vallabhacharya comes to mind. Vallabha (1479-1531) was a South Indian born and bred in North India. He apparently consecrated the Krishna idol called 'Shrinathji', which was first worshipped in Mathura and later installed in Nathdwara in Rajasthan. Shrinathji is depicted in the genre of painting called 'pichwai'.

- RENUKA NARAYANAN

Vallabha believed that the love of Sri Krishna was enough of a spiritual path for householders and regular men and women. He described it as an everyday love in which simple, glad thoughts of God helped one lead a decent and meaningful life. This view cut across caste and class. He founded the school of devotion called 'Pushti Marga' (the path of nourishment through God's grace) and established Sri Vaishnavism in Rajasthan and Gujarat. His poem, Madhurashtakam, is sung and danced to even today.

It all began when his parents Lakshman Bhat and Yellama ran for their lives from Varanasi at the news of an impending invasion. They made their way to the relative safety of Champaranya in today's Chhattisgarh. Yellama, who was pregnant, was traumatised by the fear and hardship of their journey. Her son was born two months early, late at night. He appeared to be dead. Heartbroken, the parents covered his little body to await cremation in the morning.

But Yellamma had a dream in which Sri Krishna appeared and told her to pick up the baby. She awoke and took the little corpse in her arms. Miraculously, it kicked and cried. Yellamma and Lakshman Bhat were overjoyed. They called their son 'Vallabha', meaning 'precious' and 'dearly beloved'. Lakshman Bhat found employment as a teacher and they moved into a little house of their own.