Shreenathji Temple

At Charanat Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya stayed in a abower and conducted a saptah. Six miles away from where he was staying a Brahmin hermit who had daily recited the Vishunsahastranam, The Thousand Names of the Lord for the last twelve ;years. One day he found a Krishna Deity in the Ganges river and the Lord told him that because he was a hermit he would not be able to properly serve Him and but because the hermit offered the Lord ;milk, He agreed to stay with the Brahmin for one month. On the night before the birth of Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya’s second son, Shri Vitthalnath Gusianji, the Deity told the Brahmin to take Him to Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya explaining, “You will find him sitting by a lake. Explain to him that it is my wish that I remain there with him. Then I will be very pleased with you.”

Arriving before the guru, the Brahmin humbly bowed and submitted, “I am a simple man of no learning but this Deity has informed me to bring Him to you.” Glad to receive the Deity, Shri Mahaprabhuji blessed him. The following day in late December in the year 1519 AD Shri Mahaprabhuji’s second son Shri Vitthalnathji was borm. The poet Gopaldas sings of that appearance,

“On a late december mid-day the Lord showered his blessing in Akkaji’s heart {Vitthalnathji mother} by appearing as the moon of Vrindavan.”

Many other poets have sung about that great event. After his appearance, Lord Krishna’s parents and friends all divinely appeared to celebrate the occasion. The Lord had a golden jewelled palace made for the celebrations and musicians played sweetly at the door. Toys of silver and gold were presented to the divine child and the Gopi Chandravali made the infant tilak. Shri Radha gave the child earrings to wear and composed many poems suitable for the occasion by using saffron and a lotus stem. Shri Vitthalnathji was swung in a jewelled studded cradle and everyone rocked the child. It was like the appearance celebrations of Lord Krishna. The serpent god Shesha appear with his thousand hoods to provide shade and Brahma the Creator came to recite the vedas while Shiva danced and was accompanied by millions of deities playing instruments and showering flowers. Celestial nymphs and musicians danced and played instruments. The place was grace by the presence of the great sages Shri Vyasa, Shri Sukadeva as well as by eight thousand other sages. Flags and banners waved while milk and curd were thrown in celebration. The eight supernatural powers and the nine riches also personally appeared. Everyone was completely lost in the aupiciousness of that divine hour. One poet sings of that divine day.

In groups they came to the house of Vallabh

To celebrate the coming of the beautiful Braja child.

In group they celebrated the divine appearance

Of Shri Vallabh’s son Shri Vitthalanthji.

His appearance has made the town of Gokul very happy.

Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya bathed and then gave gifts of jewels, chariots etc to all present. Shri Garga Acharya came to bless the child and predicted, This child will accomplish everything, he will have two wives and seven sons and his lineage will be made up of the Lord’s incarnation.s he will defeat the Mayavadians and uplift many divine souls. He will purify the world and accomplish more things than a thousand mouths can praise.”

After speaking those word, Garga Acharya left and all the other divine beings present there bowed and returned to their respective spheres. Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya gazing at his son knew he was the Lord Himself. A bhakta sang, splendor has spread in the four direction.

When Swhri Mahaprabhuji looked upon his son

He laughs with joy.

They both laughed and control my heart.

His tilak is made of musk.

The glory of that scene goes beyond all explanation.

The concealed divine nectar of grace was forced to make its appearance.
Later, the lovers of Shri Krishna appeared and rocked the child. Shri Vitthalnathji tilak was made and bessing showered. The residents of Braja said that he would lie at the town of Shri Gokul and his greatness would grow day by day. All the residents of the divine abode then returned and that transcendental vision suddenly vanished. Only then did all present regain their their worldly consciousness. Here, Shri Mahaprabhuji fulfillled the divine wishes of the great devotees.

This seat of Gusianji is at Adel, where Gusainji spent his childhood, Here Mahadevji came to play with Gusainji. He would play Musical Instruments & dance. Seeing this Gusainji would be very happy. & Gusainji nearest Vaishnavas would also play with him and Gusainji with his divine eyes would bless them & give them Rasdaan.

On the summit of the Mudrachal mountain Shri Mahaprabhuji made his seat under a shady tree. After visiting Lord Mudrachal’s temple he began his saptah and Lord Mudrachal came to listen. Later, Shri Mahaprabhuji went to Lord Madhusudana’s temple and made the Lord’s worship. Shri Krishna then told Shri Mahaprabhuji that he had appeared on the Govardhan Hill and that he should quickly come to the sacred area of Braja and extablish His worship.

On the banks of the Vyasa Ganga, under a tree Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhachayra made his seat. Shri Mahaprabhuji explained to Damala that is was the place were Lord Vedavyasa was born. After bathing in the Vyasa Ganga the ‘saptah’ began and a divinely ornamented woman arrived and fanned Shri Mahaprabhuji for the whole discourse. Later it was revealed that she was the divine goddess form of the Ganges riverl.

On top of the Himachal mountain, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made his seat. There, Krishnadas Meghan requested the guru to make a saptah. The Himachal mountain dressed as a Brahmin appeared there and Shri Mahaprabhuji took him that he would remain blissful by listening to the Shrimad Dhagavalam. By the completion of the sacred work many souls were enlightened.

When Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya visited Veda Vyasa, the Lord’s literary incarnation in his cave high in the Himilayas, he told Krishnadas Meghan to stand outside the cave until he returned. After meeting Veda Vyasa, Shri Mahaprabhuji explained one line from Veda Vyasa, Bhramar Gita found in the Bhagavat for three days and nights. Veda vyasa praised Shri Mahaprabhuji, “Your extraordinary commentary has poured nectar into my heart.”

Taking his leave, when Shri Mahaprabhuji returned out of the cave and found Krishnadas standing in the same position he left him three days earlier and asked him why he was still standing there. Krishnadas explained that he was just following the guru’s orders. Shri Mahaprabhu please with him granted him a boon and the disciple asked to have all of his sins of the tongue removed, to have the teachings of the path of Grace established firmaly in his heart, and for Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya to accept his former guru. Shri Mahaprabhuji granted the first two but not the last. {see Krishnada’s Meghan story in the 84 Vaishnavas} Shri Mahaprabhuji then brought of consciousness all of his disciples who presumed that their guru had permanently left them. After performing a saptah he proceeded to Himachal.

By the kedarnath lake in the Himilayas Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made his seat and began the “saptah.” Lord Kedarnath disguised as a yogi would daily come to listen and finally Krishnadas Meghan questioned the guru who he was. Shri Mahaprabhuji smiled and revealed his identity. After the discourese was over, a divine aroma emerged from Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya’s feet and thousands of beings who merely smelled it became liberated. From here Shri Mahaprabhuji proceeded to Vyasashram.

On Lord Vaman’s appearance day, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya arrived at Badrinath high in the Himilayas. He told Krishna Meghan to find some fruits as grains are not taken on that day. Lord Badrinath, taking on the form of a brahmin stoped Krishnadas and told him, “It is good to please the guru, but you will not find any fruits here.”

Later Lord Badrinath told the furu that since it was a festival and because fruits were not available there, he and his disciple could break the tradition rule and eat grains on that day. Later, Shri Mahaprabhuji held a saptah and graced all the divine souls living there.

At Hardwara, above the Kanatial Kanatial Kshetra Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabharya made his seat during the Kumbha Mela in the year 1510 AD. Over one hundred thousand pilgrims gathered for the sacred bath in the Ganges river by the foothills of the Himilayas. Shri Mahaprabhuji summoned the Lord’s power of illussion, yoga Maya as well as Time and told yoga Maya to put everyone that coming night to deep sleep and then told Time to make the auspicious tie of bathing just before sunrise and make sure everyone would bath at the proper time so they would all achieve the merit of the bath. Otherwise, if they bathed at the wrong time, they would not receive the fruit and their faith would lessen. At that time, Damala, Krishnadas Meghan, Vasudeva Chakra, Madhavabhatt Kasmiri and Govinda Dube were with Shri Mahaprabhuji. When the auspicious time arrived all the pilgrims awoke and took the sacred bath and coming to know Shri Mahaprabhuji’s greatness the pilgrims sang his praises and many became his followers.

By the Kurushetra lake, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made his seat and told Krishnadas Meghan that, “It was here that the great Mahabharat war took place and it is also the place where Lord Krishna taught Arjuna the Bhagavat Gita.”

Later, Shri Mahaprabhuji held a ‘saptah’ and when he explained the lilas of Shri Krishna, everyone present experienced extreme bliss and only regained bodily consciousness after the talks were over. From here, the guru proceeded to Hardwara.

At Avantika Puri, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made his seat by the banks of the Gomati lake under a pipal Tree. After bathing in ;the chipra river, he said to Damala, “This place is sacred to Lord Shiva. To uplift the divine souls here, I should speak the Shirmad Bhagavatam. The only problem I foresee is that there is no shady place to hold the discourse. Damala replied, “If you want, you can make a forest so to find one tree should not be very difficult.”

Where Shri Mahaprabhuji made his seat there was a very small pipal tree. The guru sprinkled it with some water he used in his prayers and said, “Here the Shrimad Bhagavatam will be spoken.”

Early the next morning, after Shri Mahaprabhuji had taken his bath he noticed a huge shady pipal tree in the place where he had sprinkled the water the previous day. Taking his seat under the tree he began the “saptah”. The local prople who came to bath in the Gomati lake were very surprised to see the huge tree which had grown ;to be several hundred years old in the course of a single night. The Mayavadians who lived there heard of Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya’s arrival but were afraid to even stir out.

Lord Shiva had two great devotees there. One day, after Shiva had gone to hear Shri Mahaprabhuji he told two of his close followers, “It was the Lord’s wish for me to incarnate as Shankaracharya in order to establish the theory of the Mayavada, but now it is the Supreme Lord’s wish to show the supremacy of devotion. The Lord has incarnated as Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya and tomorrow I will go hear him. Accompany me if you wish.”

After the reading of the Shrimad Bhagavatam was completed, Shri Mahaprabhuj request Shiva to call all the Mayavadians for a religious debate and that night Shiva appeared in all the Mayavadians dreams and told them to fearlessly face Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya. The following day, they all came and Shiva secretly took his seat to watch the debate. Shri Mahaprabhuj proved to everyone there that Brahmavada was the essence of Vedic thought and the Mayavadians received initiation from Shri Mahaprabhuji. Seeing this pastime, Lord Shiva privately apporoached Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya and said, “I thought that you would defeat them through scriptural debate, but you were victorious over the Mayavadians through your own divinity.”

Shri Mahaprabhuji explained, “When Ramunaja Acharya debated against you when you manifested as Shankar Acharya, Shankars Acharya had five faces fwhile Shri Ramunaja, having a thousand faces defeated him. Today, because you did not enlighte them, I had to answer all their question with a single answer.”
There, Shri Mahaprabhuji instilled in the hearts of many people love for Shri Krishna before proceeding to puskar.

At Siddhapur, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya halted by the side of the Bindu lake and related to Damala, :Here the great sage kardama had his hermitage and also here is the spot where Lord Kapildeva taught his mother Devatuti the Sandhya Yoga system. Devahuti then took on the form of this Bindu lake.”

After bathing there, he spoke on the Shrimad Bhagavatam. Many Mayavadians hearing of his arrival decided that if he defeated them in debate, they would become his disciples. After discussing for a short while the import of the scriptures, Shri Mahaprabhuji proved to them the truth of his teachings and many souls took his refuge. From where he proceeded to Avantika puri.

Here, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya stayed at the home of Jagannath Josi upon who the guru was very pleased. After Shri Mahaprabhuji prepared the meals and made the offering he partook of the prasada before Jagannath requested him the explain to him the Gopi’s “Yugal Gita” song which appears in the 10 canto of the Shrimad Bhagavatam. For nine hours Shri Mahaprabhuji spoke and immersed all present there in complete transcendental bliss. Form there, he proceeded to siddhapur.

At godhra, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya stayed at the home of Ranavyasa. Before he took initiation, he was a great scholar of vedic literature and was very proud of his extensive learning. Once, when he was defeated in Benares, he became so depressed that he decided to drown himself in the Ganges river. At that time, Shri Mahaprabhuji was performing his prayers on the nearby banks and Krishnadas Meghan asked the guru what was the fruit received from drowning oneself in the Ganges river. Shri Mahaprabhuj explained, “That soul would undergo at least seven hellish lives and would gain no fruits here or elsewhere.”

Over hearing the reply, Ranavyasa approached Shri Mahaprabhuji and submitted, “I believe what you have just said is for my benefit.”

After hearing about the reason for his depression, Shri Mahaprabhuj raplied, “If you go on living, you can go back and be victorious. Go bathing the river, then I will make you understand.”

After initiating him, Shri Mahaprabhuji taught him his small doctrine, chatura sloki and assured him that he would how be able to defeat every pundit. The following day, he returned to the debate and requested that he had something else to add and within a short while was victorious. When he return, Shri Mahaprabhuji said to him, “If you committed suicide, who would you be able to defeat?”
Shri Mahaprabhuji then presented him with a svarupa of child Krishna which he devoutly served at his home in Godhra. When Shri Mahaprabhuji visited his home in Godhra, he initiated his wife and explained to them “The Gopis praise t Krishna’s Flute” found in the Shrimad to Bhagavatam for three days and everyone experience divine bliss. From here, Shri Mahaprabhuji moved on to Keralu.

At Naroda, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya stayed at the home of Gopaldas. The guru gave Gopaldas knowledge of Shri Krishna and initiated him into hte path of Grace and gave him a Krishna Deity ot serve. His wishes fulfilled, he remained in transcendental bliss always singing the glories of his guru and Shri Krishna. After speaking on the Shrimad Bhagavata Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya proceeded to Godhra.

Here Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made his seat under a tree in front of a Brahmin’s house. The Barahmin had ten cows and ten buffaloes from whose milk he daily made butter. One day, after churning the butter, his wife went to the well to bring some water. Meanwhile, the Brahmin was his two sons eating the freshly churned butter. He immediately called Shri Mahaprabhuji to witness the divine thieving. The guru said, “In you heart lives divine love for Lord Krishna’s lila. Go show you wife their play.”

The Brahmin explained that if his wife saw them stealing the butter, she would beat them. Shri Mahaprabhuji told him, “Tell her about Shri Krishna and his broter Balaram’s divine butter stealing sports, then she will understand.”

The Brahmin then embraced his sons and said, “You have played as the Immortal Lord has sported. “He then described the entire incident to his wife and told her a great saint had blessed their house and through his grace they could become true devotees of the Lord. His wife’s attitude change and divine love poured in her heart for her sons. Returning home, both bowed to Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya and his wife went and hugged her sons and elated, “I am so glad that you have eaten the butter.”

Then, the guru open their eyes as well as all the other devotees assemble there and all were blessed with Shri Krishna’s darshna.

Some days after the Brahmins entire family achieved the Lord’s lila. Damala asked Shri Mahaprabhuji, “How did they achieve his realm so quickly, “the guru explained,” Because they are all personally connected with Shri Krishna.”
For there, Shri Mahaprabhuji proceed for Naroda in Gujarat.

On the banks of the Madhava Sarasvati river, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made his seat. After bathing in the river, Shri Mahaprabhuji had the sight of Lord Madhavaryji and stayed under a tree by the side of the Prayag lake where he told Damala that but at prayag, at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna lakes. The next morning Shri Mahaprabhuji began his seven days discourse on the Bhagavatam. Later, a Brahmin arrived and after bowing to Shri Mahaprabhuji revealed, “I have been meditating upon you for so long, now the fruit of my efforts has bloomed.”

The guru then asked, “where are you coming from and where do you reside now?”

He replied, “I was living at Pandarpur and daily recited the Shrimad Bhagavata and Lord Vitthalnathji became pleased with me and I requested of him to have the sight of Lord Krishna’s lilas in Braja. He said that you could fulfill my wish and that I would met you here at Gupta Prayag.”

Shri Mahaprabhuji told him to bath and afterwards gave him the sacred mantra and explained to him, “In eight days you will leave this body and will be born on the Govardhan Hill in Braja as Gopinath Gwala and my son Shri Bitthalnathji will liberate you. You will have the service of looking over Lord krishna’s cows and will experience Krishna’s lilas. It all occurs according to the Lord divine wish.”

After the discourse was over, Shri Mahaprabhuji proceeded to Trigardi.

Here, Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya stopped by the side of the Kadam lake and mentioned to Damala, “It was here Lord Krishna and Rukmuni were married and in this lake they bathed. Afterwards, all the saints and hermits present at the ceremony also bathed.”

Later Shri Mahaprabhuji went for the sight of Lord Madhava where the Lord informed hin that the Brahmin who performed His daily worship was bathing him with cold water and asked Shri Mahaprabhuji to instruct the priest in the proper modes of worship. The following day, Shri Mahaprabhuji explained to that Brahmin how to proper wake, wash, adorn and serve the Lord. The Brahmin apologized for his mistakes and was then taught how to adorn the Lord with a turban, dhoti and was then taught how to adorn the Lord with a turban, dhoti and shawl, only then did Shri Mahaprabhuji return to his camp and spoke on the Bhagavatam. Many people impressed with Shri Mahaprabhuji’s spiritual glory became his disciples before he proceeded to Gupta Prayag.

Here, Shri Mahaprabhu halted in cave under a tree where he explained, “This place has been made auspicious because Lord Balaram, (Krishna’s bolder brother) had been here,” and began to speak on the Bhagavata. Lord Shiva use to listen to the discourses and later told his disciple that he should become Shei Mahaprabhuji disciple. Arriving there the disciple prayed to the guru, but Shri Mahaprabhuji replied, “why do you want to become my disciple when ;you are the blessed follower of Shivaji.”

The bhakta replied, “He told me to take your refuge. “After initiating him, Shri Mahaprabhuji Visited all the sacred areas there before heading onwards.