Summary of the Shodash Granth of Shri Vallabhacharyaji
ShriVallabha-charya's faith is known as Pushti Marga or Bhakti Marga. It differs from other Bhakti Margas by the fact that in his cult the Bhakti has no force at all in getting God's grace. His love-devotion has the goal of
the enjoyment of God's love and participation in His joy through His Grace, which not as a means - for the achievement of any objectives.
ShriVallabhacharya deals with the problem of Reality in his Anu Bhashya in a Praman way, in the Tattva Dip Nibandha in a Prameya way, in his Sixteen Granths in a Sadhana way and in his Subodhini on the Bhagavata in a Fala (Goal) way. They are intended only for the followers of the Pushti Marga.
The following is the very short summary of the Sixteen Granths. Each granth is a step for another granth. Each granth also tells the stage of the devotte where he stands and what he needs. They all are connected with each
one. All granths have the same conclusion and results.
1-YAMUNASHTAKA:
Starting with the grace of ShriYamunaji in Yamunashtaka ShriVallbhacharya says,
* It purifies body, mind and senses.
* The devotee has no other desire except union with God and enjoyment of God's love after purification of heart, and change of nature.
2-BALBODHA:
* ShriVallbhacharya teaches in Balbodha what one (junior stage in spiritual life as their spiritual sense is not sufficiently developed) should do, once we have desire to union God.
* Food develops Body, education develops knowledge, and Dharma to world develops you as a good person, Dharma to Pushti marga develops as a good vaishnav, and Dharma to soul brings closer to God.
* Balbodha teaches what our soul should act in these four principals to soul (1) Dharma (Duty) (2) Artha (wealth) (3) Kama ( happiness) and (4) Moksha (Salvation) under two main categories (1) Vedic i.e. considered by the Vedas (2) Lau-kika-considered by the sages.
3-SIDDHANTA MUKTAVALI:
* At the end of Balbodha, ShriVallabhacharya concludes that the salvation is the goal and goal is to offer seva.
* A devotee of God who wishes to understand and to reach Krshna, must offer service (seva) to Krshna, with selfless devotion and love not by knowledge or worship. This Seva is of three kinds-Tanuja (to be done with his body), Vittaja (to be done with his money) and Mansi (mentally). The last one is the best because we spend more time outside than inside Seva.
* ShriVallabhacharya then explains that the God has three forms like the river Ganges-the physical -what you see (Aadhibhau-tika), the spiritual- what you feel (Adhaytmika) and the divine- the presence you see
(Adhidaivika). Like these three forms of the Ganges, God also has three forms-the physical (the world), the spiritual (Akshara), and Divine (Krshna). God is described in the Upa-nishadas as Sat-chit-A nand (Being,
consciousness and joy).
4 - SIDDHANTA RAHASYAM:
* In Siddhanta Muktavali ShriVallbhacharya gave us the message which was delivered by God to on the 11th day of the Bright half of the month of Shravan.
* The Pushti souls should sur-render absolutely and accept God's servitude by the vow of Dedication by attending two Mantras ceremonies - Sharan Mantra and Nivedana Mantra.
* Sharan Mantra (Naam Mantra) consists of eight letters which is translated as 'Krshna is my refuge'and/or declaration of the acceptance of God's surrender
* Nivedana Mantra (Brahma Sambandha Mantra) consists of five letters which is translated as "Oh Krshna', I am your Servant." The word Brahma Samabandha means union with God by which the devotee (Atma Nivedan or Self dedication to God) dedicates himself, his family, his wealth and all his belonging to God and uses them in God's service.
* ShriVallabha mentions Nine fold devotion to that five kinds of souls due to nature or birth, place, time, associations and contacts as mentioned in the Vedas and recognized by the world.
5 - NAVARATNA:
* ShriVallbhacharya says that this Navratna will relieve you on any kind of interferences occurring only with his Seva and not for other than Seva.
* A follower of Pushti Marga is oblige to have relation his family, relatives, friends and with the world where he/anyone require himself, his time & money only for which he is responsible. However, the devotee seeking the love of God should be completely free from all kinds of cares, worries, and anxieties.
* He should know that whatever he does and what ever it happens here is God's desire. It is for God to make his circumstances favorable or otherwise.
* Whenever the mind suffers distractions he should remember the holy Mantra-"Krshna is my Refuge" and Krshna will guide him.
6 - ANTAH KARANA PRABODHA:
* This consisting of 10 verses is composed by ShriVallbhacharya as an address to his own heart but it is also meant for all his followers. It is said that the occasion for the composition of this granth is connected with
a personal incident in his own life.
* ShriVallabhacharya says that the devotee of God should trust in God and continue to love Him and offer-service. In any case the devotee should not feel cut off from God's Grace even in a bad experiences. It is a God and with his will, desire and acts everything will happen with you; even he may
test the love of the devotees.
* The devotees should think of their original status, and compro-mise with the new situation, even if they do not feel God's favor. He should not have that feeling of favor or not favor but just love God under all
circumstances. The devotees should engage their body in the service of God. The souls are the brides of God. The marriage cere-mony was performed at the time of initiation.
7 - VIVEKA-DHAIRYA-ASHRAYA:
* It is implied that for the grace of God, these three virtues-Viveka (discrimination, understanding, to be free from ego-ism) Dhairya (Patience) and Ashraya (Refuge of God) are the most essential.
* Vivek brings all strength to reach Dhairya and Ashraya.
* The second virtue is Dhairya or patience or bearing the three fold (bodily, mental and spiritual) misery during one's life. If any remedy is found by God's Will for any of these sufferings, in all conditions of life and in all relations, the devo-tee should not hesitate in making use of it and he must take it as Grace of God. No prayer should be offered to God for protection against the calamities and no complaints should be made charging Him with partiality and ruthlessness.
* In all matters the devo-tee must have full trust in God and should do his work, thinking it to be God's work. If he has to suffer in it he should consider it as due to God's Will, and as His Grace.
8 - KRUSHNASRAYA:
* The reason why it has 10 verses is explained by means of six actions place, time, materials, holy mantras, agent and action plus four Purusharthas. He means to say that God alone is Refuge for the performers
of Vedic rituals or the devotees.
* The present Age is called Kali yuga (Iron Age), in which all good paths for religious life have disappeared and everywhere one finds hypocrisy.
* The holy places have become unholy. Even a holy place like the Ganges has been surrounded by wicked people.
* The Mantras have lost their effectiveness due to lack of knowledge. They cannot give protection. Even the educated people are intoxicated with pride and lead sinful lives.
* The vedic rituals-including fasts (Ekadashi) and vows have lost their value due to differences of beliefs.
* From an example of Ajamila, it is proved that Krshna alone is the savior, even of sinners. All Gods ex-cept Krshna possess limited powers. Even Akshara is limited. Krshna alone possesses Infinite powers and perfect joy. None except Krshna can uplift devotees devoid of Viveka, Dhairya & Ashraya and the last one the conclusion is
* Krshna is every thing for us.
9 -CHATUSHLOKI:
* In this granths, ShriVallabh refers to the Purusharthas of the ideal follower of the Pushti Marga. He does not desire any worldly or heavenly happiness or attainment of the yogic powers or salvation also.
* Vallabhacharya elsewhere defines these Purusharthas of a Pushti devotee, stating that accepting the condition of God's service as his servant is Dharma (Duty), God Himself as his Artha (Wealth), the desire to
have vision of God is Kama and belonging to Him is salvation (Moksh).
10 - PUSHTI PRAVAHA MARYADA:
* In Pushti Pravaha Maryada, he distinguishes different kinds of souls with Pushti souls.
* Worldly souls, called Pravaha perform differently from other souls due to their nature, behavior, possessions of wealth, power, fame etc. Their outlook of life is materialistic.
* The Maryada (higher than pravaha) or religious minded/spiritual conform to the authority of the scriptures and the counsels the wise men. Their pursuits are intended for the goal of others and of their own soul.
* Superior to these and the highest of all are the Pushti souls who live only for the Pushti (grace) of God. They despise worldly pos-sessions and are indifferent even to Moksha, Their aim is parti-cipation in the joy of God in the state of union with God. They (The Pushti souls) are dearest to God because they have nothing in their life except love of God.
* But all the souls falling under the Pushti division are not alike. They have also differences among them. ShriVallabha therefore divides all Pushti souls into two broad divisions-(l) Pure Pushti souls and (2) Mixed Pushti souls
Vocabulary :
Premlakshna bhakti (in addition to NavdhaBhakti),
Sainyog (stay physically with God in Seva),
Viprayog (stay mentally with God when not in Seva),
Avirbhav (Soul can able to feel god's existance) ,
Tirobhav (Soul cannot
able to feel god's existance),
Sadhan (effort by Vaidikway),
Sadhana (Yoga),
Sukh (hysical happiness)
Dukh (physical unhappiness),
Prapanch (deceit),
Patit (sinful),
Prey (materialistic or Laukik),
Purusharth (effort),
Prarabdh (fate),
Prapati (shelter)
Sanyas (salvation of life from the world)
Fala (reward)
Prabodh (true instrument)
Praman (true knowledge)
Pratity (true confidence)
Pramey (true evidence)