TAVASMI

1. TAVASMI April 4, 2010

2. Agenda • Ashtasakha #7: Chaturbhujdas • Ashtasakha #8: Nanddas • Mahaprabhuji • Recap of the Dwarkadishji & Gokulnathji • Follow-up on Ram Navmi • Yamunaji • 252 Vaishnav Story – Muralidas

3. Ashtasakha: Chaturbhujdas • He was born as a Kshatria (warrior class) in the village of Jamunavat in the year of 1541. • He was the sixth son of Kumbhandas. • He was initiated into PushtiMarg by Shri Gusainji in the year 1541. • He spent his life in the town of Govardhan. • There are only about 200 Kirtans available today which were written by him.

4. Ashtasakha: Nanddas • He was born as a Brahmin in the village of Rampur in 1534. • He was the younger brother of Tulsidas • He was initiated into PushtiMarg by ShriGusainji in 1551. • There are only about 400 Kirtans available today written by him • Before he was initiated into PushtiMarg he was a happy go lucky guy who loved to chase beautiful women.

5. Shri Mahaprabhuji • Shri Mahaprabhuji was born in the year 1478 A.D. at a small village named Champaranya near Raipur in Madhya Pradesh (India). • His father's name was Shri Laxman Bhattji and Shri Illamaji was his mother. • From the very beginning Shri Vallabh was very dear to eveyone, that is why he was named 'Vallabh' which in sanskrit language means 'the loved one'. • The wife of Shri Vallabh is Shri Mahalaxmi Vahuji who is also known as "Akkaji" in Pushtimarg. • Shri Gopinathji and Shri Vitthalnathji (Shri Gusainji) are two sons of Shri Vallabh .

6. Birth of Shri Vallabh • During the journey to Banaras (Varanasi) Shri Illamaji experienced labor pains in the forest of Champa (Champaranya). • She gave birth to Shri Vallabh. But both Shri LaxmanBhattji and Illamaji thought that the child was born dead and so they put him under a tree and advanced on their journey. • At night Shri Thakurji came in a dream to Shri Illamaji and said he himself was born as her child. On hearing this Shri Illamaji and Shri LaxmanBhattji rushed to the tree where they had placed Shri Vallabh. • There they saw that Shri Vallabh was playing happily while a ring of fire had encircled him to protect him. As ShriIllamaji neared ShriVallabh the ring automatically disappeared and she took ShriVallabh into her lap.

7. Birth of Pushtimarg • Shri Vallabh came to the Girirajparvat at Jatipura during his parikrama. • Here Shri Govardhannathji ordered Shri Vallabh to build a temple for him. Shriji had also given a dream to a vaishnav (ShriPuranmalKshatri)in Punjab to come to Jatipura. He came to Jatipura and he became a sevak (devotee) of Shri Vallabh who later ordered him to construct a temple for Shriji at Govardhan parvat. • In this temple Shri Vallabh started the sewapranalika which to this day is carried on by the vaishnavas of Pushtimarg. And thus our beautiful Pushtimarg was born.

8. Baithak • Baithaks are sacred places where ShriMahaprabhuji has rested, halted or stayed for days, weeks or even months during his three pilgrimages throughout India in order to emancipate the divine souls and/or to execute a specific task. It is here that ShriMahaprabhuji read the entire ShriBhagavatam or gave discourses on the sacred text revealing it's secrets. • These Baithaks, at times travelling are on hazardous roads leading to remotely situated Baithaks in forests and on mountains and take divine pleasure in paying respects to ShriMahaprabhuji and performing any given tasks (Seva). In today’s times while traveling many a miles to visit a Baithak, performing various duties (sevas) and understanding the importance of them in gathering top priority it is essential that we understand the significance of the same.

9. There are in all 84 Baithaks of ShriMahaprabhuji spread across India. • Besides these there are 28 Baithaks of ShriGusainji, 4 BaithaksShriGiridharji, 1 Baithak each of ShriBalakrishnaji, ShriRaghunathji and ShriGhanashyamaji, 13 Baithaks of ShriGokulnathji and 7 of ShriHarirayaji. Apart from this, there are 3 Baithaks of ShriDamodardasHarsaniji. • In all 142 Baithaks. • http://www.vallabhadigvijaya.com/baithak/84baithakadd.htm - List of all Bhaithaks of ShriMahaprabhuji

10. Asur-Vyamoha Leela • When ShriVallabh was 52 years old Shriji ordered him to leave this world and come to Him. Before this Shriji had come twice in front of ShriVallabh with this demand but had returned as ShriVallabh insisted that some important work was still to be done. The time ShriVallabh gave respect to Shriji's wish and decided to do the AsurVyamohaLeela (leave this world). He went to the Hanuman ghat in Varanasi and took a maunvrat for 17 days. • At the completion of this period he called both his sons and wrote a stotra of 31/2 shlokas known as the ShikshaShloki as the final message to them. After giving his final teaching to his children and all the vaishnav devotees he entered the river Ganges and a brilliant flame arose from the spot and he ascended to Gauloka (heaven of lord Vishnu). He did the Asur-VyamohaLeela on the day of RathYatra(AshadhSud 2). During his life span he wrote 39 granthas and innumerable Kirtans.

11. Review : Dwarikadhishji • Sevya Swaroop of Balkrishnalalji (3rd son) • PragatSthan:Dwarkadhiji was formed by Brahmaji'sTapasya (meditation). • Patotsav: Fifth day of first half of the month Ashadh was the date of First Paatosav. Paatosav is a ceremony where in Pushtimarg, vaishnavs and Vallabhkul celebrate inauguration (house warming -Temple warming) which depicts a deity is brought into the Temple.  • Description: • He is a shyamswaroop (made of black stone) and chaturbhuj (four hands). This swaroop is as tall as Mathureshji (28 inches) • In His four hands He holds sankh,Chakra, Gada and Padma. (Note: In three hands, sankh, chakra and Gada are "Ayudho". Ayudho means weapons). • His Pithika (the back drop- frame) is square. The two four armed images on each upper corner of the stele are other forms of Shri Dwarikadhishji, while the two figures on either side of his feet are Krishna’s four sakhis, consorts. • Dwarkadhishji is standing with straight feet, always looks at the floor. • He wears "Kaustubhmani" (diamond) on his chest and "Kirit" on his head. • He is depicted as Vraj Raja, wears Kirit on his head and Kaustubh Diamond. These two shringar are worn by a raja.

12. Appearance and Movement • Dwarkadhishji's form asked Shree Brahmaji to do meditation (tap) to create the Universe. • In return after creation of Universe, the reward was the appearance of Krishna's form as Dwarkadhishji and Brahmaji did the first seva (worship) of this form. • Kardam rushi (Brahmaji’s son) received the swaroop next – his ashram was near Bindoo lake. • Next the Swaroop went to Kapildevji (Kardam rushi’s son). The swaroop asked to be submerged into the Lake. • Brahmin named of Dev Sharma discovered the swaroop; he was worshipped by him and his son (Vishnu) • Again with his own accord the swaroop had moved, the Swaroop appeared in King Ambrish’s dream (he was Ram bhagwan’s ancestor) and he brought to his kingdom and did seva. • Later worshipped by Queen Kaushaliya • Vashistha muni had the Swaroop in his Ashram; He was Guru of Ram • It is said that in his Ashram was where Pandavs did seva of the swaroop • King Yudhistir and Parikshit Maharaj also did seva of the swaroop and then it went to Shaur Sharma (Brahmin), who built a temple at Mount Abu for him.

13. Final Destination • Narayandas (Kanoj) dreamt about the Dwarikadhishji and asked him to bring the swaroop to his house to do seva. • Damodardas (one of the disciples of Vallabhacharya) was asked by Mahaprabhuji to bring the swaroop from Narayandas. He worshipped the swaroop till death. After which his wife took the swaroop to Adel to Vallabhacharya. • During the time of Shri Mahaprabhuji (1479 to 1531) the swaroop was established at Gokul in North India. • During the time of King Aurangzeb it was brought to Ahmedabad (Gujarat) due to unsafe political conditions in North India in the year 1670. • Then the swaroop was enshrined in Asotia, a small village near Udaipur (Rajasthan), where it remained until 1719. • Finally the swaroop was installed in the haveli at Kankaroli near Nathadwara in 1720, where it has remained ever since. The King there built this magnificent Temple of Lord Dwarkadhishji at Kankroli (Rajashthan) on the banks of lake RaySagar.

14. Gokulnathji • Fourth son of Vithalnathji • Born in Adel • Gusainji used to call him Vallabh • His wedding was performed in Kashi with Parvathiji, they had four children • His Sevya Swaroop was Gokulnathji along with Swaminiji, this Swaroop is also known as Shriji. • Mogul ruler (Jahngir)issued an ordinance to ban Mala kanti and Tilak, but Gokulnathji went to Kashmir to meet ruler and Gokulnathji was victorious and got order revoked. • He wrote numerable Granths (books) on the principal of Pushti marg in easy language for a common man to understand. The most important writing were “Mahprabhuji 84 Vartas and Gusainji’s 252 Vartas”. In this way he was able to explain difficult concept in Pushti Marg by using Vraj basha.

15. Ram Navmi • Links between the brahmins from Ram’s time to the gopis of Krishna’s time • Shri Rama who granted the boon of madhurya bhav to the rishis in Dandak-aranya (Dandak forest). So He has the status of Guru for the gopis. So they celebrate it with an enthusiasm equivalent to Janmashatami.” • Shri Nanddas was the brother of the famous Rama-Bhakta Shri Tulsidas. • Ram Navmi is one of the four jayanti vrats included by Shri Mahaprabhuji in the seva pranalika of Pushtimarg. In addition to Ekadashi – Agyaras, fasting (upvas) on these four jayantis is to be observed by vaishnavs

16. Yamuna Maharani • Daughter of the Sun GodYama. She is often depicted black in color to match Krishna riding her vahana, a tortoise. • Associated with sanctity and purity. Physical form is the river Yamuna • Literally means “twin” in Sanskrit and follows a parallel path to Ganga. Ganga can grant us Moksha or liberation, Yamuna, who being a holder of infinite love and compassion, can grant us freedom from even death, the realm of her elder brother. • We celebrate Rakshabandhan to honor this brother-sister relationship btwn Yama & Yamuna. • Shree Yamunaji appeared from the left part of heart of Shree Krishna. Shree Yamunaji always bears the age of 16 years in Golokdham. She is dark is color, just like Shree Krishna. Shree Yamunaji, in summary, having the same swaroop like Shree Krishna. • 4th Swamini of Krishna (Radha, Dhara, Gopanga) • Shree Radhikaji (Nityashiddha): Tamas bhav main • Shree Chandravali: Rajas bhav main • Shree Kumarikas: Satvik bhav main • Shree Yamunaji: Nirguna bhav main

17. Yamuna Maharani • There are three forms of each element in this universe. • Adhidaivik: The divine form • Adhyatmik: The divine attributes attached with it. • Adhibhautik: The perceived form • Adhidaivik: She is the Fourth patarani of Shree Krishna in Golokdham. This form always resides with Shree Krishna. • Adhyatmik: Shree Yamunaji's nature and importance is, the one who, knowingly or unknowingly takes the divine water of Shree Yamunaji, all his sins gets destroyed, all obstacles coming in the way for Bhagwadseva will get destroyed etc. • Adhibhautik: The River form of Shree Yamunaji that is flowing in Mathura and ShreemadGokul. • In reality, all these three forms are one and one only. The adhyatmik form resides in the Adhidaivik form and the Adhibhautik form will contain the Adhidaivik and adhyatmik form. Within the adhidaivik form, one form may be a part incarnation or the full incarnation.

18. Yamuna Jayanti • Yamuna Jayanti is dedicated to the Yamuna River and it is also known as Yamuna Chath and is observed mainly in Mathura. • Yamuna Jayanti 2010 date is March 21. It is observed on the sixth day (chath) of the Shukla Paksha in Chaitra month (March – April). • Special pujas are offered on the banks of the Yamuna River on the day. On the day people visit the Yamuna river bank and do puja and take a sip of water and chants • Yamuna Jayanti is birth anniversary of Goddess Yamuna. She is believed to have appeared on the earth on the day in the form of a river.