अणुभाष्य (महाप्रभु वल्लभाचार्य - शुद्धाद्वैत वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र महाभाष्य प्रकाश टीका सहित)

( 9 )

The result was that the very household of Vitthales'vara became free from the experiences of the miserable surroundings of the worldly life. The mode of worship was carried on in such a way that all the members of his family, young and old, males and females, could take part in the daily worship with such fervour and pleasantness that his house was a sight which gods would envy. The poet Gopāladāsa gives expression to this fact in the following couplets:— हारकंकणकर्णभूषणमाद् नाना हींडतां । गान गाये स्वर सुहाये श्रीनवनीतप्रियजीने पोढतां ॥ सन्ध्यासमे शृंगार नूतन फूल गुंथे सौ मली । सदनशोभा निरखतां ते लक्ष्मी मन पाम्यां रली ॥ Emperor Akbar's two ministers Todarmall and Bīrbal seem to have come into closer contact with him during this time and gave him their help whenever required. The shrine of S'ree Nāthajī came into exis- tence under circumstances in which the followers of Vallabhāchārya and those of the Gaud school both worshipped it with equal reverence. S'ree Nāthajī or Govardhanadhara was worshipped by the local people as Devadamana ( देवदमन ). It is alleged that originally this shrine was set up by king Vajra of the Yādava race who was brought to Muttrā by Arjuna after the destruction of the Yādava race. The said image which remained under-ground was then discovered. When Vallabhāchārya visited Vraja, he installed this image of Govardhanadhara or S'ree Nāthajī in the year 1576, अक्षयतृतीया. He appointed Mādhavendra-puri a Tailanga Brāhmana Sannyāsi of the Mādhva school to carry on the worship of Govardhana-dhara. This Mādhavendra-puri was a Krishna-worshipper. He was the guru of Ishvarapuri who initiated the Bengal saint Chaitanya into Krishna-worship. Mādhavendra-puri was instrumental in introducing Krishna-worship in Bengal. To carry on the daily worship of S'ree Nāthajī was a task difficult for a single individual. Hence he kept some Bengāli Vaishnavas to help him. Rāmdāsa, another saint, was commissioned by Vallabhāchrāya to act as first मुख्यप्रचारक. He was a Chauhana Rajput. Krishnadās was appointed as the Adhikāri. Vallabhāchārya and his son Gopīnātha used to visit Vraja during the Chātur-māsya of every year, and during their absence they used to carry on the Sevā themselves. After the passing away of Vallabhāchārya and Gopīnātha, some disagreement seems to have arisen between the Bengāl Vaishnavas and Vallabha Vaishnavas. So long as Mādhavendra-puri was there, no disagreement seems to have arisen. The image is spoken of as Gopāla and described as such in the works of Chaitanya writers. When Mādhavendra-puri went to the south to fetch Malayāgaru chandana (sandal-wood) he passed away there at an advanced age of about 130 years and the Bengāl Vaishnavas used to carry on the worship of S'ree Nāthajī under the control and supervision of Krishnadāsa Adhikārī. Gopinātha's visit to Gujarāt brought him about a lakh of rupees as Sevā. The same was dedicated by him to S'ree Nāthaji. Vitthales'vara's frequent visits to Gujarāt attracted its rich people to visit the shrine of S'ree Nāthaji and they made rich presents to the Deity. 2 2009