षोडश ग्रन्थाः (महाप्रभु वल्लभाचार्य - पुष्टिमार्ग सिद्धान्त एवं सान्वय हिन्दी व्याख्या)

was the Grace Divine, which in its turn generated love towards the Supreme Deity and non-attachment towards the allurements of Veda and Loka. This could be achieved only by a complete self-surrender to the Supreme Deity. Hence this vow of ‘Samarpana’ the Sadhaka had to take at the time of initiation. Taking this vow was the beginning, and realisation of the Supreme was the end of this Pushti-Mārga, while the stage between the two ends was to be passed through the process of what are called तनुजा and वित्तजा सेवा. This process gradually eliminates the objectionable features of अहन्ता and ममता, and generates a mental attitude in which the presence of the Supreme Deity is always experienced. To distinguish this Pushti-Marga from the Marya'da' and the Prava'ha, Vallabhacharya first explains the existence of these Margas. The existence of Bhaktimarga-Path of devotion, pre-supposes the existence of Pushti which itself is the finest flower of the Bhakti-Marga. The observance of the Vedic rites and Vedic Jnana proves the existence of Maryada-Marga. Those who follow only worldly pursuits are said to follow the Prav'aha-Marga. ‘अत्रैवं स्वरूपनिश्चायनेन यावन्तः पुष्टिप्रयुक्ता मार्गा भक्तिरूपास्ते पुष्टिमार्गेऽन्तर्भवन्ति, ये लौकिकाः सर्गपरंपरां न विच्छन्दन्ति, ते प्रवाहेऽन्तर्भवन्ति, ये वेदनियमं नातिवर्तन्ते, ते मर्यादायामन्तर्भवन्ति।’. The bhajana in Pushti-Marga is due to love alone. This bhajana is not based on the injunctions of the Veda, nor on worldly selfishness. Hence the devotee who becomes the recipient of the singular grace of the Supreme Deity gives up his faith ( A'stha' ) both in Loka and Veda. The soul elect attains his status through Divine Grace alone un-fettered by Vedic rules and worldly demands. Such a soul is the specially favoured one and naturally he is considered to have reached the highest stage. The difficulty to reach this stage is emphasized by Krishna in ‘कश्चिदेव हि भक्तो हिं’. Thus the Pushti Soul is distinct from the Maryada Soul as well as Pravaha Soul. The distinction was first inferred from the fact that the Pushti Soul’s sole dependance is on the grace of the Supreme Deity, that of Mary'ad'a Soul on Vedic injunction, that of Pravaha Soul on worldly pursuit. This distinction is due to difference in the mode of creation of each of these Souls. The Highest Deity is Sat-Chit- Ananda. He creates Pravaha Srishti through Manas, Maryada Srishti through Vachas, and Pushti Srishti through Kaya or Ānanda S'rianga. Pravaha Srishti is Sadans'a-Pradhana, Maryada Srishti Chidans'a Pradhana, while Pushti Srishti is Anandāns'a Pradhana. The Pushti Soul is guided by the dictates of love of God, Maryada Soul by