History of Classical Sanskrit Literature c19.s5: Section 5

History of Classical Sanskrit Literature c19.s5

Language: English

Section 5 c19.s5.1

**225. Vallabha Ācārya**, the famous religious teacher, was the son of Lakṣmaṇa Bhaṭṭa and Guru of Puruṣotama. He lived in 1478-1530 A.D. He commented on Vyāsa's Brahmasūtras. The followers of Vallabha school, like Caitanya's, worship Kṛṣṇa as the supreme being. Among his works¹⁰ in poetry are Premāmṛta,¹¹ Mathurāmāhātmya,¹² Mathurāṣṭaka, Yamunāṣṭava, besides discourses on Śrī Bhāgavata.

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¹⁰ For list of his works see *CC*, I. 555-6; *Ind. Rev.* (1918), 643. For Stotras, see Vallabhācāryāstutiratnāvali by Gokulādhīśa (Printed, Bombay). For Vallabhācāryavaṁśāvali, see *Ibid.*, 556. Bhandarkar, *VS*, 76 and *History of Vallabhācārya in Western India* (London); Grouse, *Mathura*; Farquhar, *ORL*, 377.

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¹¹ *BR*, IV. 70 with commentary by Vitthala.

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¹² *BR*, II. 46.

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His life is described by Gopāladāsa in Vallabhākhyānaka,¹ by Babu Sītārama Saśtri in Vallabhadigvijaya.²

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¹ Printed, Bombay.

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² Printed, Benares.

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Vallabha's sons were Gopīnātha and Vitthala. Vitthala was born in 1515 A.D. and was as great a writer as his father. Among his poems,³ are Kṛṣṇapremāmṛta,⁴ Yamunāṣṭapadī,⁵ Rasasarvasva,⁶ and commentary on Gītagovindā. Vitthala's sons were Giridhara and Raghunātha. They wrote verses in praise of Kṛṣṇa.⁷