SHREE VITTHALNATHJI – SHREE GUSAINJI.
Shree Vitthalnathji was the second son of Shree Mahaprabhuji. He was born in Charnat on the bank of river Ganga on Maheshwar Vadi on Vikram Samvat 1572, that is 4in 1516 A.D. he was given the upanayan sanskar at the age of 8 years at Varanasi on Chaitra Sudi Nom in Vikram Samvat 1580. Shree Mahaprabhuji himself taught him the Vedas and the Sanjivani Vidya. Then he lived in Varanasi with Madhav Sanjivani Vidya to study the books of other religions. In a very short time, Shree Vitthalnathji completed his studies and returned to Adel.
Shree Mahaprabhuji taught him ways of seva and gave him Shree Navnit Priyaji to render his service (seva). At this time, he learnt almost all the books of Pushti Marg.
He wrote many books, the most famous being Vidvan Mandan, the Tippani on shree Subodhiniji, Bhakti Hansa, Sarvottam Stotra, Vignaptis and Geeta Tatparya.
He was very meticulous about the rituals of seva. He made use of different arts such as music, vyanjan shastra, drawing, dancing and so on in Seva. He explained to Vaishnava’s that all 64 types should be utilized in the service of Shree Thakorji. Shree Vitthalnathji reiterated the greatness of Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
Shree Vitthalnathji married twice during his lifetime. His first wife was Shree Rukmini Vahuji and the second one was Shree Padmavati Vahuji. He had 7 Sons and 4 Daughters:
: Sons :
- Shree Giridharaji– Vikram Samvat 1597, Adel He was the disciple of Shree Gusainji. He wrote 2 books in his lifetime – Gadya Mantratika and Utsavaniranayashotra. Shree Giridharaji had only 6 disciples who left this world after taking Bhramasambandh Diksha. He got married to Shree Bhamini Vahuji and had 3 Sons and 3 Daughters. He was named Goverdhana by Shree Vitthalnathji.
- Shree Govindarayji– Kartak Vadi Atham in Vikram Samvat 1599. He was well versed in Vyakaran Shastra. He had immense attachment to Bhakti. He was married to Shree Raniji Vahuji and had 1 son named Shree Kalyanrayaji’s who also had a son. Shree Vitthalnathji named him Rajaji.
- Shree Balkrishnalalji– Bhadrapada Vadi Teras in Vikram Samvat 1606, Adel He was given Upvit Sanskar in vikram samvat 1614. He was married to Shree Kamlavatiji Vahuji in vikram samavt 1623. He had 6 sons: Shree Dvarkeshji, Shree Vrajnathji, Shree Vrajabhushanji, Shree Pitambarji, Shree Vrajalankarji and Shree Purushottamji. He was a great scholar, he has studied all the books of Hinduism and Shree Mahaprabhuji also. He wrote Svapnadrashta Svamini Stotra, Gupt Rasa Stotra, Shree Sarvottam Stotra Vrutti, Bhaktivardhini Virutti and amongst others. Shree Vitthalnathji named him Rajivlochan.
- Shree Gokulnathji– Magshar Sudi Satam vikram samvat 1608, Adel He was married to Shree Parvatiji in vikram samvat 1624. He had 3 sons: Shree Gopalji, Shree Vitthalrayji and Shree Vrajratnaji. He also has 3 daughters. His best contribution to Pushti Marg is through the tales of 84 and 252 Vaishnava’s. His seats are situated in 13 sites in India. Shree Vitthalnathji named him Shree Vallabh but it is through one of the maid named Krishnadasi that he got the name of Gokulnathji.
- Shree Raghunathji– Kartak Sudi Baras in Vikram Samvat 1611, Adel He was very learned in religious and spiritual matters. He had deep knowledge of 18 Puranas and 18 Sub-Puranas He was only 5 years old when he wrote the Namratnakhya Stotra which recites the 108 names of Shree Vitthalnathji. Shree Raghunathji’s wife was called Shree Janki Vahuji. Shree Vitthalnathji addressed him by the name of Ramchandra.
- Shree Yadunathji– Chaitra Sudi Chhath in Vikram Samvat He was addressed by the name Maharajaji given to him by Shree Vitthalnathji.
- Shree Ghanshyamji– Kartak Vadi Terash in Vikram Samvat 1628 He was addressed by the name Pran Vallabh given to him by Shree Vitthalnathji.
: Daughters :
- Shree Shobhabetiji
- Shree Yamunabetiji
- Shree Kamalabetiji
- Shree Devkebetiji