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

( 4 )
was not altogether singular. We believe that Narayana Bhatta, the author of
the famous drama Veṇisanhara, was the follower of a system of philosophy
which combined in itself the Pure Adwaita of the Upanishads and the Bhakti-
Mārga. Whatever that may be, it is certain that Vallabha made a very great
impression on king Krishṇadeva, Vyasa-Tīrtha and others who were present
there. In consequence of this session, the king performed a ‘Kanakābhisheka’
with Hundred Maunds of Gold. It is said that Vallabha did not accept
this gold and resumed his travels. This abstinence on the part of Vallabha
added to the admiration of all those present there. Vyāsa-Tīrtha, the
Mādhva, actually requested him to be the head-priest of his Maṭha after
him. Vyāsa-Tīrtha with king Krishṇadeva again approached Vallabha and
presented him with a good many valuables. From these presents Vallabha is
said to have prepared a gold Mekhala set with diamonds, rubies etc., and
presented the same to S'rī Vitthala in the Vitthala Swami Temple at Vijaya-
Nagara. Ultimately, it appears, Vallabha could not conscientiously accept the
offer of Vyāsa-Tīrtha, but from this time Vallabha came to be regarded as a
great Acharya.
During his visit to Vraja, Vallabha set up the Shrine of S'rī Nathaji on
the holy hill Govardhana in a temple built for that purpose by one Purṇa
Malla Kshatriya. There Vallabhacharya used to pass his Chātur-Māsa i. e.
Āshādha S'ukla eleventh to Kārtika S'ukla eleventh every year. Here he
developed the asthetic side of Vaishṇavism by refining and perfecting the
mode of worship Sevā-Mārga. During his stay in Vraja, on the midnight
of 11th day of the bright half of S'rāvaṇa, he says he had holy communion
with Lord Krishṇa, who commanded him to initiate Jīvas in His Service. This
initiation consists of two parts: one is the formula to be repeated by the aspirant
before the deity by holding Tulsi-leaves in hand and afterwards placing the
same at the feet of the deity through Acharya, and the other part is the effect
of the same, on the devotee, by which he becomes the Adhikari in the Sevā-
Marga of Lord S'rī Krishna. He married one Mahalakshmi. He had two sons
by her viz. S'rī Gopinatha and S'rī Vitthalanatha under whom the Sampradaya
flourished considerably.
While he was staying in the north of India, Vallabhāchārya came into
contact with Kes'ava Kas'mirin, the famous Nimbarka scholar, and Chaitanya,
the Bengal Saint. They were both Krishṇopasakas, and it seems from Sampra-
dayika Gathas that their relations were very cordial. Kes'ava presented his
pupil Madhava Bhatta Kas'mirin to Vallabha in Dakshiṇa of भागवतकथाश्रवण.
He became his devout disciple, and during his whole life acted as the amanuensis
of S'rī Vallabha. It seems that during Madhava Bhatta's stay with him at
Adel, Vallabha composed his numerous works. During that interval Vallabha
wrote Purva Mīmānsā-Bhashya, Brahma-Sūtra Bhashya, Tattvadīpa-Nibandha
with his own commentary, Sūkshma tīkā and Subodhini on S'rīmad Bhāgavata,
and the sixteen Prakaraṇa Granthas giving in brief the essence of his views.
It is really unfortunate that only a fragment of his Pūrva Mīmānsā Bhashya
is available now. Aṇu Bhashya, as we have it now, is not wholly written by him.
1524