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

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Ashtapadi can best compare with the finest ones of Jayadeva in Gīta-Govinda.
Govindaswāmi, the greatest musician of the times, was appointed by
him as the chief kīrtanakāra in the temple of Nāthadwāra. Nandadāsa,
Chaturbhujadāsa, Chhītuswāmi and Govindaswāmi composed some of the
finest songs in the local vernacular ( Vraja Bhāshā ) under the direct
inspiration of Vitthales'vara. The songs of Vitthales'vara are all in
Sanskrit. The Rāmānujiya saint Tyāgarājaswāmi composed beautiful
songs in Sanskrit. Vitthales'vara's mother-tongue was Telagu, and his
activities were confined to Gujarāt, Kāthiāwār, and Rajputānā where Telagu
was least known. Hence Sanskrit was preferred by him as the medium of
communication. Almost all the letters of Vitthales'vara which are now
available are in Sanskrit.
Thus after preparing materials for music, he utilised them in the
Sevā-Prakāra with consummate skill and erudition. The music to be sung
before the deity was in conformity with each season. Music in the morning
Sevā was to be sung in Rāgas which are to be sung in the morning.
Music in the evening is to be sung in Ragas which are to be sung in the
evening, the rule being relaxed during the big festivals of Janmāshtami,
Annakūta etc., when any Raga can be sung. In music, Ragas change according
to season. The finest musical instruments (Tambura, Bīn, Mridanga, Sarangi
etc. ) of the age were made use of in the daily Sevā. This practice is
continued to this day in the Sampradāya. Vitthales'vara's son Raghunāthajī
was, we believe, literally correct when he speaks about his father as गीतसंगीतसागर.
The daily worship changed according to seasons. Everything was
so arranged that if one entered a Pushtimārgīya temple during winter, the
moment he was within the precincts of it, he would least feel the unpleasant-
ness of winter cold. Similarly during summer, entrance in Vitthales'vara's
temple would make you forget that it was summer. The perfection was carried
to such an extent that the richest dainties that are daily offered to the deity
vary acccording to time and season. Akbar sometimes did pay visits to
Vitthales'vara and the latter made an exception by allowing the former
'Dars'an'. A Sāmpradāyika Gāthā records the following incident of Akbar's
visit on one S'ārada full-moon day (रासपूर्णिमा). Krishna is the symbol of
highest Rasa S'ringāra. He is described as S'yāma (श्याम). Accordingly
every thing in the Sevā i. e. पीछवा, पीछात, etc. was naturally श्याम. This
was changed to white silver cloth at Akbar's request, and this practice
continues to this day.
Painting too was a favourite pastime with Vitthales'vara. A beautiful
painting of his deity Navanīta-priyaraya drawn by him is in the possession of
Goswāmī Dwārkes'jee of Bombay. On Utsava days beautiful Ārtis were
drawn and filled with pearls and it was filled with harmonious blending of
colours. These Ārtis designed as they were by the ladies of Vitthales'vsra's
family are still current in the Sampradāya under their respective names, such
as Arti of Rukminiji etc. Some of these Ārtis show a considerable amount of
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