Pushtimarga

Pushtimarga, meaning the Path of Grace, is a Hindu Vaishnava tradition within the broader lineage of Vallabha Vaishnavism. It was founded in the 16th century by Vallabhacharya in western India, with roots in the regions that are now Gujarat and Rajasthan. The tradition emphasizes devotion to Krishna as the supreme form of God and teaches that the soul progresses spiritually through Krishna’s grace (pushti) rather than through self-effort alone.

A central feature of Pushtimarga is the worship of Krishna in a form-based, temple-centered devotion. The principal devotional image is Shrinathji, a form of Krishna revered in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, where a major temple complex and monastic community maintain ongoing worship and service to the deity. Practices include seva (service) to the deity, devotional singing and music, and a regulated daily schedule of rituals and prayers.

Theological framework is often described as Shuddhadvaita, a non-dual philosophy that posits an eternal, intimate relationship between the individual soul and Krishna. Liberation is understood as eternal service in Krishna’s divine lila, attained through loving devotion and the grace of a realized guru. The tradition emphasizes the guidance of a guru-parampara (lineage) that interprets scriptures, conducts rituals, and preserves proper conduct and ethics for adherents.

Organizationally, Pushtimarga has been sustained by temple communities and monastic orders, notably the Goswami line, which oversees the Shrinathji temple and related centers. While it shares common Vaishnava elements with other sects, Pushtimarga is distinguished by its central emphasis on divine grace as the primary means of spiritual progress and its focus on Krishna worship, seva, and the liturgical traditions surrounding Shrinathji.