Vallabhas

Vallabhas are adherents of the Vallabhacharya tradition, a Hindu Vaishnavite movement commonly known as Pushtimarg or the Path of Grace. The tradition emerged in the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period and centers on devotion to Krishna as the supreme deity and source of salvation. Followers emphasize a personal, loving relationship with God and seek to live out devotion through ritual and daily practice.

Theology and beliefs within Vallabha philosophy, often described as Shuddhadvaita or pure non-dualism, hold that Krishna is the ultimate reality and that liberation comes through divine grace (pushti) rather than through austerities or scholarly argument alone. Devotees pursue bhakti (devotion) expressed as prema (affectionate love) for Krishna, typically manifested in service (seva), song, and temple worship.

Practice and worship are organized around prominent centers and deities. The most notable focus is Krishna as Shrinathji, worshipped at the temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Pilgrimage to sacred sites in Vrindavan and Govardhan is common. Vallabha devotion emphasizes seva, devotional singing (bhajan), and ritual observances within temple and household pieties. The movement includes both monastic orders and lay communities, with a network of temples and devotional groups.

Origins and spread trace to Vallabhacharya, who articulated the tradition's core doctrines and practices in the Braj region and western India. From its early centers, the movement expanded to Gujarat and other regions, establishing a rich tradition of temple worship, devotional poetry, and music. In modern times, Vallabhas maintain communities in India and abroad, preserving the Pushtimarg lineage and its devotional culture.

Texts and leadership center on Vallabhacharya’s writings and subsequent Pushtimarga literature, with the Nathdwara temple complex serving as a major hub for practice and pilgrimage.