Radha Vallabha Sampradaya


The Radha Vallabha Sampradaya is a Vaishnava Hindu denomination which began in 1535 at Vrindavan, with the Sant Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu. Harivansh's views are related to Krishnaism, but emphasises devotion to the goddess Radha as the Supreme Being.

Features

According to the scholar Guy L. Beck, the Radha Vallabha Sampradaya has the following features, in comparison with Krishnaite traditions.
  1. Its view on Radha and Krishna differentiates from normative Krishnaite theology. The Supreme Being in this tradition is Radha, while her consort Krishna is described to be the penultimate step toward the supreme deity, and her most intimate servant.
  2. The tradition prefers to remain unaffiliated with any classical philosophical positions and resisted affiliation with the four major Vaishnavite sampradayas.
  3. It declines to produce theological and philosophical commentaries, based on pure bhakti, divine love.
  4. The founder and followers lived and lives as householders and sannyasa is not praised.
  5. It defines liberation not in terms of moksha or Vaikuntha or Goloka, but as participation as a witnessing companion in the divine play of Radha and Krishna.

    Scriptures

The main scriptures of the sampradaya are created in regional language Braj Bhasha, which is regarded within the tradition as the sacred language associated with Radha and Krishna, both in earthly Vrindaban and in the eternal divine abode. These scriptures emphasize poetry and singing verses rather than philosophical views.
  • Hita-Caurāsī : the eighty-four verses, the principal work of Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu.
  • Vyāhulau Utsav ke Pad : celebrating the eternal marriage of Radha and Krishna.
  • Shri Hit Radha Sudha Nidhi: a Sanskrit stotra traditionally attributed Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu reflects Radhavallabh theology.
  • Shri Hit Sevak Vaani: written by Sevak Ji
The Radha Vallabha Sampradaya also preserves a large collection of unpublished poetry composed by later members of its disciplic lineages.

Lineage of Radha Vallabha Sampradaya

The Radha Vallabh [Temple, Vrindavan|Shri Radha Vallabh Temple] in Vrindavan, Mathura is a famous temple in Radha Vallabha Sampradaya. This temple is among the most famous 7 temples of Thakur of Vrindavan including Radha Vallabha, Govinda, Banke Bihari and four others. In this temple, there is no idol of Shri Radha, but a 'Gādī Sevā' is placed next to Krishna to signify her presence. Beck notes that the throne serves as a symbolic surrogate for Radha, who is considered beyond physical representation in this traditon and reflects her supreme status.
The Shri Radha Vallabh Temple was founded by Shri Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu who is worshipped in the adjacent temple of Radha Vallabha which was earlier Radhavallabha's temple, but because of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's attack on Vrindavan he was shifted to other place and then the new temple was built. The Yugal Darshan of Radhavallabha is considered as difficult because of rituals due to which the "patt" gets closed. This temple with Madan teer and Seva kunj with Maharasmandal are held by the Tikaet Adhyaksh and are considered as Radha Vallabha's property. In this temple Radhastami is celebrated largely which is a festival on the birthday of Radha.
The kirtan "Samaj-Gayan" is the Radha-vallabha's collective style of hymn singing by the Hindustani classical music forms, such "dhrupad" and "dhamar". It developed early in Vrindavan and uses Braj Bhasa devotional poetry as a collective form of worship.

Notable people