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Vallabha, or Vallabhācārya (1479–1531 CE), was an Indian saint and philosopher. He founded the Kr̥ṣṇa -centered Puṣṭimārga sect of Vaishnavism in the Braj (Vraja) region of India, and propounded the philosophy of Śuddhādvaita .
Vallabha was a Hindu philosopher and founder of the important Vallabhacharya (or Vallabha Sampradaya) devotional sect, also known as the Pushtimarg (from Sanskrit pushtimarga, “way of flourishing”). Born to a Telegu Brahman family, Vallabha showed precocity in spiritual and intellectual matters.
In response, Vallabha formulated the philosophy of Śuddhādvaita, in opposition to the Ādvaita Vedānta of Śaṅkara, which he called Maryādā Mārga or Path of Limitations. Vallabha rejected the concept of Māyā, stating that the world was a manifestation of the Supreme Absolute and could not be tainted, nor could it change.
Vallabha participated in a debate in the court of King Krishnadevaraya between Vaishnavites and Shaivites on whether the god was dvaita or advaita (dualistic or non-dualistic). The debate ran for 27 days in the center hall, at the end of which Vallabha was declared victorious.
Vallabha is said to have married on Kṛṣṇa's instructions, producing two sons to act as his spiritual successors, Gopīnātha (who died young) and Viṭṭalanātha. Shortly before his death in Vārāṇasī, Vallabha became a saṃnyāsin.
Vallabha distinguishes the transcendent consciousness of Brahman as Purushottama. Vallabha lays a great stress on a life of unqualified love and devotion towards God. In all the philosophical traditions, it is common practice to describe how the Supreme Entity Brahman is related to us and our surroundings.
Vallabha, or Sri Vallabhacharya (1479 - 1531), was a devotional philosopher, who founded the Pushti sect in India and the philosophy of Shuddha advaita (pure non-dualism). Vallabha is regarded as an acharya (embodiment of a divine personality) and guru within the Vaishnava traditions.
