Radha Vallabha Sampradaya

The Radha Vallabha Sampradaya (राधावल्लभसम्प्रदाय) is a Vaishnava Hindu denomination which began in 1535 at Vrindavan with the bhakti sant Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu (1502–1552). 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 previous 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 lived as householders and sannyasa is not praised.

Scriptures
The main scriptures of the sampradaya created in regional Braj Bhasha with status of the heaven language.
 * Hita-Caurāsī (a.k.a. Caurāsī Pad) — the eighty-four verses (hymns), the principal work of Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu.
 * Vyāhulau Utsav ke Pad (the Wedding Hymns of Radha and Krishna).
 * Shri Hit Radha Sudha Nidhi, written by Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu.
 * Shri Hit Sevak Vaani, written by Sevak Ji(Damodardas Ji)

Lineage of Radha Vallabha Sampradaya
The Shri Radha Vallabh Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura is a very famous temple of the same preaching. 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 Radha, but a 'Gādī Sevā' is placed next to Krishna to signify her presence.

The Shri Radha Vallabh Temple was founded by 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".

Notable people



 * Premanand Ji Maharaj


 * Hariram Vyas