Pushtimarg Baithak
Baithak or Bethak, lit. 'seat', is a site considered sacred by the followers of the Pushtimarg tradition of Vaishnava Hinduism in India for performing devotional rituals. These sites are associated with Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu, the founder of Pushtimarg and his descendants. They mark public events in their lives. Some of them are restricted or foreboding. These sites are spread across India and are chiefly concentrated in Braj region in Uttar Pradesh and in western state of Gujarat. Total 142 Baithaks are considered sacred; 84 of Vallabhacharya, 28 of his son Viththalanath Gusainji and 30 of his seven grandsons.[1]
Baithaks
Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu was the founder of Pushtimarg who lived in 15th century. From the young age, he travelled and visited pilgrimage sites across India. He recited and gave discourses on sacred scriptures like Vedas, Ramayana and Bhagavata at these sites. The locations for recitation were usually banks of the rivers or lakes and quite groves in outskirt of towns. He recited original texts from scriptures as well as gave commentaries on them. Later these commentaries were compiled in Anubhashya and Subodhini.[2][3][4]
These are 84 sites where Vallabhacharya gave discourses which are known as Baithaks. Later small shrines are built to commemorate the event at some sites. Some sites do not have shrines or temples to mark the place but they are known only through stories and texts.[2][1]
At these shrines, the hand-written manuscripts and personal artifacts of Vallabhacharya are housed which are revered by the followers. They generally don't house images. Personal use products like clothes and ornaments are offered by the followers. Only water and sugar crystals are offered as Vallabhacharya used to fast during sacred recitals. They too follow seven darshan schedule followed in Vaishnava Haveli temples.[2]
His descendants also gave discourses at various places and established their Baithaks.[2]
Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya's 84 Baithaks
These 84 Baithaks are located from Rameshwaram at the southern tip of India to Badrinath in the north, and from Narayan Sarovar and Bet Dwarka in west to Puri in the east. Baithaks are also located at the places associated with his life such as at Tirumala Tirupati, the family's tutelary deity; Champaran, his birthplace; Varanasi where he spent significant part of his life. Baithaks are also located in the regions highly associated with Krishna such as in Braj region (now roughly corresponding to Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh) and in Dwarka in Gujarat.[2][1]
Number | Baithak Name | Location | Town/City | District | State | Coordinates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Govindghat | Gokul | Mathura | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°26′25″N 77°42′48″E / 27.4402643°N 77.7131976°E | First Gokul Baithak, Brahma Sambandh Baithak |
2 | Badi Bhitar Baithak | Gokul | Gokul | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°26′12″N 77°43′17″E / 27.4367551°N 77.721315°E | Second Gokul Baithak, Gupta Baithak |
3 | Shayya Mandir | Dwarkadhish Temple | Gokul | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°26′12″N 77°43′17″E / 27.4367551°N 77.721315°E | Third Gokul Baithak |
4 | Bansivat | Vrindavan | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°35′10″N 77°42′05″E / 27.5861957°N 77.7012563°E | ||
5 | Vishramghat | Vishramghat (on bank of Yamuna river) | Mathura | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°30′16″N 77°41′05″E / 27.5043082°N 77.6848244°E | |
6 | Madhuvan | Madhuvan | Maholi | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°27′40″N 77°38′45″E / 27.461028°N 77.6458096°E | |
7 | Kumodvan | Kumodvan | Usfar | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°29′55″N 77°37′34″E / 27.4986057°N 77.6262344°E | |
8 | Bahulavan | Bahulavan | Bathi | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°32′11″N 77°35′55″E / 27.5363703°N 77.598623°E | |
9 | Radhakrishna Kund | Radhakund | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°31′32″N 77°29′31″E / 27.525451°N 77.4920597°E | ||
10 | Mansiganga | near Chakreshwar Mahadev, Vallabh Ghat | Govardhan | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°29′54″N 77°27′51″E / 27.4983071°N 77.4640286°E | Two Baithaks |
11 | Parasoli | Chandrasarovar | Govardhan | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°28′42″N 77°28′05″E / 27.4784009°N 77.4679575°E | |
12 | Anyor | Sadu Pandey's House | Anyor | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°28′06″N 77°26′20″E / 27.4682806°N 77.4389534°E | |
13 | Govindkund | opposite Giriraj | Anyor | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°28′07″N 77°26′25″E / 27.4685485°N 77.4403331°E | |
14 | Sundershila | opposite foothill of Giriraj | Jatipura | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°28′29″N 77°26′21″E / 27.4746716°N 77.4392222°E | |
15 | Govardhan hill | inside Shrinathji's Temple on Giriraj hill | Jatipura | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°28′25″N 77°26′30″E / 27.4737257°N 77.4416252°E | Gupta Baithak |
16 | Kamvan | Kamvan, Shrikund | Kaman | Bharatpur | Rajasthan | 27°39′46″N 77°15′29″E / 27.6627627°N 77.2579813°E | |
17 | Ghewarvan | near Radhaji's Temple, below Morkutir | Barsana | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°38′49″N 77°22′01″E / 27.6470532°N 77.3670194°E | |
18 | Sanketvan | in the Garden, Krishna Kund | Barsana | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°38′49″N 77°22′03″E / 27.6468931°N 77.3674822°E | |
19 | Nandgam | Mansarovar Road | Nandgam | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°42′40″N 77°23′00″E / 27.7110986°N 77.3833132°E | |
20 | Kokilavan | Jauv | Baithen | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°44′56″N 77°23′32″E / 27.7488828°N 77.3923169°E | |
21 | Bhandirvan | Opposite bank of Yamuna river | Bhandir, Manjh Taluka | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°41′27″N 77°42′33″E / 27.6908423°N 77.7091363°E | Gupta Baithak |
22 | Mansarovar (Makhan) | Opposite bank of Yamuna river | Mat | Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | 27°37′46″N 77°42′39″E / 27.6294361°N 77.7108005°E | |
23 | Sukar kshetra (Soramji/Sauroji) | Saurabhghat on bank of Ganga river | Soron | Kasganj | Uttar Pradesh | 27°52′58″N 78°44′20″E / 27.8826428°N 78.7387769°E | |
24 | Chitrakut | Kamtanath hill | Pili Kothi | Satna | Madhya Pradesh | 25°10′46″N 80°51′53″E / 25.1793371°N 80.8647833°E | |
25 | Ayodhya | Ramghat Road, Gunsai Ghat | Ayodhya | Faizabad | Uttar Pradesh | 26°47′23″N 82°10′54″E / 26.7898124°N 82.1816582°E | Gupta Baithak |
26 | Naimisharanya | opposite Vedvyasa Ashram | Naimisharanya, Taluka Mishrak | Sitapur | Uttar Pradesh | 27°20′41″N 80°29′03″E / 27.3447887°N 80.4842685°E | Gupta Baithak |
27 | Kashi-1 | Sheth Purushottamdas' House Jatanvad | Varanasi | Kashi | Uttar Pradesh | 25°18′25″N 83°00′05″E / 25.3070813°N 83.0013688°E | |
28 | Kashi-2 | Hanuman Ghat | Varanasi | Kashi | Uttar Pradesh | 25°17′50″N 83°00′24″E / 25.297326°N 83.0067817°E | |
29 | Harihar Kshetra (Sonpur) Baithakji Hajipur | near Mahadevji's temple, Magarhatta Chowk | Hajipur | Vaishali | Bihar | 25°40′52″N 85°12′10″E / 25.6812089°N 85.2028975°E | |
30 | Janakpur | Bhagwandas Garder, near Chhoti Dhigi village (Hajipur) | Janakpur | Vaishali | Bihar | 28°36′56″N 79°04′20″E / 28.6156586°N 79.0722803°E | Gupta Baithak |
31 | Gangasagar Sangam | near Kapil Ashram, on Kapil Kund, Kakdwip Bet | West Bengal | 21°38′19″N 88°04′01″E / 21.6384753°N 88.0668253°E | Gupta Baithak | ||
32 | Champaranya | via Rajim | Champaran | Raipur | Chhattisgarh | 21°01′55″N 81°55′23″E / 21.0318612°N 81.92318°E | Birthplace |
33 | Champaranya Chattighar | via Rajim | Champaran | Raipur | Chhattisgarh | 21°01′58″N 81°55′11″E / 21.0326761°N 81.9198024°E | |
34 | Jagannathpuri | near Harjimal Dudhwala'S Dharmshala, Grant Road | Puri | Odisha | 19°48′26″N 85°49′17″E / 19.8071851°N 85.8212592°E | ||
35 | Pandharpur | opposite Bank of River Chandrabagha, Shegaondumala | Pandharpur | Maharashtra | 17°40′35″N 75°19′42″E / 17.6765027°N 75.328281°E | ||
36 | Nasik | Parasram Puriya Marg, Panchvati Karanja | Nasik | Maharashtra | 20°00′02″N 73°47′03″E / 20.0005756°N 73.7841736°E | ||
37 | Pannakala Nrisimha | On Mangalgiri hill, Mangalgiri Station | Vijayawada | Andhra Pradesh | 16°26′13″N 80°34′09″E / 16.4370458°N 80.5692624°E | Gupt Baithak | |
38 | Tirupati Lakshman Balaji | Lakshman Balaji, Medharam Metta Road | Tirumala | Andhra Pradesh | 13°37′43″N 79°25′01″E / 13.6287158°N 79.4170302°E | ||
39 | Shrirangji | Shrirangam | Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | 10°51′17″N 78°41′50″E / 10.8547955°N 78.6971582°E | Gupta Baithak | |
40 | Vishnukanchi | Chetravatri Muttukolam | Vishnukanchi | Tamil Nadu | 12°49′03″N 79°42′45″E / 12.8173941°N 79.7125798°E | ||
41 | Setubandh | Vallabhacharya Math | Rameshwaram | Ramnad | Tamil Nadu | 9°17′09″N 79°18′15″E / 9.2857909°N 79.3040497°E | Gupta Baithak |
42 | Malayachal Parvat | Malayachal Parvat near Ooty | Karnataka | Gupta Baithak | |||
43 | Lohgadh | Gujarati Temple, beside Rudreshwar Temple, Harvane - Sankhadi | Sanquelim | North Goa | Goa | 15°32′57″N 74°01′24″E / 15.549247°N 74.0233613°E | Gupta Baithak |
44 | Tamraparni River | On the bank | Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | 10°48′58″N 78°37′08″E / 10.8160054°N 78.6189869°E | Gupta Baithak | |
45 | Krishna River | Krishna Dham, Vadi Junction near Raichur Station | Krishna | Andhra Pradesh | 17°03′15″N 76°59′31″E / 17.0542249°N 76.9920731°E | Gupta Baithak | |
46 | Pampa Sarovar | near Hampi Village, Haspeth Railway Station | Karnataka | 15°21′14″N 76°28′38″E / 15.3539204°N 76.477095°E | Gupta Baithak | ||
47 | Padmanabh | Pondhanath | Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala | 8°28′58″N 76°56′29″E / 8.4827832°N 76.9414019°E | Gupta Baithak | |
48 | Janardan Kshetra | Janardan Kshetra | Varkala | Kerala | 8°44′07″N 76°42′45″E / 8.7352447°N 76.7125407°E | ||
49 | Vidyanagar | Hampi Village, near Tungbhadra River | Hampi | Karnataka | 15°20′04″N 76°27′34″E / 15.3343429°N 76.459547°E | Gupta Baithak | |
50 | Trilokbhan | Tamraparni River, Totadri hill | Tamil Nadu | Gupta Baithak | |||
51 | Totadri | Totadri hill, Nangumeri village | Tirunelveli | Tirunelveli | Tamil Nadu | 8°30′01″N 77°38′33″E / 8.500155°N 77.6426009°E | Gupta Baithak |
52 | Darvasen | Adisetu | Ramnad | Tamil Nadu | Gupta Baithak | ||
53 | Surat | Ashwinikumar Ghat, near Tapi River | Surat | Surat | Gujarat | 21°13′24″N 72°50′57″E / 21.2234606°N 72.8492433°E | |
54 | Bharuch | beside District Panchayat, Station Road, on bank of Narmada river | Bharuch | Bharuch | Gujarat | 21°41′59″N 72°59′15″E / 21.699705°N 72.9876113°E | |
55 | Morbi | opposite Bank of Machchhu River, behind L.E. College | Morbi | Morbi | Gujarat | 22°49′00″N 70°50′36″E / 22.8166199°N 70.8433283°E | |
56 | Jamnagar | near Nagmati River, Kalavad Road | Jamnagar | Jamnagar | Gujarat | 22°27′31″N 70°05′36″E / 22.4584942°N 70.0932983°E | |
57 | Jamkhambhaliya | Station Road, on the Kund | Jamkhambhaliya | Devbhoomi Dwarka | Gujarat | 22°20′29″N 69°44′34″E / 22.341486°N 69.7427192°E | |
58 | Pindtarak | from Nandana Patiya Via Bhatiya, Pindara | Pindara | Devbhoomi Dwarka | Gujarat | 22°15′11″N 69°14′49″E / 22.2530392°N 69.2468922°E | |
59 | Mul Gomti | Devidas Nathuram, Neelakantha Chowk | Dwarka | Devbhoomi Dwarka | Gujarat | 22°14′15″N 68°58′15″E / 22.2375312°N 68.9707322°E | |
60 | Harikund, Dwarka | near Gomti River | Dwarka | Devbhoomi Dwarka | Gujarat | 22°14′13″N 68°58′03″E / 22.2370758°N 68.9674102°E | |
61 | Gopi Talav | Dwarka | Devbhoomi Dwarka | Gujarat | 22°22′11″N 69°06′23″E / 22.369844°N 69.1064658°E | ||
62 | Bet Shankhoddhar | Shankh Talav | Bet Dwarka | Devbhoomi Dwarka | Gujarat | 22°27′18″N 69°06′06″E / 22.4549673°N 69.1016798°E | |
63 | Narayan Sarovar | Narayan Sarovar, Lakhpat Taluka | Narayan Sarovar | Kutch | Gujarat | 23°40′38″N 68°32′28″E / 23.677255°N 68.5410887°E | |
64 | Junagadh | Damodar Kund | Junagadh | Junagadh | Gujarat | 21°31′32″N 70°29′11″E / 21.5255011°N 70.4864712°E | |
65 | Prabhas (Somnath) | on the Ghat of Triveni River | Prabhas Patan | Gir Somnath | Gujarat | 20°53′15″N 70°24′48″E / 20.8874624°N 70.4133671°E | |
66 | Madhavpur | on Kadamkund | Madhavpur Ghed | Porbandar | Gujarat | 21°15′24″N 69°57′33″E / 21.2566044°N 69.959072°E | |
67 | Gupta Prayag (Junagadh) | on Trivenikund | Delvada | Junagadh | Gujarat | 20°47′00″N 71°01′11″E / 20.7832205°N 71.019781°E | |
68 | Tagadi | Ahmedabad - Botad Road | Tagadi | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 22°17′48″N 71°56′39″E / 22.296772°N 71.9441323°E | |
69 | Naroda | Gopaldasji Haveli, Naroda | Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 23°04′21″N 72°38′59″E / 23.0723953°N 72.6496035°E | |
70 | Godhra | Rana Vyas Road, Patel Vad, Godhra | Godhra | Panchmahal | Gujarat | 22°46′15″N 73°36′27″E / 22.7708315°N 73.6075422°E | |
71 | Kheralu | Shrimalivas | Kheralu | Mehsana | Gujarat | 23°53′07″N 72°36′58″E / 23.8853129°N 72.6162293°E | |
72 | Siddhpur | Bindu Sarovar Road | Siddhpur | Patan | Gujarat | 23°54′39″N 72°21′50″E / 23.9108773°N 72.3639957°E | |
73 | Avantikapuri (Ujjain) | Gomti Kund, inside Sandipani Ashram | Ujjain | Ujjain | Madhya Pradesh | 23°12′41″N 75°46′48″E / 23.2113032°N 75.7800758°E | |
74 | Pushkar | Near Brahma Mandir, Vallabhghat | Pushkar | Ajmer | Rajasthan | 26°29′09″N 74°33′02″E / 26.485931°N 74.5504227°E | |
75 | Kurukshetra | Saraswati Kund, near Bhadkrali temple, Thanesar | Kurukshetra | Kurukshetra | Haryana | 29°58′47″N 76°49′51″E / 29.9797026°N 76.8307196°E | Gupta Baithak |
76 | Haridwar | Ramghat, on bank of Ganga river | Haridwar | Haridwar | Uttarakhand | 29°57′06″N 78°09′51″E / 29.951791°N 78.1642474°E | Gupta Baithak |
77 | Badrikashram | near Temple | Badrinath | Chamoli | Uttarakhand | 30°44′41″N 79°29′22″E / 30.744738°N 79.4894206°E | |
78 | Kedarnath | Kedar Kund | Badrinath | Chamoli | Uttarakhand | 30°44′07″N 79°03′55″E / 30.7352821°N 79.0654064°E | Gupta Baithak |
79 | Vyas Ashram | near Alaknanda - Saraswati Sangam, Keshav Prayag | Badrinath | Chamoli | Uttarakhand | 30°44′07″N 79°03′55″E / 30.7352821°N 79.0654064°E | Gupta Baithak |
80 | Himachal Parvat | Himachal Pradesh | Gupta Baithak | ||||
81 | Vyas Ganga | Vyasghat | Himachal Pradesh | Gupta Baithak | |||
82 | Mandarachal | Mandarachal hill | Tamil Nadu | Gupta Baithak | |||
83 | Arail (Prayag)/Adel | Triveni Sangam | Devrakh, Naini | Allahabad | Uttar Pradesh | 25°24′09″N 81°53′09″E / 25.4024741°N 81.8859162°E | |
84 | Charnat | Acharya Koop Charnat (Charnadri) | Chunar | Mirzapur | Uttar Pradesh | 25°06′44″N 82°52′40″E / 25.1121481°N 82.8778328°E |
Vallabhkula Baithaks
Many Baithaks of Vallabhkula, the descendants of the Vallabhacharya are at the sites of Baithaks of Vallabhacharya. This Baithaks are sanctified by Viththalnath Gusainji and his seven sons. 28 Baithaks are associated with Gusainji Viththalnath while 30 more Baithaks are associated with his seven sons.[1]
They are as follows:[2]
- 28 Baithaks of Gusainji Viththalnath, younger son of Vallabhacharya
- Gokul.
- Badi Baithak in Gokul
- Bansighat, Vrindavan
- Radha kund
- Chandra sarovar
- Chandra Sarovar, in Phoolghar
- Mathura Nathji Mandir, Jatipura
- Shrikund, Kamavan
- Prema Sarovar
- Near Sanketadevi, Sanketavan
- Reethori, near Chandravali kund
- Jalaghar of Shrinathji, Karahata
- Kotavan, on Seeta kund
- Cheeraghat
- Bachavan, under Chokar tree
- Belavan, on the banks of Yamuna
- Charanaut
- Adel/Arail
- Ganda desa, in the house of Narayandas
- Soram/Soron, near Mahaprabhu's Baithak
- Godhra, in the house of Nagjibhai
- house of Mahidhar Phoolbai
- Asarwa, Ahmedabad; in the house of Bhaila Kothari
- Khambat, on Narayan lake
- Navanagar (Jamnagar), in the house of Bala Badarayana
- Gaga Gurgadh
- Dwarka, near Dauji's Mandir
- Dwarka, in the temple of Ram Lakshman
- 4 Baithaks of Giridharji, the eldest son of Viththalanath
- Gokul
- Jatipura, in Mathuraji temple near Gosainji's Baithak
- caves of Kamara hill
- Narisevan, near Dauji's temple
- 1 Baithak of Balkrishnalalji, third son of Viththalnath
- Gokul in Dwarakadhish temple[8]
- 13 Baithaks of Gokulnathji, fourth son of Viththalnath – 13 Baithaks
- Gokul, in temple of Gokulnath
- Bansighat in Vrindravan
- Radha Kund, near Gosainji's Baithak
- Chandra Sarovar, near Gosainji's Baithak
- Gopalpura, in the temple of Gokulnath
- Shrikund, Kamavan.
- Karahala, near Gosainji's Baithak
- Rasoli.
- Solam, near Gosainji's Baithak.
- Adel/Arail
- Kashmir
- Godhra
- Asarwa, in the house of Bhaila Kothari
- 1 Baithak of Raghunathji, fifth son of Viththalnath
- Gokul
- 1 Baithak of Ghanshyamji, youngest son of Viththalnath
- Gokul
- 7 Baithaks of Harirai Mahaprabhu
- Gokul, in the Vithalnath's temple.
- Nathadwara, in the temple of Vithalnath
- Khamanor
- Jaisalmer, on the banks of Gomati river
- Sawali, near lake
- Jambusar, near lake
- 3 Baithaks of Damodardas Harsani, devotee of Vallabhacharya
- Thakaranighat in Gokul
- Bansighat in Vrindavan
- Khambhalia, near Mahaprabhu's Baithak
References
- ^ a b c d e E. Allen Richardson (8 August 2014). Seeing Krishna in America: The Hindu Bhakti Tradition of Vallabhacharya in India and Its Movement to the West. McFarland. pp. 31–33. ISBN 978-1-4766-1596-7. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Baethakji". pushtimarg.net. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
- ^ Swami Satyaprasad Dasji. Indian Philosophy. Swaminarayan Temple Bhuj. p. 167. ISBN 978-81-909956-3-4. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24.
- ^ a b Gokulanātha (1985). Chaurasi Baithak. Shri Vallabha Publications. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24.
- ^ "84 Baithaks of Shri Vallabhacharyaji across India". pushtimarg.net. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
- ^ Nathdwara Temple Board (30 June 2013). "Mahaprabhuji Shri Vallabhacharya : 84 Baithaks Of Vallabhacharya". Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-11-29. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Other Baithak is said to be situated near a water tank in Vinjhana village.