ShreeVitthalnathji "Shree Gusainji"

 
Gusainji  - Samast Vaishnav .com

    Shri Gopinathji’s brother was Shri Vitthalnathji. He is also known as Shri Gusainji. He was born on the bank of the Ganga in Vikram Samvat 1572 (on Magshar vadi nom). He was given the upanayan sanskar at the age of eight at Varanasi . Shri Mahaprabhuji himself trained him in the Vedas and the Sanjivini Vidya. Like his brother he went to Varanasi to study under Shri Madhav Saraswati.

        Shri Gusainji also toured the whole of India to spread the message of Pushti Marg. He wrote many books.  

 

                   He introduced the idea of divine service as a means of experiencing love for God. The present form of seva in Pushti Marg was devised by him. He thought of using different art forms such as music, drawing and dancing in seva. He was convinced that the arts should be employed in the service of Shri Thakorji. He was very popular and even Emperor Akbar honoured him and gave him the title of ‘Goswamy’. His four poet devotees wrote about Shri Krishna’s leelas. These kirtans are sung to this day in Vaishnav temples

 

                  Shri Vitthalnathji married twicehis wives were Shri Rukmini Vahuji and Shri Padmavati Vahuji, and had seven sons and four daughters. Because of these sons there are seven seats or piths in Pusthi Marg.

          Shri Girdharji was the eldest son of Shri Gusainji. He was born at Adel on Kartak Sudi Barash in Vikram Samvat 1597. His upvit sanskar was celebrated in Varanasi when he was seven years old.  

Gusainji with Sons - Samast Vaishnav .com
 

           Shri Govindarayji was the second son of Shri Gusainji. He was born on Kartak Vadi Atham in Vikram Samvat 1599. He is said to be the incarnation of Aishvarya gun.

 

         Shri Gusainji’s third son, Shri Balkrishnalalji, was born at Adel on Bhadrapad Vadi Teras in Vikram Samvat 1606. His eyes were dark like rain clouds and his father called him Rajiv-lochan. Even Shri Nathji liked his eyes and asked Shri Gusainji to get Him a similar pair! In Vikram Samvat 1614 he was given the upvit sanskar at Adel. He had a sharp intellect and he studied the books of Shri Mahaprabhuji. He did a comparative study of Pushti Marg with other religions.