Vallabhacharya (1479–1531 CE) emerges in the tradition as a profound Hindu philosopher, theologian, and devotional teacher, remembered above all as the founder and chief acharya of Pushti Marg, the “Path of Grace,” within Krishna-centered Vaishnavism. Born in Champaranya in the Chhattisgarh region into a Telugu Brahmin family, he stood in the lineage of Vaishnava teachers and articulated a distinctive vision of devotion to Krishna. Within this vision, Krishna is revered as the supreme personal form of Brahman, often approached in tender, intimate modes of worship, such as the child form, Bal Krishna. His life and work helped shape a devotional community that remains centered on loving relationship with Krishna rather than on ascetic withdrawal from the world.

Philosophically, Vallabhacharya is associated with Śuddhādvaita, or “pure non-dualism,” a Vedāntic system that affirms the complete oneness of the individual soul, the world, and Brahman. Unlike schools that treat the world as mere illusion, this teaching regards the world as a real and pure manifestation of Brahman. Within this framework, devotion to Krishna is not a secondary practice but the very means by which the soul awakens to its unity with the divine. The emphasis on reality as an expression of Brahman allows spiritual life to unfold in the midst of ordinary existence, rather than in opposition to it.

In the path Vallabhacharya shaped, the central principle is pushti—divine grace—as the decisive factor in spiritual liberation. The devotee’s role is characterized by loving bhakti and seva (service) to Krishna through daily worship, offerings, and inner surrender, with special stress on complete self-surrender (prapatti). This path is notably hospitable to householders, encouraging spiritual practice within family and social responsibilities, rather than prescribing renunciation as the only authentic route to God. The distinction sometimes drawn between souls graced by pushti and those bound by maryada (rules) further underscores that grace, rather than mere observance, is the heart of the journey.

Vallabhacharya’s legacy is also literary and institutional. He composed commentaries on foundational texts such as the Brahma Sutras and works of devotional exegesis and praise, and his teachings were preserved and elaborated within the Vallabh Sampradaya. Temples and centers of worship associated with this lineage, especially in regions such as Mathura-Vrindavan, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, became living spaces where his theology of grace and loving devotion took concrete form. Through his descendants, a hereditary line of spiritual leadership continued to guide the community, ensuring that the path of Pushti Marg remained a vibrant expression of Krishna-bhakti grounded in both philosophical reflection and intimate devotional practice.