Vitthalanatha

Vitthala-natha or Vitthalanath (IAST: Viṭṭhalanātha, c. 1516–1588), popularly known as Gusainji, was an Indian philosopher. He was the younger son of Vallabhacharya, who founded the Pushtimarg religious sect of Hinduism. The name Vitthalanatha islanguages|schwa deletion]]. His other names include Vitthaleshvara (IAST: Viṭṭhaleśvara), Vitthala Dikshita, or Agnikumara. In addition, he is known by the title Gosvami (Gosain-ji or Gusain-ji). Sri Vitthaleshwara Deekshita, the author of the Vidvanmandana was the second son of Sri Vallabhacharya. He was born at Charanata near Allahabad on the 9th day of the dark half of Margasirsha, 1572, Samvat. Vallabhacharya in his later life adopted Adel as his permanent residence, and therefore Vitthaleshwara passed his childhood there. When Vallabhacharya took up Tridanda Sannyasa in 1587, Vitthaleshwara was fifteen years old. His elder brother Sri Gopinatha was senior to him by five years. His Upanayana ceremony was performed by . Vallabhacharya, but his early education was of a desultory nature. A Gatha current in sampradaya states that Vitthaleshwara in his childhood was given to playfulness. He did not seem to realize the heavy responsibility that lay on his shoulders, so Damodaradasa, the chief among Vaishnavas, is said to have remonstrated with young Vitthaleshwara and persuaded him to study, and thus be fit to bear the responsibility passed on by his worthy father. There is no doubt that Damodaradasa had his share in turning Vitthaleshwara from worldly playfulness to the meditation of Krishna-leela. Chacha Harivanshji was another personality who influenced Vitthaleshwara. It was he who generally visited a place in advance and prepared it for the acceptance of Vitthaleshwara's teachings. It is not known from whom Vitthaleshwara got direct help in the profound learning which is manifest in his works which are available now. A Gatha says that Vitthaleshwara was sent by Vallabhacharya to Madhva Sarasvati to learn the Srimad Bhagavata. Vitthaleshwara, like his father, was deeply attached to the Srimad Bhagavata.