Pushtimarg Vaishnavam and Gaudiya Vaishnavam – Differences!
A Girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“hare krishna prabhuji, my question is that what is the difference between pushtimarg vaishnav and gaudiya vaishnav??? thanking you, hare krishna”
REPLY:
In actual terms, there are no differences between Pushti-Marg and Gaudiya Vaishnavism because both agree on everything.
Pushti-Marg was introduced by Vallabhacharya and it is based on “Shuddha-advaita” while Gaudiya Vaishnav dharma is “achintya-bheda-abheda”.
Advaita means all are equal. ACHINTYA BHETA ABEDA means “Same as well as different”.
For example, according to Gaudiya Vaishnavam, the Lord is there both in this material world as well as in Goloka as a person. And, the Lord alone is the Supreme Personality and all others are not equal to Him.
The immediate thin philosophical difference is in the way they approach Krishna. “Pushti-bhakti “ is towards Krshna and ONLY Krishna, no other Vishnu forms like Narayana and generally not alongside Radharani.
A second difference is the motivation for Pushti is a strong desire and liking to serve Krishna. A strong driving desire for His seva by His Grace. Hence Pushti.
When that desire isn’t there, the marg is not encouraged. However, “shravanam-kirtanam” is highly recommended for people who desire to have the desire.
Vallabhacharya introduced “Maryada-marg” out of kindness as a supplement for people to want liberation but have no desire to serve Krishna eternally. This marg consists of yad’nya and other things.
So, the central component of Pushti Marg is Deity Worship, ‘seva’, and traditionally, by parampara – singing bhajans in various ragas.
The original Pushti-lineage does not worship Radharani along with Krishna on the altar.
Whereas in Gaudiya Vaishnavam, there will be no worship without Radharani and She is considered as the pleasure potency of Lord Himself.
Pushtimarg Vaishnavam following is very less and Gaudiya Vaishnavam is very actively and widely followed throughout the world.
My advice is:
Let us not confuse beyond this. There are many paths that will confuse you and new paths are also coming.
So, let us not fall in this race of different paths and their campaigns.
We are following the path recommended by Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu and the acharyas in His lineage. So, we are safe and Vibrant.
Just Chant Hare Krishna, follow 4 regulative principles, have Krishna Prasadam, surrender to a bonafide guru and try your best to serve the Lord Krishna and Radharani.
That is enough. We need not have any compromise in that.
This is the best process suitable for kaliyuga.
Let us save time in this short life in kali yuga and spend that saved time to go closer to Krishna.
Since I think and act like this, I feel safe and feel no difficulty in following devotion to Krishna.
You too think like this and tell whether you too feel safe and comfortable in devotion.
(FOLLOWING MULTIPLE CONCEPTS IN DEVOTION – DEMERITS! READ HERE!)