Sri Vallabhacharya (1479-1531) was a philosopher-saint in the Bhakti tradition, a Hindu tradition that promotes devotion as the way to salvation.
Sri Vallabhacharya was an expert on Hindu texts and rejected ascetism and monastic approaches to Moksha or salvation from the cycles of birth and death. His view was that the path to Moksha was available to all, and specifically advocated the path of devotion to Lord Krishna.
Sri Vallabhacharya added to the tradition of prolific writing by Hindu seers. Some of his works include:
- Commentary on the Brahma Sutras
- Commentaries on the Gayatri Mantra, Mimamsa Sutra and other works
- Essays on fundamental aspects of spirituality
- Subhodhini – a commentary on the Bhagvat Purana
- Sixteen “Shodasha Granthas” articulating the practice of his theology
In popular culture, he is perhaps best remembered for the Madhurashtakam, a lyrical Sanskrit composition that praises various aspects of Lord Krishna.
