The utsav of Rama Navmi is celebrated with a special fervour in Pushtimarg. Tilak, panchamrat, badhais of ‘Shri Raghunath palne jhoole…’ (Shri Rama is resting in the cradle…) are sung sanmukh of Shri Thakurji.

Let us understand why the utsav of Maryada Purushottam Shri Rama is so eagerly celebrated by vraj-bhakta vaishnavs for whom centre of all attraction is Nandanandan Shri Krishna.

Shri Harirai Mahaprabhu has gracefully revealed the bhav of the gopis in celebrating the utsav. He states,

“As a manifestation of Purna Purushottam Shri Krishna, it was Shri Rama who granted the boon of madhurya bhav to the rishis in Dandak-aranya (Dandak forest). So He has the status of Guru for the gopis. So they celebrate it with an enthusiasm equivalent to Janmashatami.”

To understand this revelation of Shri Hariraiji we must first be acquainted with what He has referred to by the mention of the boon of Dandak-aranya.

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The Baithakjis of Shri Vallabhkul are a salient feature of Pushtimarg; Spread across the whole of India in the most diverse of places and the most distinct of locations, they stand as proud landmarks of the journeys of Shri Vallabh, Shri Gusainji and subsequent Acharyas as they undertook limitless parishram to bring the lost jeevs back to the feet of Shri Thakurji. Some Baithaks are on river banks, some on kunds, in deserts & forests, on the hills and on islands - each and every one a reservoir of infinite spiritual energy; One that has to be experienced by oneself to understand.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and a picture with some words - would only increase the measure. In 2006 and then again in 2007, Prabhu Kripa se we along with 250-300 vaishnavs undertook two yatras - one to the South and one North, to places such as Charnat, Naimisharanya, Adel then onto Rameshwar, Vishnukanchi etc. Here I am posting the pictures of some of them along with a short caption to highlight the significance of the divine places.

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