The appearance day of Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, the founder of the Radhavallabh Sampraday, was celebrated with great pomp in Vrindavan. Shri Hit Harivansh’s family was from Deoband in Northeast Uttar Pradesh. His father, Shri Vyas Mishra, was a Gaur Brahmin who, according to the Tarikh-i-Deoband, was employed by the Mughal emperor, Humayun.
One summer, as he was travelling west with the royal caravan from Agra, they crossed the land of Braj. It was ekadashi when Shri Vyas Mishra’s wife gave birth in Braj’s Baad village, and thus Shri Hit Harivansh appeared in this world. The year of his birth is estimated to be somewhere around 1500 A.D. Despite having been born a Brajwasi, Shri Hit HarivanshJi spent his childhood with his family in Deoband.
It was in Deoband where he received mantra from Shri Radha in a dream and became her disciple. Another account says that it was Shri Gopal Bhatt Goswami who gave HarivanshJi his initiation. In the year 1534, HarivanshJi returned home to Braj. Thereafter he lived in Vrindavan permanently. He established the Shri Radhavallabh Temple and promoted worship of Shri RadhaRani as the supreme power.
HarivanshJi’s appearance day was celebrated with great joy at the Shri Radhavallabh Temple and other related ashrams. Devotees offered worship and abhishek was offered to RadhavallbhJi amidst singing of HarivanshJi’s divine songs. Kirtans were sung and a procession was also taken out in the streets.
Did you know that the Radha Ballabh Temple is only 4.5 kms away from Krishna Bhumi? As a resident of Krishna Bhumi, you will also be able to avail the free A.C coach service from the township to other temples in Vrindavan!
