Baithak or Bethak, , is a site considered sacred by the followers of the
Pushtimarg
The Puṣṭimārga, also known as Pushtimarg (Path of Nourishing or Flourishing) or Vallabha Sampradāya, is a Hindu Vaiṣṇava saṁpradāya. It was established in the early 16th century by Vallabha (1479–1530) and further developed by his ...
tradition of
Vaishnava
Vaishnavism () ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu traditions, that considers Vishnu as the sole supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, '' Mahavishnu''. It is one of the major Hindu denominations along wit ...
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
in India for performing devotional rituals. These sites are associated with
Vallabhacharya
Vallabha, also known as Vallabhācārya or Vallabha Dīkṣita (May 7, 1478 – July 7, 1530 CE), was the founder of the Kr̥ṣṇa-centered Puṣṭimārga sect of Vaishnavism, and propounded the philosophy of Śuddhādvaita.
His biography ...
, the founder of Pushtimarg and his descendants. They mark public events in their lives. Some of them are restricted or foreboding. These sites are spread across India and are chiefly concentrated in
Braj
Braj, also known as Vraj, Vraja, Brij or Brijbhumi, is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Palwal, Ballabhgarh and Nuh in ...
region in
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
and in western state of
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
. Total 142 Baithaks are considered sacred; 84 of Vallabhacharya, 28 of his son Viththalanath Gusainji and 30 of his seven grandsons.
Baithaks
Vallabhacharya
Vallabha, also known as Vallabhācārya or Vallabha Dīkṣita (May 7, 1478 – July 7, 1530 CE), was the founder of the Kr̥ṣṇa-centered Puṣṭimārga sect of Vaishnavism, and propounded the philosophy of Śuddhādvaita.
His biography ...
Mahaprabhu was the founder of Pushtimarg who lived in 15th century. From the young age, he travelled and visited pilgrimage sites across India. He recited and gave discourses on sacred scriptures like
Veda
FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''.
The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...
s,
Ramayana
The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
and
Bhagavata at these sites. The locations for recitation were usually banks of the rivers or lakes and quite groves in outskirt of towns. He recited original texts from scriptures as well as gave commentaries on them. Later these commentaries were compiled in ''Anubhashya'' and ''Subodhini''.
These are 84 sites where Vallabhacharya gave discourses which are known as Baithaks. Later small shrines are built to commemorate the event at some sites. Some sites do not have shrines or temples to mark the place but they are known only through stories and texts.
At these shrines, the hand-written manuscripts and personal artifacts of Vallabhacharya are housed which are revered by the followers. They generally don't house images. Personal use products like clothes and ornaments are offered by the followers. Only water and sugar crystals are offered as Vallabhacharya used to fast during sacred recitals. They too follow seven
darshan schedule followed in Vaishnava Haveli temples.
His descendants also gave discourses at various places and established their Baithaks.
Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya's 84 Baithaks

These 84 Baithaks are located from
Rameswaram at the southern tip of India to
Badrinath in the north, and from
Narayan Sarovar and
Bet Dwarka in west to
Puri
Puri, also known as Jagannath Puri, () is a coastal city and a Nagar Palika, municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, south of the state ca ...
in the east. Baithaks are also located at the places associated with his life such as at
Tirumala Tirupati
Tirupati () is a city in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Andhra Pradesh and serves as the administrative headquarters of Tirupati district. It is known for its significant religious and cultural heritage, being home to th ...
, the family's tutelary deity;
Champaran, his birthplace;
Varanasi
Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
where he spent significant part of his life. Baithaks are also located in the regions highly associated with
Krishna
Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...
such as in
Braj
Braj, also known as Vraj, Vraja, Brij or Brijbhumi, is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Palwal, Ballabhgarh and Nuh in ...
region (now roughly corresponding to
Mathura district
Mathura district () is situated along the banks of the river Yamuna is a district of Uttar Pradesh States and Territories of India, state of north-central India. The historic city of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura is the district headquarters. ...
of
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
) and in
Dwarka
Dwarka () is a town and municipality of Devbhumi Dwarka district in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Gujarat. It is located on the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti river at ...
in
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
.
Vallabhkula Baithaks
Many Baithaks of ''Vallabhkula'', the descendants of the Vallabhacharya are at the sites of Baithaks of Vallabhacharya. This Baithaks are sanctified by Viththalnath Gusainji and his seven sons. 28 Baithaks are associated with Gusainji Viththalnath while 30 more Baithaks are associated with his seven sons.
They are as follows:
;28 Baithaks of Gusainji Viththalnath, younger son of Vallabhacharya
; 4 Baithaks of Giridharji, the eldest son of Viththalanath
#Gokul
#Jatipura, in Mathuraji temple near Gosainji's Baithak
#caves of Kamara hill
#Narisevan, near Dauji's temple
; 1 Baithak of Balkrishnalalji, third son of Viththalnath
#Gokul in Dwarakadhish temple
[Other Baithak is said to be situated near a water tank in Vinjhana village.]
;13 Baithaks of Gokulnathji, fourth son of Viththalnath – 13 Baithaks
; 1 Baithak of Raghunathji, fifth son of Viththalnath
#Gokul
; 1 Baithak of Ghanshyamji, youngest son of Viththalnath
#Gokul
; 7 Baithaks of Harirai Mahaprabhu
#Gokul, in the Vithalnath's temple.
#Nathadwara, in the temple of Vithalnath
#Khamanor
#Jaisalmer, on the banks of Gomati river
#Sawali, near lake
#
Jambusar, near lake
; 3 Baithaks of Damodardas Harsani, devotee of Vallabhacharya
#Thakaranighat in Gokul
#Bansighat in Vrindavan
#Khambhalia, near Mahaprabhu's Baithak
References
{{reflist
Vaishnavism
Hindu pilgrimage sites in India