(This chapter gives us information on the seven sons of Shri Gusainji, their lives, their achievements & their appearance)
Girdharji Govindji Balkrishnaji Gokulnathji Raghunathji Yadunathji Ghanshyamji
Shri Gusainji married two times during his life, he had seven sons and two daughters. The sons of Shri Gusainji are known as the seven balaks (children) of Pushtimarg. When Shri Gusainji grew old he decided to distribute his wealth among his children, guess what he gave to them ?!! He gave each of his seven sons a swaroop of Shri Thakorji, these were the real wealth of Shri Gusainji !! Now we shall look at the names, qualities and the sevya-swaroop of each balak seperately.
He was the eldest son of Shri Gusainji, he was born in the year 1540 A.D. He was given the responsibility of the sewa of Shrinathji after Shri Gusainji. He was also known as 'Govardhan' fondly. Once in the year 1566 A.D. Shri Girdharji had taken Shrinathji to Satghara - The house constructed for Shri Gusainji and his seven sons by queen Durgavati of Gadha - for a period of 2 months and 22 days. When in Jatipura Shri Girdharji had carried Shrinathji single-handedly on his back from the top of mount Govardhan to the cart in which they were to go to Mathura. Only a great man like Shri Girdharji could do such a feat !! He was also very calm and serious by nature. Observing this nature emperor Akbar used to call Shri Girdharji 'Yatiji' (sage).He can be differentiated by the white beard.
He was the second son of Shri Gusainji, he was born in the year 1542 A.D. He was very fond of sewa, he gave it the utmost priority. It is said taht when Shri Govindraiji had just mounted the horse for going to the mandap on his marriage day he heard the Shankh-nad (the conch-sound depicting the beginning of the days sewa-kram). On hearing it he quickly alighted the horse and went back to the temple to do sewa. It was only after the sewa was over that he went back to the mandap and completed the marriage.He can be differentiated by the black beard.
He was the third son of Shri Gusainji, he was born in the year 1547 A.D. He had very beautiful eyes. Once Shrinathji told Shri Gusainji that he wanted netras (eyes) just like Shri Balkrishnaji. Till today the shape of the netras available is just like the netra of Shri Balkrishnaji.He can be differentiated by the dark complexion and beautiful eyes.
He was the fourth son of Shri Gusainji, born in the year 1551 A.D. Once the emperor Jehangir passed an order whereby any vaishnav or person wearing a kanthi or tilak would be executed. This order created tremors in Pushtimarg because kanthi-tilak were indespensible in Pushtimarg and anyone found with these would be executed as the the king's orders. Shri Gokulnathji approached the emperor to have this order cancelled, he had even gone all the way to Kashmir to hold talks with the emperor who had gone there on a holiday. Shri Gokulnathji had given his whole-hearted efforts for protecting the kanthi-tilak. After many days emperor Jehangir saw logic and cancelled the order. For this epic effort Shri Gokulnathji is known as the 'protector of kanthi-tilak' in Pushtimarg even today.
It was Shri Gokulnathji who explained in an easy way to the vaishnavas. He wrote extensive commentaries on the sanskrit works of Shri Vallabh. The stories of the 84 and 252 vaishnavas, Nij-Varta, Gharu-varta, sewa rahasya bhavna are some of the works written by Shri Gokulnathji in Vraj bhasha. He can be differentiated by the hair tied in a knot over his head.
Shri Raghunathji was the fifth son of Shri Gusainji, he was born in the year 1554 A.D. He loved Shri Gusainji very much. Every morning Shri Raghunathji would open his eyes only after he was infront of his father Shri Gusainji, till then he would keep his eyes closed. One day when he was going to the darshan of Shri Gusainji woth closed eyes, his head smashed into a pillar and he fell down. Immediately Shri Gusainji gave Shri Raghunathji a drawing of himself and told Raghunathji to do darshan of that drawing in the morning.
Just as Shri Gusainji has shown his love for his father - Shri Vallabh - by writing 108 names in praise of Shri Vallabh in the "Sarvottam stotram", Shri Raghunathji has also created 108 names of Shri Gusainji in the "Namratnakhya stotra". This shows his love for Shri Gusainji. He can be differentiated by the pag (head-gear) he wore.
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Shri Yadunathji was the sixth son of Shri Gusainji, he was born in the year 1558 A.D. He has created a beautiful granth "Vallabhdigvijay".
Shri Ghanshyamji was the seventh son of Shri Gusainji. He was born in the year 1570 A.D. He did the sewa of Shri Madan-mohanji with utmost affection. Once someone stole Shri Madanmohanji from his temple. After that Shri Ghanshyamji gave up food and water in grievance of this event. At last he passed away because of this fast. (Note : The swaroop of Shri Madanmohanji was found many years later, an old lady who was one of the Phoolgharias of Shrinathji used to do sewa of the swaroop in secret.). He can be differentiated by the young looks and long hair.