Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji was Hinduism’s principal Philosopher, foremost Mystic, well known Spiritual Leader and a Krishna Devotee. He was last of the Acharyas (Scholars) of Hinduism who most logically explained the relationship between The Supreme God (Brahm , Bhagwan) ShriKrishna, The Universe and The Individual Soul through His philosophy of Pure Non-Dualism (ShuddhAdvait BrahmVaad). The philosophy of Non-Dualism explains that the universe and the individual souls are parts of The Supreme God - The Supreme Being – The Supreme Soul. It further explains that the individual souls keeps coming out of The Supreme Soul (Bhagwan) like the sparks that keeps coming out of an eternal fire. And just like the sparks of a fire, the individual souls have come away from The Supreme Soul, disassociating themselves from The Supreme. This disassociation makes the soul forgetful of its relationship with The Supreme Soul – Bhagwan ShriKrishna, The ParBrahm.
Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji came to this world to institutionalize PushtiBhaktiMarg and to guide Pushti souls towards Bhagwan ShriKrishna by re-establishing their relationship with ShriKrishna.
This re-establishment of soul’s relationship with Bhagwan ShriKrishna is carried out by administering The Brahm-Sambandh Mantra to the individual souls. This Mantra was given to Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji (Shri MahaPrabhuji) by ShriKrishna (ShriNathji) Himself at midnight on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the first half of the month of Shravan in the Hindu year 1549 (1493 AD). The day is known as Pavitra-Ekadashi and is celebrated as the Day when PushtiBhaktiMarg was institutionalized.
Shri DamodarDas Harsaniji was the first vaishnav to be initiated into PushtiBhaktiMarg by receiving Brahm-Sambandh from Shri MahaPrabhuji.
All mantras always have some norms associated with them. These norms dictate to whom The Mantra can be given and how it can be given. They also dictate when, where, how and how many times a Mantra may be recited by the receiver of The Mantra. Also, the text of The Mantra is given to the receiver only by The Guru. That is the reason the text of The Mantra is not cited here.
Brahm-Sambandh Mantra can be recited in front of ShriNathji’s deity (or any other manifestation (swaroop) of ShriKrishna as accepted in PushtiBhaktiMarg) only after taking a bath and wearing clean cloths.
(“Nam-Nivedan Samskar” is different then Brahm-Sambandh initiation (Diksha). It is given by a PushtiBhaktiMargiya Guru who recites the Ashtakshar Mantra “Shri Krishnah Sharanam Ma Ma” three times in the recipient’s ears and blesses him with a Tulasi Kanthi. “Nam-Nivedan Samskar” is not an alternative to Brahm-Sambandh initiation.)
“ It has been ages since I (The Individual Soul) have separated from ShriKrishna (Brahm - The Supreme God). I do not experience the joy of separation (the yearning to meet ShriKrishna) from Him. Such as I am, I willingly dedicate (eradicate any emotional dependence whatsoever from) my Body, my Senses, my LifeForce, my AntahKaran (Mind + Intellect + Ego + Consciousness) and their attributes, my spouse, my home, my children, my relatives/friends, my wealth, this world & the other world that I call mine, my conscience and everything else I call mine to ShriKrishna. I am your servant. Krishna, I am Yours ! Krishna, I am Yours ! Krishna, I am Yours ! “
The Brahm-Sambandh can ONLY be given by The Guru of PushtiBhaktiMarg, Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji OR on His behalf, by His direct descendents known as “GuruDwar ” – a gateway to Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji. Brahm-Sambandh is given in the morning during Shringar Darshan either in front of GuruDwar’s Thakorji or in front of Thakorji in a PushtiMargiya Haveli (Temple). Giving of The Brahm-Sambandh Mantra to a vaishnav means intiating the vaishnav into the PushtiBhaktiMarg.