1. The name of our sect is Pushti Marg.
2. The 'principal guru' of every vaishnav is Srimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji
3. Every descendent of Sri Mahaprabhuji is 'guru-dwar', meaning they symbolise 'Him' as Guru.
4. The Goswami from whom we have taken 'Brahm Sambandh' initiation is our guru.
5. Although brahm sambandh initiation may have been taken from any particular Goswami, still every descendent of Shri Mahaprabhuji should, in every way, be given equal regards and should be worshiped as guru by vaishnav.
6. 'Nam Nivedan' is said to have been done, when the guru pronounces the 'ashtakshar mantra' three times and is it repeated three times by the person taking the initiation and then he makes him to wear a tulsi mala which should be worn at all times.
7. 'Brahm Sambndh' or 'Atma Nivedan' is given when one bathes in 'apares' and with Tulsi in hands pronounces 'Gadya Mantra', as would be told by Guru in front of Shri Thakurji. Then, tulsi leaves are offered to Prabhu's lotus feet.
8. In Pusti Marg only male Goswami descendents of Srimad Vallabhacharya are qualified to give ashtakshar mantra and Brahm Sambandh initiation. In pustimarg, traditional seat of Guru is not passed on to disciples and therefore, initiation should be taken only from a descendent male Goswami.
9. Many people, mistakenly refer to fasting as 'apvas' but the correct word is 'upvas' Apvas means to reside in hell and 'upvas' means to reside near God. Hence The correct word 'upvas' should be used.
10. After taking Ashtakshar Mantra and Brahm Sambandh initiation, a vaishnav should greet each vaishnav by saying 'JAI SHRI KRISHNA'.
11. In writing a letter to a vaishnav, one should use the greeting 'Jai Shri Krishna'. Even if the vaishnav is our relative and older than us, 'Jai Shri Krishna' is to be used in conversation.
12. It is not the tradition to greet a Goswami with 'Jai Shri Krishna'. The reason is that a sevak does not have the worthiness to convey Bhagavad remembrance to the Guru. Through the grace of the guru, the sevak has obtained Bhagavad remembrance. In meeting a Goswami, one should say 'dandvat'. In writing a letter 'sashtang dandvat pranam' should be written and on the phone my 'sashtang dandvat pranam' should be spoken to be followed by any other matters.
13. Panchang dandvat is done before Thakurji and sashtang dandvat is done before gurudev.
14. Females do not do sashtang dandvat.
15. Before going to one's guru or any Goswami, one should first say 'dandvat' and then do pranam. After this, one should ask 'May I take charan sparsh?'. After receiving permission, one should touch both feet with the right hand and then with that hand one touches one's own both eyes, forehead and heart.
16. In seva or in any work being done for a goswami that does not require two hands, one should use only the right hand and not the left hand. Accordingly, touching of the feet is done with the right hand only.
17. Thakurji's and gurudev's touching of the feet is done in the following manner. Place the left hand under the right forearm and then with the right palm in the upwards position, very softly touch the left charan (foot), then the right, then again the left.
18. One should not sit before the guru with crossed arms. One should not sit with feet extended towards guru and also should not sit with his back behind him. One should not touch the guru's cushion or cloth spread beneath him. The feet should not be kept in an upwards position or in any other undisciplined manner. One should sit with crossed legs in a well mannered way and with humbleness.
19. One should be careful at all times that one's feet should never touch the guru's cushion, pillow, clothing, the bed spread or any of his things.
20. When the guru is sitting at a higher level, one should not sit at the same level but should sit at a lower level. If the guru is sitting on a chair, one should not sit on a chair. In the presence of the guru, a well-learned person, a person of royalty or any other highly placed person should not keep an attitude of self importance.
21. One should not pass wind in the guru's presence. One should not sing or hum film songs or other such things loudly in the guru's presence.
22. While in the guru's presence, vaishnavas should not discuss household matters or any other worldly matters but they should only discuss matters related to Bhagwad importance.
23. In the guru's presence, one should not discuss the teachings or blessings of any other person. While in the guru's presence, one should not touch the feet of any other person even if such behavior is in accordance with family or any other worldly relationship. According to the tradition of the Indian scriptures, while in the guru's presence, only he should be shown worshipful sentiments.
24. In the guru's presence, one should take permission before leaving.
25. One should not go to the guru without becoming purified in the following circumstances:-
· A woman in monthly period should not go for three days.
· One should not go during the period of 'sutak'.
· If one has gone to the toilet, one should not go without taking a bath.
· After delivery, a woman should not go for 40 days.
· After touching a dead body or attending funeral, one should go only after becoming purified. If it has happened during the day time, one is impure until the stars appear at night and if it is night time one is impure until Sunrise.
It is compulsory for vaishnavas to wear a tulsi mala at all times. In case the thread of tulsi mala breaks, one should not take food or water until wearing another one. The reason for this is given in the scriptures called 'Padma Purana', where it is stated that for a vaishnav, food taken without wearing a tulsi mala is comparable to excrement, water taken is comparable to urine and other liquids taken are comparable to blood. If a vaishnav is without a tulsi mala even for a moment and therefore one should wear it at all times
27.One can not do Prabhu's seva without wearing a tulsi mala. It is compulsory for every member of the family participating in seva to wear a tulsi mala.
28. Women and girls in monthly period must bathe after the elapse of three nights, wash their hairs with soap, shampoo or herbal shampoo removing all the oil, remove the old tulsi mala and wear a new one before returning to seva. One cannot do seva wearing the old tulsi mala.
29. One should wear a new tulsi mala after taking a bath under the following circumstances :-
· when the period of sutak or vruddhi is over.
· when the impure period after delivery has passed and one has bathed.
· if one has touched a person in sutak.
· if one has touched a dead body.
· if one has gone to the place of burning dead bodies.
· if one has touched a female in monthly period.
· if one has touched a woman who has given delivery within 20 days or a new born infant upto 10 days.
· After the passing of the impure period following a solar or lunar eclipse. The old tulsi mala should be dropped in a natural body of water viz lake, pond, river, ocean etc... or under a tree.
30. A married woman who is performing seva or going for Thakurji's darshan, should have a bindi on her forehead and should wear bangles. Going in Thakurji's presence without wearing the signs of marriage is an offence.
31. Male performing seva or going for Thakurji's darshan one must have a tilak on ones forehead. A person who always wears a tilak will not have to face any of the obstacles which culminate into death because Prabhu is the supreme one. In wearing a tilak, one purifies himself as well as others. In the scripture describing inauspicious conditions, it is stated that it is inauspicious for a man to leave his home without a tilak.
32. A tilak should be made with kumkum or kesar and not with sadal paste,sindur etc. A tilak is the sign of Prabhu's good fortune.
33. One should not wear a tilak during the period of sutak. One may apply tilak after becoming purified from sutak. (During sutak tilak is to be applied with charanamrit). During the period of sutak, prasad may not be taken.
34. Property belonging to the Government bears the official markings and becomes immediately recognizable as belonging to the Government. Like wise, Vaishnavs are dedicated to Prabhu's lotus feet and by wearing Prabhu's sign on the forehead, one displays that one has surrendered his atma, body, life force, sense organs, heart etc... to Prabhu. When one looks in the mirror and sees the tilak on the forehead, he would remember that all things which are surrendered belong to Prabhu. By having that bhava, one can attain all the qualities of a 'bhagavadiya'.
