Date of Birth:
Born on 12th day of bright half of the month Kartik in V.S.1597.
Family:
He was the eldest son of Shri Vitthalnathji. He had three sons from Shri Bhamini Bahuji (wife).
- Shri Muralidharaji (V.S. 1630)
- Shri Damodarji (V.S. 1632)
- Shri Gopinathaji (Dikshitaji V.S. 1634)
Different aspects of personalities:
As a son:
He was having divine characters similar to Shri Vallabhacharya & Shri Vitthalnathji. He had deep knowledge of the scriptures. When Shri Vitthalanathaji wrote a critical philosophical work ‘Vidvan-mandanam’ Shri Giridharji helped him by raising questions as an opponent from the view point of Advaita of Shri Shankaracharya.
As a father:
When Shri Padmavatiji, Shri Vitthalnathji’s wife, left the world, her son Shri Ghanshyamji was of tender age. That time Shri Bhamini Bahuji, the wife of Shri Giridharji, brought him up in such a way that she never let Ghanshyamji feel the absence of his mother. Shri Ghanshyamji was quite healthy. Once, in childhood, Shri Ghanshyamji sat in the lap of Shri Vitthalnathji he couldn’t recognize the child due to the weak eyesight and his old age. So he asked who the child was. Hearing that the child was his own son Ghanshyamji, he pleasantly blessed that – “Let you ever blessed with sons and grandsons”. He had three sons from Shri Bhamini Bahuji (wife).
- Shri Muralidharaji (V.S. 1630)
- Shri Damodarji (V.S. 1632)
- Shri Gopinathaji (Dikshitaji V.S. 1634) Presently, quite a number of Acharyas are his descendants.
As a Brother:
Due to his humble and affectionate nature he was the most respected member of the family. Because of having divine characters similar to Shri Vallabhacharya and Shri Vitthalnathji, his younger brother, Shri Gokulnathaji used to respectfully place Shri Giridharji’s Paduka along with the Paduka of Shri Vallabhacharya and Shri Vitthalnathji.
Balya Avastha:
His nickname was ‘Govardhan’.
Episodes:
Due to his characters of solitude, renunciation, knowledge and divine powers he was well known by the name ‘Yatiji’. Today Gopalpur is well known by the name ‘Jatipura’ after his name only.
Post Balya Avastha:
He was very calm by nature. His physique was in very good shape. He had the knowledge of the secret formula of making the dead alive. However he had never used that power commonly. He once denied the request of Shri Gokulnathji, his younger brother, to show some miracle, as it was not the valid way in the sect. He had initiated very few persons. It is said that all of them went to the abode of Shri Krshna immediately after obtaining initiation.
Granthas:
He had deep knowledge of the scriptures. When Shri Vitthalnathji wrote a critical philosophical work ‘Vidvan-mandanam’ Shri Giridharji helped him by raising questions as an opponent from the view point of Advaita of Shri Shankaracharya. His independent works are:
- Comm. on initiation Mantra
- Utsavanirnaya
- Various Stotra etc.
Pushti Bhakti Prachar:
He had initiated very few persons. It is said that all of them went to the abode of Shri Krshna immediately after obtaining initiation.