Shri Vitthalnathji was found in the Ganges river by and ascetic who presented Him to Shri Vallabhacharya on the day his second son, Shri Gusainji, (also called Shri Vitthalnathji) was born. Shri Vallabhacharya named both his son and the Krishna Svarupa Shri Vitthalnathji. Shri Vitthalnathji was presented to Shri Gusainji’s second son Shri Govindji. In 1581 A.D.the Svarupa was taken to the small town of Khimnor, also in Rajasthan. After Shri Nathji moved to Nathdvara, Shri Vitthalnathji was also brought there and a separate mansion was built for Him by Shri Harirayaji.

Shri Vitthalnathji is a small golden-colored Svarupa with His hands resting on His hips. He is joined by one Svamini. She always resides on His left. Shri Gusainji explains their divine nature.

“When Gopis worshipped Shri Katyayani Devi in order to secure Shri Krishna as their husband, Shri Krishna came to the banks of Yamuna river, stole their clothes and climbed up a Kadamba tree. This is the form of Shri Vitthalnathji. He remains absorbed in the bhava of Shri Svaminiji and that is why He became Her golden color. If Shri Vitthalnathji appeared by the banks of the Yamuna river adorned as Dark Krishna, all the Gopis would have recognized Him and He would not have been able to steal their clothes. The Gopis were delayed in meeting Shri Krishna because they were too shy to emerge from the water to receive their garment. Shri Vitthalnathji returned the Gopi’s clothes and made them all divine. That is the lila of Shri Vitthalnathji.”