MEHTA J. :- This appeal arises out of the suit for declaration filed by the respondent-plaintiff against the appellant-defendant that the defendant is not the adopted son of deceased Maharaj Purshottamlalji Raghunathji of Junagadh. The suit was filed in the court of the Civil Judge, (S. D.) at Junagadh, where it was registered as long Civil Suit No. 115 of 1958. The learned trial Judge has decreed the suit and, therefore, the original defendant, who claims that he is adopted son to the deceased Maharaj Purshottamlalji Raghunathji has preferred this appeal.

2. Short facts of the case are as under. The parties to this suit are the descendants of Shri Vallabhacharya Maharaj, the original founder of Suddh Adwit Pushti Marg. He flourished in Vikram Samvat 1535 which is equivalent to 1479 A. D. The family of the parties is called Vallabhkul. It is an admitted position that the descendants of Shri Vallabhacharya Maharaj are working as Acharyas of various temples and Shrines in Gujarat and other places and are generally known as Goswamis, Acharyas or Maharajas. Their offices are known as "Gadia". These Goswamis are Vaishnavs by religion and they worship the idol of Lord Krishna.

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