In the Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in Dharma and wicked actions predominate, I descend to earth and assume a form to protect the saints, annihilate the devils, and establish Dharma.” By the end of His 125-year physical life, Lord Krishna had succeeded in protecting the saints and defeating the devils. However, the task of establishing Dharma remained. He summoned Uddhavji and Markandeya Muni and imparted to them the true knowledge of the Supreme Almighty God, who resides in Akshardham.
Uddhavji was entrusted with spreading the word of the Supreme to the masses, assisted by Vidurji, while Markandeya Muni was free to pursue Bhakti. After this, Lord Krishna left His mortal body and returned to Golok. Uddhavji’s first task was to convey the message to Vidurji, but he struggled to find the words to explain what Lord Krishna had told him. He was deeply saddened as he had been charged with the burden of delivering the Divine Message to the masses but could not even articulate it to Vidurji.
At this moment, Narad Muni appeared and, noticing Uddhavji’s sadness, inquired about the source of his troubles. Upon learning of Uddhavji’s plight, Narad Muni advised him to visit the ashram of Shree NarNarayan Dev. Shree Nar and Shree Narayan Rishi were in deep meditation, and after 2,500 earthly years, Shree Narayan Bhagwan finally opened His eyes. All the Devtas gathered to perform poojan and aarti of the Lord. Uddhavji presented his problem to Shree Narayan Bhagwan, and Lord Shiva volunteered to take up the task. With Shree Narayan Bhagwan’s approval, indicated by closing His eyes, Lord Shiva descended to earth as Shankaracharya. However, he promoted the notion of the Supreme Lord as Nirakaar (formless), leaving Uddhavji’s mission unfulfilled.
Uddhavji waited another 500 years for Lord NarNarayan to rise from meditation once more. He explained the shortcomings in Shankaracharya’s teachings to Shree NarNarayan Dev and conveyed that the mission given by Lord Krishna was still incomplete. On hearing this, Lord Vasudev descended to earth and founded the Vaishnavacharya Doctrine, which promoted the devotion of Lord Krishna. Uddhavji was deeply concerned, as Lord Krishna was being worshipped rather than the Supreme Lord Shree Purushottam Narayan, of whom Lord Krishna had spoken when he passed on the Divine Knowledge to Uddhavji. Thus, Uddhavji’s mission remained unaccomplished.
After another 250 earthly years, Lord NarNarayan rose from meditation again, surprised to find Uddhavji still present with hands clasped. Uddhavji explained that the Sarvopari Bhagwan he had come to know was not the Lord Krishna whose Bhakti was being promoted by the Vaishnavacharya Sampraday.
Lord Narayan then summoned His prime devotee Shesh Narayan to His ashram, charging him with the duty of fulfilling Uddhavji’s request for help. Thus, the Ramanujacharya Doctrine was founded by the incarnation of Shesh Narayan. Although this sampraday propagated knowledge of the true form of the Supreme Lord and the philosophies taught by Lord Krishna, Uddhavji still harbored doubts. He remained unsatisfied with the doctrine and could not see it as the true propagation of the knowledge passed on to him by Lord Krishna.
When Lords NarNarayan were informed of this latest failure, they convened all the great Rishis at their Divine Badrikashram. This set the stage for the curse of Durvasa and the manifestation of the Supreme Lord Purushottam Narayan, whose message had been conveyed to Uddhavji by Lord Krishna.
When all other attempts to satisfy Uddhavji failed, Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan Himself descended to earth. He protected saints like Muktanand Swami, eradicated evil within people such as Joban Pagi, and established Dharma through the Dharmavanshi Acharyas.