This article situates the contribution of 15th century vaisnava philosophical theologican,vallabhacarya, in the larger context of the indian history of thought. beginning with madhyamika buddhism -- viewed as a standing challenge to all subsequent metaphysical speculation -- vallabha's thought is examined vis-a-vis the major schools of his day,including nyaya, purva mimamsa, and advaita vedanta, and important thinkers like bhartrhari and abhinavagupata. this study shows that vallabha is more than a synthetic thinker. his theology of revelation,grounded in scriptural realism,affirms the fundamental paradox of god's creativity. in doing so he recognises and engages both the power and the limits of human reason.