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Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

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File:Jagadguru Shree Kripalu Maharaj.jpg
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj

Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj (Sanskrit: जगदगुरु कृपालु जी महाराज) (born 1922) is a Hindu spiritual leader from Allahabad, India.[1][2][3] He is the preceptor of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, a worldwide Hindu non-profit religious organization with 5 main spiritual centers[4] – four in India and one, JKP Radha Madhav Dham,[5] in the USA. JKP Radha Madhav Dham is one of the largest Hindu Temple complexes in the Western Hemisphere[6], and the largest in North America.[7][8][9] Kripaluji Maharaj received the title of Jagadguru (world teacher) at the age of 34 in 1957.[10]

Birth and early life history

File:Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj with village kids in his home town of Mangarh.tif
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj with village kids in his home town of Mangarh

Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj was born on the full moon (Purnima) in October 1922 as Ram Kripalu Tripathi in Mangarh, near Allahabad, in India[3][10]. He received his preliminary education in Hindi and Sanskrit in the local school. He went on to study advanced Sanskrit and Ayurved in Indore and Varanasi and spent a year or more around Chitrakoot.[1] After completing his formal education, at the age of 16, he entered into self imposed banbas.[1] He found his way to Vrindavan and the next year he emerged as a Guru[10] known affectionately as Shree Maharajji.[10] When he was 17 years old, he led a 6 month continuous chanting of the "maha mantra".[10]

Later he began to take part in meetings of Sanskrit scholars in different cities including Varanasi.[1] People were amazed by his perfect pronunciation of shlokas and the facile way he quoted sources without referring to any books.[1] Today his devotees number in the thousands across the Hindi-speaking heartland of India.[1]

Jagadguru

File:Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj at Bhakti Mandir, Mangarh.jpg
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj at Bhakti Mandir, Mangarh

In 1955 Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj organized a religious convention in which prominent spiritual leaders of India gathered.[11][12] Mahamahopadhyay Giridhar Sharma, President of the Kashi Vidvat Parishad had also come and was impressed by Kripaluji Maharaj's learning and scriptural knowledge.[13][11] In another convention organized in Kanpur in 1956, Shree Raj Narain, Shat Shastree, the Chief Secretary of the Kashi Vidvat Parishad, happened to hear Kripaluji Maharaj's discourses.[11] After returning to Kashi, he invited Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj to give a spiritual discourse to the scholars of Kashi[11] Kripaluji Maharaj then went to Kashi in 1957.[11][12][14]

The congregation had scholars of Vanarasi and many from all over the India.[11][12] His speeches lasted for seven days,[11] after which he was formally installed as the fifth Jagadguru.[11][12][15] He was 34 years old when given the title "Jagad Guru" (world teacher) on January 14th, 1957, by the Kashi Vidvat Parishad, a group of Hindu scholars[10][16][15] which is the oldest and most recognised body of Varanasi's intellectuals.[12][17] The Kashi Vidvat Parishad had 500 of India's foremost scriptural scholars.[12] The "Jagadguru" title is only given to a Saint who inspires a spiritual revolution in the world through his Divine teachings.[12]

According to Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj, "the desired goal of the soul is to attain the selfless Divine love of Radha Krishn who are eternally related to you".[11] He teaches that Radha Krishna are the supreme 'form' of God and the 'form' of Divine Love[10] and are eternally related to us.[10]

TV discourses

File:Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj on TV.tif
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj giving a discourse on Aastha TV

Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj is an authoritative orator and his religious discourses are attended by huge gatherings.[18] These discourses are broadcast every day on TV channels such as Aastha, Sadhna TV, Sahara Samay and Sanskar TV.[19] His discourses are also broadcast every weekday on TV Asia in the USA.[20] In his TV discourses, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj quotes the chapter and verse of everything he cites.[21]

Teachings

He accepts the Shat Sandarbh of Jeev Goswami and teaches that the Bhagwatam is the true explanation of the Upanishads and Brahma Sutras.[11] He reconciled the differences that appeared in the philosophies of the other Jagadgurus and the Darshan Shastras and established the consolidated theme of all the Hindu scriptures.[11] For this work, the title of Nikhildarshansamanvayacharya was conferred upon him (meaning the supreme Acharya who has reconciled the philosophies of all the Darshan Shastras).[11] Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj teaches that "The essence of all doctrines is to love Lord Krishna, the supreme form of God, and to meditate on his Divine form with an increasing desire to serve him. This is the true ultimate knowledge.[22][10]

He is quoted as saying, "The Bhakta has only to surrender himself and do nothing else but he has to do a lot for doing nothing".[23]

His works

Philosophy Books[11][24][25]

  • Prem Ras Siddhant - The philosophy of Divine love. It was first published (in Hindi) in 1955. Later it was published is several other languages of India. It has been described as an Incredible Book by Swami Sivananda among others.
  • Bhakti Shatak - The concise philosophy of the Upnishads, Gita, Brahm Sutra and the Bhagwatam in an easy to understand style
  • Radha Govind Geet - Printed in two volumes, with eleven thousand one hundred and eleven couplets of Radha Krishn leelas and the devotional philosophy

Kirtan[26][11]

  • Prem Ras Madira - 1008 songs (pad) of Radha Krishn leelas, devotional philosophy and humbleness
  • Yugal Shatak - One hundred kirtans of Radha Rani and Krishn
  • Yugal Ras - Kirtans of Radha Krishn
  • Shree Krishn Dwadashi and Shree Radha Trayodashi - Twelve pad in which he has fully described the beauty and the decorations of Krishn, and thirteen pad about the beauty and the decorations of Radha Rani
  • Braj Ras Madhuri - 300 kirtans of the names, form and the virtues of Radha Krishn

Renditions of Shree Maharajji's bhajans and kirtans have been recorded by well known singers in India such as Manna Dey[27] and Anuradha Paudwal.[28] Anup Jalota met Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj in Mumbai and agreed to release several CDs of his compositions.[29]

Ashrams and Temples

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj is the founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, a worldwide Hindu non-profit religious organization with 5 main ashrams worldwide – four in India (Rangeeli Mahal, Barsana; Bhakti Dham, Mangarh; Shyama Shyam Dham, Vrindavan and Jagadguru Dham, Vrindavan) and one in the USA (Radha Madhav Dham, Austin).[30] Besides these 5 main ashrams, Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat has established a number of satsang centers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Fiji Island, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Nepal, Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Trinidad, West Indies, United Kingdom and in many cities throughout India and USA.[31]

He has also established four temples[32] - Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple, Austin;[5] Bhakti Mandir, Mangarh; Prem Mandir, Vrindavan[33][34] and Kirti Maiya Mandir, Vrindavan.

Philanthropic Activities

Besides giving discourses, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj has set up three modern well-equipped hospitals: one in Mangarh, one in Barsana and one in Vrindavan, which provide modern methods of diagnosis and medicines to the poor free of charge.[1][35][36][37]

He has established JKP Education, which runs three colleges for girls in Kunda, Uttar Pradesh (Kripalu Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Kripalu Balika Primary School and Kripalu Balika Intermediate College).[38][39] These colleges provide 100% free education for students from Kindergarten to Post graduation.[40] A yearly magazine called Gyan-Vigyan details the current activities of these colleges,[40] and an annual function called Utthaan (the rising) showcases the students' talents and achievements.[38] The function was attended by chief guests High Court Justice Dilip Gupta, Chief Income Tax Officer G N Pandey and Doordarshan Directorial General S M Khan.[38]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Singh, K. January 28, 2007. Varanasi seer’s memory is phenomena. Tribune India.
  2. ^ Ex-Nepalese King Gyanendra meets Indian Spiritual guru. 02/10/2008. Asian News International.
  3. ^ a b "Maharaj Ji Kripalu". Retrieved 14 december 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ Walker, J.K. 2007. The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality. Harvest House Publishers.
  5. ^ a b Radha Madhav Dham. The Harvard Plurism Project.
  6. ^ Vedic Foundation Inaugurated at Barsana Dham, Austin. Retrieved Dec 15th, 2011.
  7. ^ Ciment, J. 2001. Encyclopedia of American Immigration. Michigan: M.E. Sharpe
  8. ^ Hylton, H. & Rosie, C. 2006. Insiders' Guide to Austin. Globe Pequot Press.
  9. ^ Mugno, M. & Rafferty, R.R. 1998. Texas Monthly Guidebook to Texas. Gulf Pub. Co.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i Melton, G. 2003. The Encyclopedia of American Religions. Gale
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Saraswati, S. 2001. The true history and the relfigion of India: a concise encyclopedia of authentic hinduism. Motilal Banarsidass
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Hashmi, Lubna (15 January 2011). "Figure of Divine Love: Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj". Aaj Ki Khabar. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  13. ^ "A Wisdom Archive on Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj". Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  14. ^ "Kripalu Maharaj". Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  15. ^ a b Singh, K. January 29, 2007. Without people or drink. The Telegraph.
  16. ^ The Meaning of Makar Sankranti and Jagadguru Divas. January 14, 2011. Retrieved Dec 16th, 2011.
  17. ^ Pradhan, S. Jan 31st 2000. UP government decides not to allow shooting of Water. Retrieved from: http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jan/31up.htm
  18. ^ Patil, V. November 29, 2003. Partying with God, too!. The Tribune.
  19. ^ Csordas, T. 2009. Transnational transcendence: essays on religion and globalization. University of California Press.
  20. ^ Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj on TV Asia
  21. ^ Singh. K. Saturday, March 4, 2006. Tricks memory plays. The Tribune
  22. ^ "How to Find God". Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  23. ^ Indian Philosophy & Culture. Volume 12. Vrindāvan (India): Institute of Oriental Philosophy. 1967.
  24. ^ Prem Ras Siddhant (ISBN:1-881921-08-5) lth 5 & 6, le Kripaluji Maharaj
  25. ^ "The Literature Revealed by Kripaluji Maharaji". Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  26. ^ "Prem Ras Madira". Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  27. ^ Non-Film Songs of Manna Dey. Retrieved 15th December 2011.
  28. ^ Video Keertans by Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj. Retrieved 15th December 2011.
  29. ^ Rang De with Anup Jalota at Radha Madhav Dham, Austin. Oct 20 2011. Indo-American News. Retrieved 15th December 2011.
  30. ^ Walker, J.K. 2007. The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality. Harvest House Publishers.
  31. ^ Regular Satsang Programs. Retrieved Dec 15th 2011.
  32. ^ JKP Ashrams. Retrieved 15th Dec, 2011.
  33. ^ Singhal, A. 25 Feb 2011. Foundation stone of Satsang Bhawan to be laid on in Prem Mandir. Indilive.com. Retrieved Dec 15th, 2011.
  34. ^ Singhal, A. 01 Mar 2011. Foundation stone of renowned Satsang Bhawan laid by Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj. Indlive.com. Retrieved 15th Dec, 2011.
  35. ^ Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya. Jul 25, 2011. Aaj Ki Khabar. Retrieved Dec 15th 2011.
  36. ^ Free Cataract Workshop organized by Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya Mangarh, Kunda. Jul 25, 2011. Aaj Ki Khabar. Retrieved Dec 15th 2011.
  37. ^ JKP Hospitals. Retrieved Dec 16th 2011.
  38. ^ a b c Sinha, L. 05 Dec 2011. Utthan 2011: Annual Function at Kripalu Mahila Mahavidyalaya. Pranam India. Retreived 16th Dec, 2011.
  39. ^ Jagaduru Kripalu Parishat Education. Retrieved Dec 16th, 2011.
  40. ^ a b Gyan-Vigyan. 2010 - 2011. Retrieved Dec 16th, 2011.
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