About Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj
Jagadguru Shri kripalu Ji Maharaj is the only 5th original Jagadguru of this era. In the past history of 5,000 years. Only four saints have been acknowledged with the title of Jagadguru. Those were Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya, Jagadguru Shri Ramanujacharya, Jagadguru shri Nimbarkacharya and Jagadguru Shri Madhavacharya. Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was a GOD realised saint belonging to a special category of Braj Rasik saint, and was incarnation of Radha Krishn and seen as a successor to Shri Gaurang Mahaprabhu. Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj lovingly called as Maharaj Ji by his devotees.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was born at midnight of Sharad Poornima a full moon day on 5th October 1922 in a small Village called Mangarh, now (Kripalu Dham), Prayagraj (Formerly Allahbad) in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sharad poornima a full moon day is the same day when 5,000 years ago Lord Shri Krishn and Goddess Radha Rani bestove deserving souls with the ultimate happiness of Maha-Raas . His Mother Bhagwati Devi and father Lalita Prasad belong to a respectable Brahmin family. Since childhood his extraordinary divine qualities were noticed by the people
Shri Maharaji was a prodigious student in his studies and an extremely naughty and charming child. Shri Maharaj Jji always astonished his teachers and fellow students by his extraordinary intelligence and phenomenal memory. According to tradition at that time, his parents got him married when he was 11 years old. ,
He completed His schooling in a very short span of time at the early age of 15, followed by the study of Sanskrit grammar, literature and Ayurveda. He received the degree of Vyakaran Acharya in 1936, Ayurved Acharya in 1943 and Sahitya Acharya (Master of Literature) in 1944. Very few people know he had also been awarded with degree of kavyatirtha in 1943. This brief period of study did not include study of the vedic scriptures, dharm granth, any religious and holy text.
At around the age of 16 Shri Maharaj Ji resumed his natural divine nature and remained engrossed in divine love. At that time whoever had seen him, would have glimpsed the true form of Radha Krishn love appearing in its fullest charm of highest ecstatic excitement (state of Bhao). In the state of Bhao he moved around in the dense forest near Sharbhang Ashram in Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh. and Vanshivat in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India and graced the deserving souls. During those days people used to call him as Paramahnsji. Being always immersed in the state of ecstatic Radha Bhao, he forgot to pay attention to his physical state and world around him making it difficult to communicate with people.
After approximately two years of moving in this state of divine ecstasy Bhao, Shri Maharaj Ji decided to conceal and control the Bhao state and then started revealing his divine knowledge of scriptures through his informal discourses and give Sankirtan programs at the house of the devotees. His Sankirtan touched heart of every soul who desired krishn love. During those days number of non-stop naam Sankirtan programs were also arranged. Devotees witnessed the supreme Bhao of Radha Rani’s love in him and so he was called Mahaprabhu.
Shri Maharaj Ji observed that people were misguided and totally ignorant of the actual essence of the scriptures, and the true form of devotional practice. To rectify this dismal spiritual state of mankind. Hence, in 1955 he organised a religious conference in Chitrakoot. Over 200+ prominent religious leaders, Jagadgurus, Matadheshs from all over India were invited to the convention with over 2 lakhs audiences. A similar kind of conference was organised in 1956 in Kanpur with over 250+ religious leaders across India. In the Kanpur conference the chief secretary of “Kashi Vidvat Parishad” Shri Raj Narayan shukl shat Shashtri who was a great learned person and a popular figure of Varanasi happened to come and listen to Maharajji‘s speech. Shri Raj Narayan Shashtri Ji was amazed, spellbound and speechless and astonished by the Shri Maharaji’s speech and when he went back Kashi Vidvat Parishad he invited Shri Maharaj Ji to Grace the scholars and the pandits of Varanasi with his Divine speech, and thus, Shree Maharajji went over to in 1957.
Kashi Vidvat Parishad: A body of 500+ scholars, where each scholar had spent vast number of years in study and mastery on any one particular Hindu Scripture. In those days the pandits of Kashi Vidvat Parishad were considered experts of all Hindu scriptures.
Shri Maharaj Ji spoke for nine days revealing the secrets of the Hindu scriptures. He reconciled the apparent contradictions between the various Vedic scriptures, also brought out the contradictions and reconciled within the same scriptures and proved them true. He covered all the critical topics of Bhashya and brahma Sutra and connected with Bhagwatgita, Upnishad and Darshan Shashtra. He also reconciled the contradictions between the philosophies of previous four Jagadgurus and revealed the true path to GOD-realization for the welfare of humankind. With profound admiration, the scholars of kashi Vidvat Parishad decided that shri Mahara Ji’s knowledge of the scriptures was unprecedented and cannot be acquired by any ordinary human begin in thousands of lives and his knowledge is divine. The learned pandits and scholars of Kashi Vidvat Parishad unanimously acclaimed him as Jagadguru and took the privilege of honouring him with title of Jagadguru, further they honoured him with the title of Jagadguruttam means the supreme amongst all the previous Jagadgurus, best of all Jagadgurus. Kashi Vidvat Parishad along with the title of Jagdguruttam had even hounered him with other titles like Srimad-pad-vakya-praman-paraavareen, Ved-marg-patrishtapan-acharya, Nikhil-darshan-samanvay-acharya, Sanatan-vedic-dharm-sansthapan-sat-sampradaya-param-acharya,Bhakti-yog-ras-avtar.
After accepting the title of Jagadguru Shri Maharaj Ji travelled continuously throughout India for fourteen long years . He delivered months long discourses that revealed the mysteries of scriptures before ten of thousands of people. He made the deepest scriptural truths accessible to everyone in the simplest form.
During the year 1971 to 2013 Shri Maharaj Ji composed thousands of Bhajan, Kirtan, Pad, Dohas, that evoke the devotional sentiments within the heart of devotees. Top most of them are Prem Ras Madira with 1008 pads of Radha krishn Bhakti that has been highly praised by well known poets of the India. Prem Ras Siddhanth is the ultimate granth on philosophy of Shri Maharaj Ji and is the essence of all the scriptures from Vedas, Gita, Bhagwat and Ramayan. He composed and graced us with kirtan books like Braj Ras Madhuri, Yugal Madhuri, Bhakti Shatak (Complete Science and knowledge of Bhakti in 100 Couplets ), Radha Govind Geet 11,1111 dohas and Shyama Shyam Geet 1008 Dohas and many more. Shri Maharaj Ji gave numerous impactful lectures, including the renowned series like Gopi Prem, Divya Swarth, Narad Bhakti Darshan etc. Lectures series on Radha Tatva, Krishn Tatva and Guru Tatva. These lectures delve into the profound science of Spirituality. He also delivered an historic years long series like Brahma,Jeev Maya Tatva Gyaan and Main Kaun ? Mera Kaun ? which is a deep dive into the subject of spirituality , understanding of true-self, essence of devotion and ultimate path to GOD realisation.
Shri Maharaji personally trained more than fifty preachers called Pracharak who travel across India and world as his chosen representative. They spread the true and sacred teachings from our scriptures as revealed and explained by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj.
To help people get closer to God, Shri Maharaj Ji built many Ashrams and Satsang centers, with the support of devotees worldwide. Some notable ones include JKP-Bhakti Dham in Mangarh (kripalu Dham), Rangeeli Mahal in Barsana, and Shyama Shyam Dham in Vrindavan in Uttar pradesh India. In 2005, he dedicated ‘Bhakti Mandir,’ a temple of devotion in Mangarh and in 2012, the incredible ‘Prem Mandir,’ known as The Temple of Divine Love in Vrindavan. He also established ‘Bhakti Bhavan’ and ‘Prem Bhavan’ for intensive sadhana. Showing great compassion, Shri Maharaj Ji set up three large charitable hospitals for the poor in Mangarh, Barsana, and Vrindavan. Additionally, he founded a school and college for women near Mangarh Ashram with over 1000 students and a Management College in the works. His every effort aimed at glorifying Radha Krishna and showing grace for the benefit of souls.
On November 15, 2013, Shri Maharaj Ji brought His visible pastimes to a close and returned to the divine abode of Shri Radha Krishn. His spiritual and charitable works are now being carried forward by the three Presidents of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat appointed by Him – Sushree Dr. Vishakha Tripathi, Sushree Dr. Shyama Tripathi and Sushree Dr. Krishna Tripathi.
Shri Maharaj Ji dedicated his entire life to spreading love for Radha Krishn to those who followed him. From morning to night, he was always with devotees, sharing the joy of divine bliss. Anyone seeking happiness naturally found comfort in his presence. Shining with divinity, he tirelessly worked to help people and clear up spiritual confusion. He easily dispelled doubts and showed a straightforward path to God. In every sense, he was a Jagadguru, a Guru for the whole world.