Wikipedia

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj (IAST: Kṛpālu; 5 October 1922 – 15 November 2013)[4][5] was an Indian spiritual guru and the fifth Jagadguru.[6] He was the founder of Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, one of the ten largest Hindu temples in the world. He was also the founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), a worldwide Hindu non-profit organization with five main ashrams,[7] four in India and one in the United States.[8][9]

Jagadguru Shri
Kripalu
Jī Maharaj
Photograph of Kripalu wearing an orange robe
Jagadguru Shrī Kripalu Ji Maharaj
Personal life
Born
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

(1922-10-05)5 October 1922[1]
Mangarh, Pratapgarh, United Provinces, British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India)[2]
Died15 November 2013(2013-11-15) (aged 91)[1]
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Home townKripalu Dham, Mangarh, Pratapgarh (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) [3]
Notable work(s)
  • Prem Ras Siddhant
  • Prem Ras Madira
  • Shyama Shyam Geet
  • Radha Govind Geet
  • Braj Ras Madhuri Part 1-4
  • Yugal Shatak
  • Yugal Ras
  • Yugal Madhuri
  • Bhakti Shatak
  • Radha Trayodashi
  • Kripalu Trayodashi
Religious life
ReligionHinduism
Temple
Lineage
Religious career
Post
  • Shrimat Padavyakya Pramana Paravarina
  • Vedamarga-Pratisthapan Acharya
  • Nikhildarshan Samanvayacharya
  • Sanatana Vadic Dharma Pratishthapana Satsampradaya Paramacharya
  • Bhaktiyoogarasavatar
  • Bhafavadananta Shri Vibhushita Jagadguruttam
Period in office1957–2013
WebsiteOfficial website
This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.

On Makar Sankranti, 14 January 1957,[10][11] he received the title of Jagadguru (world teacher) from Kashi Vidvat Parishat,[6] becoming the fifth original Jagadguru in Indian history.[12][13]

Early life and education

Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj was born on 5 October 1922 in the village of Kripalu Dham, Mangarh, Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh.[14] His mother was Bhagwati Devi and his father was Lalta Prasad Tripathi, a pious Brahmin.

Jagadguru

 
Receiving the title of Jagadguru from the scholars of Kashi Vidvat Parishad (the distinguished and exclusive organization of 500 Vedic scholars) (false colour)

In 1955, Kripalu Ji Maharaj organized a religious convention for spiritual leaders in India.[15] Mahamahopadhyay Giridhar Sharma, President of the Kashi Vidvat Parishat, attended the convention and was impressed by Kripalu's scriptural knowledge.[15][16] In 1957, Kripalu Ji was invited to lecture for ten days on scripture philosophy at the Kashi Vidvat Parishat, a group of 500 scholars of Vedic literature.[15]

The congregation had scholars from Varanasi and other parts of India.[15] Shri Maharaj Ji lectured for seven days about the Hindu scriptures. On 14 January 1957 the scholars declared him to be Jagadguru, a spiritual master of the world.[17][15][18] He was 34 years old when given the title,[11][10][18][19] the fifth person ever to receive it.[6][11] The Kashi Vidvat Parishat also conferred on him the titles Bhaktiyog-Ras-Avtar and Jagadguruttam,[20] as well as the title Samanvaya-Acharya: he who analyses and reconciles the meaning of all the scriptures, the six philosophies and the teachings of other previous Jagadgurus.

Life after Jagadguru

After accepting the title of Jagadguru, Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj traveled throughout India for around 14 years between 1957 and 1971. He delivered month-long discourses in various cities, lecturing to tens of thousands of people.[citation needed]

In 1970, he established Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), a charitable religious organization, to disseminate his teachings throughout the world.[21]

Shri Kripalu ji Maharaj composed thousands of bhajans and kirtans, including Prem Ras Madira, a collection of 1008 devotional songs. His book on philosophy, Prem Ras Siddhant, discusses the ultimate aim of the individual soul, the importance of attaining divine grace, and the indispensability of surrendering to a Saint. Shri Maharaj Ji's bhajan books include Braj Ras Madhuri, Yugal Madhuri, Yugal Shatak, Bhakti Shatak, Yugal Ras, Shyama Shyam Geet, Radha Govind Geet, Krishna Dwadashi and Radha Trayodashi.[22]

During his lifetime, he personally trained more than 50 Pracharaks, male and female monastic disciples. They continue to travel in India and around the world as his ordained representatives, spreading his teachings.

TV appearances

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj's discourses are broadcast daily on several religious TV channels, including DD India, Aastha TV, Sadhna TV, IBN 7, News24 and Sanskar TV.[23][24] In the United States, his discourses are also broadcast everyday on TV Asia.[25]

Works

Philosophical books

  • Prem Rasa Siddhant (ISBN 978-93-80661-35-3) – 'Prem Ras Siddhant' or 'The Philosophy of Divine Love', a popular book written by Shri Maharaj Ji contains the gist of all the teachings of our scriptures.The philosophy of Divine love [26] was first published (in Hindi) in 1955.[15] It was later published in several other Indian languages.
  • Bhakti Shatak (ISBN 978-93-80661-26-1) – The concise philosophy of the Upaniṣats, Gītā, Brahma sūtras and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.[10]
  • Radha Govind Geet (ISBN 978-81-90966-16-0) – Printed in two volumes, with 11,111 couplets of Radha Krishna leelas and the devotional philosophy.[27]
  • Ras Panchadhyayi (ISBN 978-93-80661-15-5) – A series of discourses on the esoteric subject of Raas Leela.[28]

Kirtans

Renditions of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj's bhajans and kirtans have been recorded by singers such as Manna Dey[29] and Anuradha Paudwal. Anup Jalota,[30]

References

  1. ^ a b "Radha Madhav Society, US". RMS, US. Radha Madhav Society.
  2. ^ "मनगढ़ का नाम बदला, अब "कृपालु धाम मनगढ़"".
  3. ^ "Pratapgarh News: कुंडा के मनगढ़ गांव का नाम बदला, नया नाम कृपालु धाम मनगढ़ | Pratapgarh Mangarh village name changed now Kripalu Dham Mangarh". 24 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Spiritual Guru Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj passes away". Zee News. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  5. ^ "कृपालु महराज के निधन पर शोक में डूबा उत्तराखंड". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Singh, Khushwant (28 January 2007). "Varanasi seer's memory is phenomenal". The Tribune. Tribune India. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. ^ Walker, J.K. 2007. The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality. Harvest House Publishers.
  8. ^ "कृपालु महाराज ने न किसी को गुरु बनाया, न चेला". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj passes away". India Today. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Melton, J. Gordon (2003). The Encyclopedia of American Religions. Gale. ISBN 978-0-7876-9696-2.
  11. ^ a b c "जगद्गुरु कृपालु के जयकारों से गूंजा वृंदावन". jagran. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Spiritual Guru Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj passes away". The Indian Express. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  13. ^ "जानिए जगद्गुरु श्री कृपालु जी महाराज के बारे में, जिन्होंने कराया भव्य 'प्रेम मंदिर' का निर्माण". www.abplive.com (in Hindi). 13 August 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  14. ^ "UP: सीएम योगी ने राजा भैया के विधानसभा क्षेत्र के एक गांव का बदला नाम, मनगढ़ से किया कृपालु... | News Track in Hindi". 24 May 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Saraswati, Prakashanand (2007). The True History and Religion Of India: A Concise Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism (First ed.). New Delhi: Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-0230630659. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  16. ^ "A Wisdom Archive on Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  17. ^ "Kirti Mandir in Barsana Opens in a Grand and Historical Opening Ceremony". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  18. ^ a b Singh, Khushwant (29 January 2007). "Without people or drink". Opinion. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  19. ^ The Meaning of Makar Sankranti and Jagadguru Divas Archived 16 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  20. ^ Pandey, V.K. 2007. Encyclopaedia of Indian philosophy – Part 1. Delhi: Anmol Publications
  21. ^ "Prime Minister Narendra Modi sends his congratulations to Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat on the auspicious occasion of the 100th Birth Anniversary of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj | Entertainment".
  22. ^ "Spiritual guru Kripalu Maharaj's last rites performed". Business-standard. 18 November 2013.
  23. ^ Csordas, Thomas J. (2009). Transnational Transcendence: Essays on Religion and Globalization (illustrated ed.). University of California Press. p. 287. ISBN 9780520257429. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Teachings". Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  25. ^ "Jagadguru Kripalu Maharaj on TV Asia". Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  26. ^ Prem Rasa Siddhant (ISBN 1-881921-08-5) lth 5 & 6, le "Kripalu ji Maharaj". Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Radha Govind Geet". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Raas Panchadhyayi". Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  29. ^ Kinnear, M. 1985. A discography of Hindustani and Karnatic music. Greenwood Press.
  30. ^ Rang De with Anup Jalota at Radha Madhav Dham, Austin Archived 5 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. 20 October 2011. Indo-American News. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
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