Tribute In Memory of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj [Oct 5th 1922 -Nov 15th 2013]
Our Beloved Spiritual Master, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, who had mercifully manifested his leelas and worked tirelessly on planet earth for ninety-one long years, decided that it was time to bring his visible pastimes to a close, and in the morning of 15th November, 2013, returned to the Divine Abode of Radha Krishna.
The descension of a rasik saint such as Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj bears immeasurable significance for the entire human race in many dimensions, pioneering a spiritual uprising not seen since the descension of the Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji in the 15th century.
Shri Maharajis sacred ashes were immersed in several holy places mean-whilst devotees congregated to chant the Holy Names of God. Brahmin Bhoj, Sadhu Bhoj, and Vidhva Bhoj in Mangarh, Vrindavan and Barsana were conducted as a part of the last-rite ceremonies. In each of these programs, thousands of poor and needy people were fed sumptuously and given numerous gifts of charity.
What he gave to humankind during his stay in our world can never be sufficiently eulogized in words; the whole planet shall remain indebted to him for his gift of love. In the annals of great rasik saints who have graced this world with their divine gift of devotion, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, the 5th authentic Jagadguru of this age, shines like the sun illuminating the entire universe with his knowledge, love and grace.
As the embodiment of the nectar of divine love, he came to reveal the supreme nature of bhakti for all of us to follow, and help souls achieve God-realization. Such causeless grace can only be divine, as the benefactor of such grace breaks free from the endless cycle of birth and death, to become one with God.
He revealed the most sublime spiritual knowledge, which had remained abstruse and inaccessible for many millennia, and distributed it so munificently in this age of multimedia that he inundated the earth with it. On the irrefutable authority of all the Vedic scriptures, he established selfless divine love for Radha Krishna as the highest ideal for us to strive for in our lives. And yet, knowing that the ideal was too high and the journey too long for most materially conditioned souls to complete in one lifetime, he mercifully left as his legacy, a treasure chest of the Names, Forms, Virtues, Pastimes, and Abodes of God, in the form of the tens of thousands of bhajans, keertans, padas, and couplets that he composed. Let us remember, He himself had taught us to practice the presence of God and Guru with us at all times.
His grace showered upon all fortunate souls who came in touch with him, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, and country. For the tens of thousands of souls who had the good fortune of receiving his personal guidance and association, he expanded himself in their hearts to become their everything in life-Guru, Father, Mother, Best Friend, Beloved, and Support.
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj established a worldwide mission to further help people progress on the path of God realization; to compliment his mission he built several ashrams, centres, hospitals, educational institutes and congregational centres. The work of his material and spiritual service of humankind shall continue. The three main ashrams established by Maharajji in Mangarh (JKP-Bhakti Dham), Vrindavan (Shyama Shyam Dham), and Barsana (Rangeeli Mahal) will still serve as the worldwide headquarters of the mission.
Compassionate offerings of love throughout Shri Maharajis lifetime...
-2005 -Temple of devotion, 'Bhakti Mandir' in Mangarh
-2012 - Temple of Divine Love, 'Prem Mandir', in Vrindavan
-3 large charitable hospitals for the poor and needy, one each in Mangarh, Barsana and Vrindavan.
-A school and college for women with over 1000 students near Mangarh ashram and a Management college in the offing.
Below, we recollect some of his divine pastimes, the amazing literature that he revealed with the hope that it will bring solace to devotees world over, and inspire them to further strengthen their devotion.
Shri Maharaj Ji earned His degree in sanskrit literature and history as Vyakaranachrya (Master of Sanskrit Grammar). He had also been awarded the degree of Kavyatirtha in 1942, Ayurved Acharya (Master of Ayurved) in 1943 and Sahitya Acharya (Master of History) from Calcutta Vidyapeet in 1943.
Sankeertan Movement
Even during his study period, Shree Maharajji revealed his divine state by conducting long sessions of devotional chanting, naan sankeertan called akhanda sankeertan (non-stop chanting) for days together. At times, they would even go on for weeks and months. Many have witnessed Shree Maharajji's continuous state of ecstatic divine chanting. Remaining deeply engrossed in the divine love of Radha Krishna, as though in a trance, he would reveal many states of bhav or devotional sentiments that would parallel and bring reminiscences of the state that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, revealed 500 years ago.
Without the priceless literature that he wrote, which is completely in consonance with the Vedas, Upanishads, Shastras, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan and Bhagwatam, we souls would never have realized the nature of our true self, the existence of the Divine realm and the sweet nectar of Braj Ras. How bereft we would have been of all these priceless treasures without the grace of our beloved Maharajji!
Realizing that yearning souls would not be able comprehend the high state of Mahabhav bhakti that he was in, Shree Maharajji decided to lower his state of divine ecstasy and conduct sankirtan programs. This gave people a chance to interact and associate with him at a personal level. This was the genesis of the kirtan movement that he popularized in the 1940s and 50s. In the mid 1950s, he started to reveal divine scriptural knowledge from the Vedas, Upanishads, Shastras, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan and Bhagwatam.
Spiritual Master of the World
In 1957, Shree Maharajji spoke for 10 days to the Kashi Vidvat Parishat (the supreme body of the most highly read scholars and pandits in India at the time) in classical and Vedic Sanskrit, dispelling spiritual confusions and reconciling the most difficult scriptures and philosophical differences with consummate ease. The congregation was stunned at the level of Sanskrit that Shree Maharajji possessed, since such mastery was unheard of anywhere except in Vedic literature. He went on to reveal the true and easy path towards God-realization that any person could follow. What they saw unfold over those 10 days convinced the scholars comprehensively to accept that the extent of Shree Maharajji's knowledge was not only unfathomable, but divine in nature since it is humanly impossible to possess such deep philosophical and scriptural mastery. It is well documented that Shree Maharajji was befittingly honored with the title of 'Jagadguru' and 'Jagadguruttam', supreme amongst all Jagadgurus.
The transition of Shree Maharajji from his Mahbhav state to that of the Jagadguru was one his monumental and pivotal acts of divine grace. For the benefit of souls who craved for devotional inspiration the world over, he started to deliver extensive lectures on many topics related to bhakti, sadhana and God-realization.
Divine Literature Revealed
Shree Maharajji, amongst his countless acts of grace for the benefit of ordinary souls, revealed and documented the book 'Philosophy of Divine Love'/ 'Prem 'Ras Siddhant' in 1955. It contains the essence and nectar of all the scriptures and spiritual philosophies revealed by the previous Jagadgurus. He dictated the whole book to a devotee and recited the quotations from each of the scriptures mentioned in the book without ever having read the scriptures!
Over the last 50 years, he has delivered thousands of lectures across India and many other countries. His words have the power to transform a hardened atheist into a surrendered God loving soul in an instant. The sheer number and variety of people who have associated with Shree Maharajji and his divine words stand testimony to his mesmerizing lectures. Even the most erudite and intellectually inclined have had their hearts melt in the presence of Shree Maharajji's divine persona. His awe-inspiring literature overflowed with nectar of Shree Radha Krishna devotion. No wonder he was honored as the 'Descension of the Divine Love' or Bhakti-yog Rasavatar more than 50 years ago.
Every step he took, every line he spoke or wrote was for the glorification of Radha Krishna and his act of causeless grace for the benefit of souls. His presence radiated bliss and his words filled with the divine nectar of Braj Ras will forever be etched in the hearts of every soul that had the priceless fortune of his divine association.
The supreme spiritual master of this world, the descension of divine love, the undisputed authority of Vedic religion and the reconciler of all spiritual doctrines, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj is the personified form of Divine Love.
