Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj is not just a Guru but He is the only Saint who has been honoured with the highest place among all Vedic Saints and scholars of this age. Just like the Pope in Christianity, a Jagadguru is the greatest and highest authority among all Hindu Saints and scholars. This title is given only to that Saint who brings a spiritual revolution in the world through His divine teachings. He is the Supreme Exponent of Sanatan Dharma (Eternal Vedic religion) and His reconciliation of all philosophies and faiths is unique.
He appeared on this earth in the year 1922 on the auspicious night of Sharat Purnima (the full moon night of the Divine Rasa dance by Shri Krishna) at Mangarh, a small village near the holy city of Allahabad in India. Named Ram Kripalu at birth He is known to the world today as Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaja and is lovingly called as Maharajji by all. In His childhood He astonished His teachers and fellow students by His super intelligence and phenomenal memory. He very quickly completed a basic education followed by few years of study of Sanskrit Grammar, Literature and Ayurveda at Indore and Varanasi. This brief period of study did not include study of the scriptures!
At the tender age of sixteen He disappeared into the dense forests of Chitrakoot and Vrindaban for one year. During this period He remained totally immersed in the ecstasy of Divine Love, oblivious of the outer world. Gradually He controlled and concealed this supreme ecstasy of Divine Bliss and completely devoted Himself to Grace conditioned souls with His inspiring Divine Wisdom and sublime chanting that spread powerful waves of Divine Love and Bliss and melted even the most stone- hearted.
Shri Maharajji observed that people were misguided and totally ignorant about the actual essence of the scriptures and true form of devotional practice. To redeem this dismal spiritual state of mankind He organized huge religious conferences at Chitrakoot in the year 1955 and in Kanpur the following year. These conferences were attended by the most eminent scholars and saints of India. It was during these conferences that the scriptural omniscience of this young man was revealed to the world and even the most learned scholars were lost in wonder. Impressed by Shri Maharajji's extraordinarily authoritative knowledge of all scriptures the Kashi Vidvat Parishat (a body of 500 topmost scholars of India who collectively represent the seat of spiritual learning) invited him to Kashi (Varanasi). Shri Maharajji delivered a series of discourses in Sanskrit, which left all of them spellbound and speechless. They were so highly impressed by His unparalleled knowledge of all the scriptures, which far surpassed their combined knowledge that they honoured Him with the title of 'Jagadguru' (Spiritual Master of the whole world) on 14th January 1957. He was only 34 years then. The Kashi Vidvat Parishat honoured Him with the special title of 'Jagadguruttam' (supreme amongst Jagadgurus) and declared Him as 'Bhaktiyogarasavatara' (Descension of Divine Love and Bliss). In the history of India only four Saints have so far been honoured with the title of Jagadguru in the last 2500 years- Jagadguru Shankaracharya, Jagadguru Nimbarkacharya, Jagadguru Ramanujacharya and Jagadguru Madhvacharya. Shri Maharajji is now the fifth original Jagadguru.
Shri Maharajji makes no distinction of caste, creed, colour or race. With His infinite Love and Compassion He gathers all into the purity of His Divine embrace and His Divine effulgence shines through all He says, all He does and all He is. Every seeker is amazed to see how approachable He is and enjoys the special privilege of individual attention from Him. Thus He makes each one feel that He belongs to them. His tall, stately and regal yet childlike Personality has an indefinable attraction and draws all young and old, men, women and children to Him. The all-satisfying Love, which emanates from Him, makes each one feel the Love of a parent, friend and teacher all in one. It is very easy to become a recipient because there is no other giver like Shri Maharajji. True to His name 'Kripalu' He is the very 'Ocean of Grace.'
