Divine personalities who
displayed unparalleled mastery over all Vedic scriptures, and who
brought about a spiritual revolution in the minds of the people by their
unique explanation of Vedic knowledge, have
traditionally been conferred the
title of Jagadguru, or Spiritual Master of the whole world. In the past
5000 years of the present age of Kali, five personalities have been
recognized as original Jagadgurus:
1. Jagadguru Shankaracharya
Appeared about 2,500 years ago.
He re-established the greatness of Vedic Sanatan Dharm in India. His
philosophy is known as advaitvad or non-dualism. He established four
seats, called maths, for the propagation of Vedic religion.
2.
Jagadguru Nimbarkacharya
Appeared shortly after Shree
Shankaracharya. He put forward the philosophy of dwaitadvaitvad or
dualistic non-dualism, which states that the soul and God have perfect
oneness and yet perfect duality. He emphasized devotion to Radha
Krishna.
3.
Jagadguru Ramanujacharya
Appeared on this earth planet
about 1,000 years ago. His philosophy is known as vishisht advaitvad, or
qualified non-dualism. He put great emphasis on surrender to God, and
established the proper system of worship in temples throughout India.
4.
Jagadguru Madhavacharya
Who came about 700 years ago,
was the vigorous propagator of dvaitvad or the philosophy of dualism. He
stressed that the attainment of the personal form of God is the goal of
all the souls, and that God, maya and the soul are always separate
entities.
5. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji
Maharaj - The Supreme Acharya of this Age
An
historical event happened in the glorious puri of God Shiv, Kashi, in
January 1957 when Shree Kripalu ji Maharaj gave a profound series of
lectures at the invitation of the Kashi Vidvat Parishad, a body of 500
of the topmost Vedic scholars of India who collectively represent the
seat of spiritual learning.
Shree Maharaj ji spoke for ten
days revealing the secrets of the Hindu scriptures. He reconciled the
apparent contradictions between the various Vedic scriptures, and the
differences between the views of the previous Jagadgurus, to reveal the
true path to God-realization for the welfare of all humankind.
With profound admiration, the
scholars accepted that his knowledge was deeper than the combined
knowledge of all 500 of them put together. They unanimously acclaimed
him as Jagadguru, the Spiritual Master of the world. They further added
that he was "Jagadguruttam," or Supreme amongst all Jagadgurus. Among
the various accolades that they showered upon him was "Bhakti-Yog
Rasavatar", or the personification of the Bliss of devotion.
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About Shree
Maharaj Ji
