Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj
THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL GURU OF THE WORLD
THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL GURU OF THE WORLD
Carrying forward the revered Jagadguru legacy, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj — the fifth original Jagadguru of this world — immersed humanity in love and devotion for the divine. Across his remarkable 91-year life (1922–2013), he re-established the Bhakti Movement, delivered thousands of transformative discourses, authored enlightening books and sankirtans, and made Vedic wisdom accessible to all.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj established iconic temples like the Prem Mandir in Vrindavan and set up free hospitals, schools, and colleges to uplift society. His divine mission lives on, as millions of devotees around the world continue their spiritual journey following his teachings.
THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL GURU OF THE WORLD
Recognised as the 5th ever “Jagadguru”, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was the greatest authority on the Vedas. In his lifetime, he revealed the Sanatan Vedic Dharm (eternal Vedic principles), re-established the Bhaktiyog movement, and guided millions of souls worldwide towards developing a selfless, loving relationship with God.
“Shri Maharaj Ji” is lovingly remembered as an embodiment of divine grace and selfless devotion. He taught in Hindi instead of Sanskrit, thereby bringing Vedic knowledge to the general public of today.
THE 5TH ORIGINAL JAGADGURU
The simplest path to God in Kaliyug is through Bhakti (devotion). Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj’s teachings, known as Jagadguru Kripalu Bhaktiyog Tattvadarshan, emphasize cultivating deep love for God. He prescribes Vedic practices like sankirtan (chanting divine names) and Roopdhyan Meditation (visualising God’s form). As love for God deepens, practitioners experience a deep sense of peace and fulfilment, and overcome negative emotions.
To deepen our love for God, Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj revealed Roopdhyan, a practical sadhana technique that involves lovingly meditating upon your chosen form of God. Combined with sankirtan (chanting divine names) or leela chintan (thinking about divine pastimes), it makes the path to God-realisation extremely engaging.
The beauty of this practice lies in its accessibility, allowing people of all ages and backgrounds to practise it anywhere and at any time.
Roopdhyan is a powerful meditation technique that enables spiritual seekers to deepen their practice and purify their minds.When love for God becomes so intense through Roopdhyan that separation feels unbearable, God reveals Himself, and the soul finds its eternal place in His divine abode.
To make Vedic knowledge accessible to the masses, a vast and complex body of knowledge originally written in intricate Sanskrit, Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj took it upon himself to reconcile the philosophies of his four predecessors: Adi Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya, the proponent of Advaita Vedanta, Jagadguru Shri Ramanujacharya, the proponent of Vishishtadvaita, Jagadguru Shri Madhvacharya, the proponent of Dvaita and Jagadguru Shri Nimbarkacharya, the proponent of Dvaitadvaita, along with the philosophies of other prominent bhakti saints. In so doing, Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj presented a universal philosophy – Jagadguru Kripalu Bhaktiyoga Tattvadarshan – in simple Hindi that harmonised their views and incorporated the core teachings of the Upanishads, Puranas, Gita, Bhagavatam, Ramayana and other prominent texts of Sanatan Vedic Dharm.
With unmatched clarity, he unravelled elaborate and complicated scriptures, resolved apparent contradictions, and revealed the universal truth that every soul seeks eternal happiness, which is God alone. He concluded that in Kaliyug, selfless devotion (Bhakti) is the only path to God-realisation. Through poetic and philosophical works like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet, and thousands of discourses in India and abroad, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj established himself as the foremost authority on Vedic philosophy, leaving behind a priceless treasure of literature that continues to guide souls toward divine love for Shri Radha Krishna.
Vast creation of heart-warming poetry, couplets and devotional songs.
Unparalleled treasure of Vedic wisdom through extensive divine discourses.
Revealing his scriptural omniscience; quotes from 200 ancient texts.
BHAKTIYOG-RAS-AVATAR
At just 34, Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj delivered astonishing discourses over 10 consecutive days before the Kashi Vidvat Parishad (the distinguished and exclusive organisation of 500 most eminent religious scholars of India), leaving its erudite philosophers convinced he was no ordinary saint. Witnessing his divine knowledge and visible ‘Ashta Sattvik Bhav’, the topmost eight transcendental emotions of Bhakti, they honoured him with the title Bhaktiyog-Ras-Avatar, the embodiment of divine love and bliss.
Devotees fortunate enough to have associated with Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj and attended his sankirtans were completely drenched in divine love, experiencing a deep inner transformation. As God’s love awakened within them, material tendencies naturally faded away.
KRIPA AVATAR
Throughout his lifetime of 91 years, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj touched countless lives with unconditional love and kripa (grace). Without discriminating between the worthy and the unworthy, he guided all seekers on the path of bhakti through philosophical insights and practical sadhana.
Despite his revered Jagadguru status, he remained humble, approachable, and full of warmth, living up to his name (Kripalu) as one who bestows grace. He treated everybody equally with the same love and compassion. In his association, everyone felt loved and protected. Whether a child or an elderly, all were drawn to his truly humble, yet jovial nature which made it very easy for devotees to accept him as their guru (spiritual master).
Even today, those who listen to his discourses online, take part in sankirtan sessions, or attend retreats held across multiple ashrams, feel a deep connection and embrace him as their Guru.
In 1972, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj established Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), a non-profit, charitable, and spiritual organisation. JKP serves some of India’s most underprivileged communities by providing free healthcare, education, and ongoing relief work.
For over five decades, JKP has guided thousands on the path of bhakti while also carrying out wide-ranging philanthropic efforts. Inspired by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj’s vision, millions now offer selfless sewa (service) through JKP’s three key areas of philanthropy: healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has inspired hundreds of thousands of people
who now provide selfless service in 3 main areas of philanthropy.
Three fully charitable hospitals, established in Shri Kripalu Dham Mangarh, Shri Vrindavan Dham, and Shri Barsana Dham, have transformed the lives of over 5 million people by providing completely free medical care to those who need it most.
A fully charitable school, college in Kunda (U.P.) has empowered over 40,000 girls, right from primary to post-graduation, with free, high-quality education, opening doors to brighter futures in one of India’s most disadvantaged regions.
Ongoing charitable support through government-affiliated relief funds and widespread distribution of essential household items have brought vital assistance and dignity to countless low-income families.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj established three iconic monuments in India that glorify divine love and devotion to Shri Radha Krishna. They are not only remarkable spiritual monuments, but architectural marvels that further enrich the cultural heritage of India.
Shri Vrindavan Dham
Shri Kripalu Dham Mangarh
Shri Barsana Dham
FROM THE LIVES HE TOUCHED
The great National identity and Saint of the highest order, Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, was a universal teacher who performed welfare not only of the nation, but the entire universe.
He was an exponent of universal brotherhood and inspired all towards the devotion of God without discrimination. He exhorted all for universal peace through his transcendental discourses. There was no sect, no cult and no disciple created by him. He gave respect to all and kindness to all; love and devotion to Shri Radha Krishna was the essence of his life.
I am very happy that the Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj Satsang Samiti is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Maharaj Ji honoured as the Supreme Jagadguru. With His message of Krishna Love, Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has won the hearts of everyone around him.
His teachings of Divine Love and selfless service form a very strong basis for solving all the ills that plague our society today. The scriptural omniscience of Maharaj Ji and his liberal interpretation of the philosophies of other Jagadgurus and the Darshan Shastras have immensely enriched the rich spiritual treasures of this country.
The most venerable Maharaj Shri was an unfathomable ocean of jnana and bhakti. He was an avatara purusha of the present age. He was the guardian of Indian dharma, philosophy, spiritualism, and culture and a living form of the great tradition of our ancient seers and sages, representing whom with all their attributes, he was a divine power for all times to come. There have been many Saints in the world who have been attributed with some or the other transcendental endowment, divine quality and greatness. But it was none other than Shri Maharaj Ji who was endowed with the profound wisdom of all our scriptures.
I am an agnostic but deeply interested in all religions. Like other people, I have been trying to find answers to three questions, 1. Where have we come from? 2. How should we conduct ourselves in the life given to us? 3. Where do we go when we die? In the quest for answers to these questions I read sacred texts, listen to talks given by holy men and scholars of religion. The one who impressed me above others is Kripaluji Maharaj. I am most impressed by what Kripalu Ji Maharaj has to say: his scholarship is profound, his memory of chapter and verse he quotes from world scriptures is phenomenal, he is lucid, his logic irrefutable and his manner of putting across his ideas most convincing he is in short my idea of a Jagadguru in the true sense of word.
knowledge CENTER
Kishori Ji is the personified form of grace. She is made of grace from inside as well as outside. She has no other work to perform except showering grace. She has no other desire.
A deity or statue is made of a single element. It could be wood, iron, stone, terracotta, clay
The topic of “Sankirtan” is one of the most important concepts for spiritual seekers. In the tradition of “Bhakti” (devotion to God), sankirtan has a very significant role. In the ‘Bhakti Rasāmrita Sindhu’ written by Rupa Gosvami, one of the most revered Rasik Saints, Sankirtan is defined as –
nāmalīlāguṇādināmuchchairbhāṣha tu
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥ (Gita 4.34)
“Approach a shrotriya brahmanishtha Guru, question him with reverence and devotion and serve him sincerely and wholeheartedly. Attain spiritual knowledge from him and practice devotion under his guidance…
Each person from any country will have his own religion. This religion is called by different names, but all religions focus on the welfare of people. Our Hindu religion, for example, describes this as follows,
यतोऽभ्युदयनिःश्रेयससिद्धिः स धर्मः (Vaisheshika Darshan)
Kishori Ji is the personified form of grace. She is made of grace from inside as well as outside. She has no other work to perform except showering grace. She has no other desire.
A Deity or statue is made of a single element. It could be wood, iron,..
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया । उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥ (Gita 4.34)
“Approach a shrotriya brahmanishtha Guru, question him with reverence and devotion and serve him sincerely and wholeheartedly. Attain spiritual knowledge from him and practice…
