JAGADGURU TRADITION

In the 5,000 year history of the present age of kali, only five personalities have been recognised as Jagadgurus:

1. Jagadguru Shankaracharya

Jagadguru Shankaracharya appeared about 2,500 years ago. He re-established the greatness of vedic sanatan dharm in india and subsided the effect of the prevailing non-godly buddhism. His philosophy is known as advait vad or absolute monism. He established four seats, called maths, for the propogation of vedic religion.

2.Jagadguru Nimbarkacharya

Jagadguru Nimbarkacharya appeared shortly after shankaracharya. He propounded the philosophy of dvaitadvait vad, or mono-dualism in which he related that between soul and god there is a perfect duality, yet there is perfect substantial oneness. He emphasized devotion to radha krishn, while meditating upon their divine pastimes and virtues.

3.Jagadguru Ramanujacharya

Jagadguru Ramanujacharya, the learned propounder of vaishnavism, appeared on this earth planet about 1,000 years ago. His philosophy is known as vishishtadvait vad, or qualified monism. He put great emphasis on surrender to god as the primary means of god realization. He travelled throughout india and propounded that the path of bhakti is the only means of god realization.

4.Jagadguru Madhvacharya

Jagadguru Madhvacharya, who came about 700 years ago, was the vigorous propogator of dvait vad or the philosophy of dualism. He stressed that the attainment of the personal form of god is the goal of all souls, and that god, maya, and the soul are always three separate entities.

5. Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj - The Supreme Acharya of this Age

An historical event happened in Kashi, in January 1957 when Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj gave his amazing series of lectures at the invitation of Kashi Vidvat Parishad, an apex body of the learned scholars of bhartiya scriptures in kashi (varanasi).

Shri Maharajji spoke for seven days in scholarly sanskrit, revealing the secrets of our scriptures and reconciling the discrepancies that appear in darshan shastras and the writings of our jagadgurus. He gave references from hundreds of bhartiya scriptures that amazed and enthralled the entire audience. Apart from the general audience, over 500 erudite sanskrit scholars from Varanasi and other parts of india were present.

With profound admiration, the pandits of Kashi vidvat parishad proclaimed him as the supreme jagadguru of this age. Among the various accolades that they showered upon him was "bhakti yoga rasavatara", or the incarnation of divine love. Jagaguru shri kripalu ji maharaj is thus the fifth original jagadguru in the past 5,000 years.