Understanding "Jagadguruttam"
The word Jagadguruttam (Devanagari: जगदगुरूत्तम ISO15919: jagadagurūttama) is a profound combination of three Sanskrit words: "jagad" (universe), "guru" (spiritual master or guide), and "uttam" (best among all). Therefore, Jagadguruttam signifies the supreme spiritual mentor of the entire world. From a foundational perspective, the singular Jagadguru has always been, is, and always will be Shri Krishna, a truth affirmed by the Vedic scriptures.
So, how did the tradition of the five "original" Jagadgurus come into being?
The Genesis of the Jagadguru Title
In the Kali Yuga, an era often marked by spiritual decline, many individuals falsely claimed positions of high spiritual prestige. These imposters misled countless people by initiating them with mantras and declaring themselves as gurus. This precarious situation created an urgent need to counter such malpractices.
To address this, Vedic scholars devised the title of Jagadguru. It was decided that this honor would be conferred upon a contemporary scholar who was:
- The greatest scholar of Ved Shastra (Vedic scriptures).
- Endowed with true divine love.
This tradition, which began approximately 3000 years ago, was established to help sincere seekers of God-realization distinguish authentic saints from imposters. It allowed aspirants to approach a verified scholar with confidence to gain accurate and undisputed knowledge of the Vedas and other scriptures. The first Jagadguru title was conferred upon Jagadguru Shankaracharya in the 8th Century BC.
While the Vedas themselves do not explicitly depict the Jagadguru title, its institution in the modern age of Kali Yuga is crucial. It serves as the sole means to provide an authentic and indisputable spiritual master to innocent and inquisitive souls.
Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj's Conferral
In 1957, Shri Maharaj Ji was offered this esteemed title in the presence of a group of 500 most distinguished contemporary Vedic scholars. He graciously accepted it!
He was initially given ten days to present his profound knowledge, after which selected scholars were expected to engage in a scriptural debate (Shastrarth) with him. However, by the fifth day of his discourses, he had already captivated all the scholars with his extraordinary memory of Vedic scriptures and an unparalleled ability to reconcile seemingly contradictory philosophies. On the seventh day, without any need for debate, he was unanimously declared the Fifth Original Jagadguru in the tradition of original Jagadgurus.
Celebrating Jagadguruttam Diwas
We celebrate this auspicious day with immense devotion, love, and fervor, calling it Jagadguruttam Diwas.
On this special day, we extend our heartfelt good wishes to all devotees of Shri Radha, Shri Krishna, and Shri Maharaj Ji.