The Jagadguru Tradition - World Teachers of the Eternal Religion
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.