JKP

Shri Guru Dham, Bhakti Mandir – A Divine Resolve

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
27 March 2024
0 Comments

To express gratitude for the countless deeds of their Guru and father Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, the Presidents of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP, ) H. H. Sushri Dr Vishakha Tripathi Ji, H. H. Sushri Dr Shyama Tripathi Ji and H. H. Sushri Dr Krishna Tripathi Ji, Kripalu Dham, made an auspicious resolution in January 2014 to construct a temple – Guru Dham Mandir – that would eternally celebrate and symbolise his glorious life. 

Although Shri Maharaj Ji never left Shri Kripalu Dham after his physical disappearance, constantly

realising his divine presence does require an elevated level of spiritual practice. Hence, having a physical form of a temple is one way to assist aspiring devotees to realise his divine presence, thereby enhancing their devotional practice.  

Shri Maharaj Ji quoted several times in his discourses that there is no distinction between ‘dhami’ and ‘dham,’ that is, a divine personality and his abode. And this was exactly what every devotee experiences on their visit to Guru Dham Mandir.  It is exceedingly challenging to express these experiences in words.

We celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of this great monument, a transcendental gift of divinity for the welfare of the world.  At the place where his last rites took place, where the divine mortal of Shri Maharaj Ji was offered to the celestial god of fire, Agni, this glorious temple now stands.  Guru Dham Mandir is not just a monument made of lifeless stones; rather, every sculptured stone embedded into it has life and breath. 

This is the celestial expansion of the sachchidananda form of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, made from pure life and spirit, resonating with notes of bhakti creating the sweetest melodies of divine love, emanating an illimitable, eternal, moment to moment increasing experience of blissfulness.

This temple establishes the spiritual sentiments, culture, and civilization of India and thus it is a beautiful example of unity in diversity, a unique confluence of bhakti and love which strengthens the spirit of universal brotherhood and leads humanity to light from darkness. Guru Dham Mandir.

It is the embodiment of the Jagadguru tradition and the focal point of the nectar of divine love showered by countless maharasikas. India’s history, religion, culture and all her traditions are enshrined in it. It is the unification of endless divine attributes of countless Saints in the quintessential form of Kripalu – the pastimes of Lord Rama, the Gurbani of Shri Nanak, the Bible of Jesus Christ, and the Quran of Prophet Muhammad, and all other civilizations.  It is the harmonisation of all religions and the association of all castes. 

As soon as you enter the mandap, the sweet sound of ‘Radhe Radhe Govinda Radhe’ enters your ears. The graceful form of Shri Guruvar, dancing ecstatically with raised hands, appears before you. Around the top of the temple is the inscription, ‘Radhe Radhe,’ reminding us of his divine message, “Always and everywhere chant the name of Shri Radha with every breath.” Highlighting radha tattva in this way and disseminating the recital of the names of Shri Radha Krishna throughout the world, Shri Maharaj Ji has done an enormous favour for the world community.

In the BHAGAVATAM 11.17.27 Shri Krishna tells Uddhava, “Know the Guru to be myself. Never think unfavourably about him. Do not use your material mind to comprehend his divine actions, for all forms of God dwell in the Guru.” This form of Bhaktiyoga-rasavatar Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj reveals the purpose of his Descension.

The purpose of God’s descension is different in different times. In every descension, God establishes an ideal in accordance with the needs of that time. In the age of Treta, for example, He descended as Shri Rama and His aim was to lead people onto the path of spiritual welfare through the practice of karma yoga. Therefore, He Himself followed karma yoga, presenting the ideal for people that they should do their duty towards their family and proceed towards their spiritual goal. 

During His descension as Shri Krishna, He acted in two capacities. In Dwarika, He played the role of a family man, while in Braja He bestowed on common people the essence of divine love, unattainable even to the great yogi paramahansas who had liberated themselves from the bondage of this world. This state is called maharaas. We cannot understand the meaning of the word maharaas, even if we were  to engage our intellect in it for countless ages. This raas is such a high-class bliss.

In this age of Kali, the general mentality of people is pitiable. Therefore, the purpose of the descension of Bhaktiyoga-rasavatar Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was to make it possible for even the most sinful to do good and become eligible to attain that divine maharaas. With this goal in mind, he abandoned all other devotional means and stressed upon performing sankirtan, while meditating on God’s names, forms, pastimes, attributes, and His abode.  He established that this is the most efficient way of attaining divine bliss and propagated this vigorously all over the world.

Many salutations to the land of his loving pastimes, the land of his appearance and the land where he abandoned his material body, the most divine Kripalu Dham. This holiest of pilgrimage places treasures the endless divine memories of this great Saint, so affectionately disposed towards his devotees, and this Sadguru, who sacrificed his all for the welfare of those whom he motivated to tread the path of love, making them recipients of divine love. 

Blessed is this land that glorifies the most glorious – the land where Sachchidananda Guruvar performed his innumerable divine plays, celebrated Holi with the colours of love and devotion and where a mere touch of his lotus feet divinised the entire abode.  To Kripalu Dham, as an eternal Guru, all devotees pay their respectful salutation. 

A place where every particle is divinely conscious, where every particle blessed with the delightful touch of the feet of the Guru is the source of an endless flow of bhakti, a place where all divine forces inhabit to listen to the sweet chanting of the name of Shri Radha, a place where all the scriptures, the Vedas, Shastras, and the Puranas have settled forever in memory of Jagadguruttam. Many salutations to such a supremely blissful, propitious sacred land.

Shrimad Sadguru Sarkar Ki Jaya!

Shri Guru Dham Mandir Ki Jaya!

*A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (‘Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World’) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by ‘Kashi Vidvat Parishad’ (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like ‘Prem Ras Madira’, ‘Prem Ras Siddhant’, and ‘Radha Govind Geet’ to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include  -  Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh,  Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharajji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education.