Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj explains the ultimate aim of every soul in this phenomenal 1988 lecture titled "Jeev Ka Lakshya".
Jagadguru Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj (lovingly called Shree Maharaj Ji) appeared on October 5, 1922 on the auspicious full moon night of Sharad-poornima in Mangarh, a tiny village in Northern India. From childhood He showed signs of divinity and was a most precocious student. At the age of sixteen, He was discovered roaming the dense forests of Chitrakoot in divine ecstasy, earlier exhibited only by the greatest personalities such as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramakrishna Paramhansa. At the request of sincere spiritual seekers who begged for His association, He controlled His natural absorption in divine ecstasy and started conducting satsang in towns and villages. While still in His teens He would lead scores of devotees in ecstatic chanting of God's names (Hari-naam sankeertan), which would last for months at a time.
Realizing that today's world was bereft of true scriptural knowledge, Shree Maharaj Ji began to reveal His divine mastery of all the scriptures. At the age of 32, he conducted the largest conference of scholars in the history of India. In this conference, all the greatest scholars of India were mesmerized by this young saint's complete knowledge of all the Vedic scriptures. Greatly moved by His divine personality, the Kashi Vidvat Parishat, the then exclusive and distinguished organization of India's 500 foremost Vedic scholars, invited Shree Maharaj Ji to visit them in the holy city of Benares.
Shree Maharaj Ji spoke before the august body of scholars for ten days in pure Sanskrit, and showed them the beautiful unity and singular message of all the Vedic scriptures. When the Kashi Vidvat Parishat realized that the divine knowledge possessed by this young man exceeded all their combined knowledge, they humbly requested Him to accept the title of Jagadguru (spiritual master of the world). The title of Jagadguru is the highest title in the Vedic tradition, and has been awarded only four times in the last 5000 years. The first Jagadguru was Adi Shankaracharya, followed in history by Jagadguru Nimbarkacharya, Jagadguru Ramanujacharya and Jagadguru Madhvacharya. The title of Jagadguru (Spiritual teacher of the entire world) is awarded to a divine personality who possesses complete knowledge of all the scriptures as well as a practical experience of God, and who brings about a spiritual revolution in the world through his teachings.
In addition to being the supreme Vedic authority of our age and an unparalleled scholar, Shree Maharaj Ji is a tremendous poet and composer. He has composed thousands of bhajans and keertans that evoke extremely devotional sentiments within the heart. Many years ago He composed 1,008 devotional songs in only nine days. These are collectively known as the scripture Prem Ras Madira, and has been highly praised by all the well-known poets of India. Since then, Shree Maharaj Ji has composed thousands of other songs and poems that have become popular the world over for their depth and devotional intensity. Even until His last day on Earth, he continued to compose keertans filled with the Divine sweetness of God, to inspire all the devotees on the path.
The spiritual work undertaken by Shree Maharaj Ji is certainly His greatest contribution to society. However, His philosophy emphasizes creating a balance in life by taking care of the body as well as nurturing the soul. Throughout His life, Shree Maharaj Ji inspired devotees to engage in various humanitarian activities - such as the operation of 3 fully-equipped modern hospitals that offer free medical treatment to the poverty-stricken residents of the surrounding villages, and the operation of 3 world-class educational institutes that provide top-notch free education to girls from primary to post-graduate. These humanitarian efforts have been recognized by the Government of India with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence Award.
On November 15, 2013, Shree Maharaj Ji brought his pastimes on our planet to a close and left for the divine abode of Shree Radha Krishna. In this age when people are judged by material success, the human soul yearning for peace and fulfillment finds soothing solace in Shree Maharaj Ji, who shone with divinity and worked tirelessly to uplift humanity. He shattered all doubts of spiritual confusion with great ease and effectively revealed a clear and practical path leading to God. He is, in true sense of the word, a Jagadguru, a Guru of the entire world.