Jagadguru

Jagadguru, literally meaning "guru of the universe", is a title used in Sanātana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for ācāryas belonging to the Vedānta school (among the six traditional schools of thought in Hinduism) who have written Sanskrit commentaries on the Prasthānatrayī (literally, 'the three sources') – the Brahma sūtras (the original scripture of Vedānta), the Bhagavad-gītā (part of the Mahābhārata) and the principal Upaniṣads.

Historically, jagadgurus have established a lineage (paramparā) and an institution to spread dharma. They bring forth a new and authoritative interpretation of the scriptures that can unify or redefine the spiritual understanding of generations.^[1]

Origin and history of the term

Jagadguru is of Sanskrit origin where jagat means 'the entire world' and guru means 'spiritual master' (literally, 'dispeller of darkness'). In the classics and scriptures, the word has been used for several Devas. In the Mahābhārata, Arjuna addresses Śrī Kṛṣṇa as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world'. Adi Shankaracharya uses the title Jagadguru for Śrī Kṛṣṇa in his Śrī Kṛṣṇa-āṣṭakam.^[2] The Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa uses the word Jagadguru for Lord Śiva in his great poem (Mahā-kāvya) titled Kumārasambhava.^[3] In the Rāmacaritamānasa, the poet-saint Tulasidāsa uses the same word for Lord Rāma.^[4] Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda uses it for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in his song Guru Paramparā.^[5] A. C. Bhaktivedānta Svāmi Prabhupāda uses it for Lord Kṛṣṇa in his composition Mārkine Bhāgavata-Dharma.^[6]

Traditional Jagadgurus

The First Jagadguru was Adi Shankara ,and the second was Ramanujacharya, The third was Madhvacharya, Fourth was Jagadguru Nimbarkacharya, and Fifth Jagadguru and Also honoured with Jagadguruttam by Kashi Vidvat Parishat on 14th Jan 1957 was Jagadguruttam Sri Kripalu g maharaj (1922-2013) In Hinduism, the three great acharyas – Adi Shankara, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya are combinedly known as "Acharyatraya" or "Triacharya". These three acharyas are considered to be the pillars of Vedantic tradition of spiritual India.^[7][8][9]

Acharyatraya

• Śrīpāda Śaṅkarācārya (also known as "Ādi Śaṅkara" or Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda, founder of Advaita school of Vedānta.^[10]
• Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya (c. 1017 – c. 1137), founder of Viśiṣṭādvaita school of Vedānta.^[10]
• Śrīpāda Madhvācārya (c. 1239 – c. 1319) (also known as "Pūrna Prajña" or "Ānanda Tīrtha Bhagavatpāda", founder of the Dvaita (Tattvavada) school of Vedānta.^[10]

Other acharyas

• Śrī Nimbārkācārya, founder of Dvaitadvaita school of Vedānta.^[10]
• Śrī Vallabhācārya Mahaprabhu (c. 1479 – c. 1531), founder of Shuddhadvaita school of Vedānta^[11]
• Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj (c. 1922 – c. 2013), founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishad.^[12] He was honoured with the title Jagadguru by Kashi Vidvat Parishat on 14 January 1957.^[13]

Jagadguru as title

Traditionally the title Jagadguru is used by all the peetadhipathis of Mathas founded by traditional Jagadgurus such as Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, and Vallabhacharya.

Jagadguru is also honoured as the title by Kashi Vidvat Parishat in Varanasi for the knowledge and value of particular guru. The title "Jagadguru Ramanandacharya" is used in the lineage of Ramananda, founder of Ramanandi Sampradaya.^[14]

• Traditionally, the title "Jagadguru" is used by the peetadhipathis of various mathas founded by renowned spiritual leaders such as Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, and Vallabhacharya.
• Rambhadracharya, the founder of Tulsi Peeth within the Ramanandi Sampradaya, was conferred the title "Jagadguru Ramanandacharya" by Kashi Vidvat Parishat on 24 June 1988.^[15]