Jagadguru

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Jagadguru (जगदगुरु) is a Hindu spiritual title. It is used for acharyas who specifically write on the philosophy of "soul,^{[citation needed]} maya and God" based on the Brahma Sutra, the Gita and the Upnishads, establish their religion, establish an institution to spread dharma, and is accepted as the supreme Spiritual Master by all the learned Sanskrit scholars of Hindu religion^[1] who have been based in Varanasi, famous for being the centre of Sanskrit study and the "Capital Of all Knowledge"^[2] for thousands of years.^{[original research?]}

1 Origin and history of the term
2 The Jagadguru Tradition
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Origin and history of the term

जगदगुरु is of sanskrit origin where जगद (jagad) means 'the entire world' and गुरु (guru) means 'spiritual master'. It was first used in the Mahabharat when Arjun addressed Shree Krishn as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world' as described in the sanskrit shloka:

वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम् ।

देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुमं ।।

(Click the above links to hear these verses being sung)

Thus Shree Krishn is considered by Hindus to be the eternal Jagadguru.^{[original research?]}^{[citation needed]}

[edit] The Jagadguru Tradition

In the past 5000 years there have been five 'Jagadgurus'. The title was given to such acharyas who remained unparalleled in spiritual knowledge during the age they lived in, and who brought about a revolution in spiritual thought by virtue of their philosophical teachings.^{[original research?]}

The first four Jagadgurus established religious seats in different parts of India. Their successors, who inherited those seats, also took onto themselves the title of Jagadguru. Due to the prestige associated with the title, religious leaders often add "Jagadguru" to their name, without having received it formally. However, such "Jagadgurus" neither possess complete mastery over the Vedic scriptures, nor do they expound an original interpretation that revolutionizes spiritual thought. And so, their claim of being Jagadguru does not gain credence amongst the scholastic community, which only acknowledges the above five personalities as original Jagadgurus.^{[original research?]}

[edit] Adi Sankaracharya

Adi Sankaracharya, the original Sankaracharya, lived from 788–820 AC^[3]. His philosophy is called advaita vad. He toured India with the purpose of propagating his teachings through discourses and debates with other prominent scholars. Wherever Shankaracarya traveled he was victorious (शङ्कर दिग्विजय), and opposing philosophies bowed.^[4] He established four Mathas and appointed his four main sanyasi disciple acharyas as spiritual heads of each math: Totakacharya, Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalakacharya and Padmadacharya. The disciplinic succession of Shankaracharaya has existed up until today where successors also use the title 'Jagadguru Shankaracharya'.^{[original research?]}

[edit] Ramanujacharya

Ramanujacharya's philosophy is called vishishtadvaita vad. He propagated the bhakti of Bhagwan Vishnu.^[5] He lived from 1017 until 1137. He engaged many scholars in debate and defeated them by propounding his sytematic view of Vedanta.^[6] The successors who sit on his throne are also called 'Jagadguru Ramanujacharya'. The present successor of the Ramanujacharya Sampradaya is H.H. Jagadguru Ramanujacharya Sudarshanacharya Maharaj.^[7]^{[original research?]}

[edit] Madhavacharya

Madhavacharya lived from 1238-1317AD. His philosophy is called dvaita vad. His primary teaching is that "the only goal of a soul is to selflessly and wholeheartedly love and surrender to God".^[8] Wherever he went, he debated the prominent scholars of the impersonal school, smashing their interpretations of Vedanta with his brilliant advocacy of dualistic theism.^[9] He established eight mathas in Udupi. The present leaders of these mathas also use the title 'Jagadguru Madhavacharya'.^{[original research?]}

[edit] Nimbarkacharya

The dates of Nimbarkacharya's life period remain unknown, though it is believed that he may have lived somewhere between 600 and 3100BC as his writings contain no mention of Adi Shankaracharya nor Buddha who lived later. His writings say that Radha Krishn are the supreme form of God. His most important writing is called Vedant Parijat Saurabh.

Nimbarka philosophy (Dvaitadvaita) states that, Jiva (soul) is a part of Bhagwan (God). The relation of part and whole, the relation of difference in identity exists between the individual soul and God. They are identical and it is not possible for them to have a separate existence from God. Their identity is like the identity that exists between ocean and wave, there is a difference like that of the sun and its light.^[10]