Jagadguru
Encyclopedia
Jagadguru literally meaning the Guru
of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharya
s 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 Sutra (the original scripture of Vedānta
), the Bhagavad Gita
(part of the Mahābhārata
) and the principal Upanishads. Historically, Jagadgurus have established a lineage (Paramparā
), established an institution to spread Dharma
, and have been accepted as the supreme spiritual master by all the learned Sanskrit
scholars of Hindu religion who have been based in Varanasi
, famous for being the centre of Sanskrit
study and the "Capital Of all Knowledge". Now it is the authority of Kashi Vidvat Parishad to confer the title of Original Jagadguru.
origin where जगत् (jagat) means 'the entire world' and गुरु (guru) means 'spiritual master'.
In the classics and scriptures, the word has been used for several Deva
s. In the Mahābhārata
, Arjuna
addresses Shree Krishna
as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world'. The Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa
uses the word जगद्गुरु for Shiva
in his great poem (Mahākāvya) titled Kumārasambhava. In the Rāmacaritamānasa, the poet-saint Tulasidas uses the same word for Rāma
.
Jagadguru (Sanskrit
जगद्गुरु), literally meaning the Guru
of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharya
s 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 Sutra (the original scripture of Vedānta
), the Bhagavad Gita
(part of the Mahābhārata
) and the principal Upanishads. Historically, Jagadgurus have established a lineage (Paramparā
), established an institution to spread Dharma
, and have been accepted as the supreme spiritual master by all the learned Sanskrit
scholars of Hindu religionTrue History and the Religion of India (ISBN 978-8120817890), pg. 619] who have been based in Varanasi
, famous for being the centre of Sanskrit
study and the "Capital Of all Knowledge". Now it is the authority of Kashi Vidvat Parishad to confer the title of Original Jagadguru. Varanasi, the centre for Kashi Vidvat Parishad
origin where जगत् (jagat) means 'the entire world' and गुरु (guru) means 'spiritual master'.
In the classics and scriptures, the word has been used for several Deva
s. In the Mahābhārata
, Arjuna
addresses Shree Krishna
as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world'. The Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa
uses the word जगद्गुरु for Shiva
in his great poem (Mahākāvya) titled Kumārasambhava.Kumārasambhava, Canto 6, Verse 15 and also Canto 8, verse 24. In the Rāmacaritamānasa, the poet-saint Tulasidas uses the same word for Rāma
.Rāmacaritamānasa, , verse 3.9.
Jagadguru (Sanskrit
जगद्गुरु), literally meaning the Guru
of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharya
s 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 Sutra (the original scripture of Vedānta
), the Bhagavad Gita
(part of the Mahābhārata
) and the principal Upanishads. Historically, Jagadgurus have established a lineage (Paramparā
), established an institution to spread Dharma
, and have been accepted as the supreme spiritual master by all the learned Sanskrit
scholars of Hindu religionTrue History and the Religion of India (ISBN 978-8120817890), pg. 619] who have been based in Varanasi
, famous for being the centre of Sanskrit
study and the "Capital Of all Knowledge". Now it is the authority of Kashi Vidvat Parishad to confer the title of Original Jagadguru. Varanasi, the centre for Kashi Vidvat Parishad
origin where जगत् (jagat) means 'the entire world' and गुरु (guru) means 'spiritual master'.
In the classics and scriptures, the word has been used for several Deva
s. In the Mahābhārata
, Arjuna
addresses Shree Krishna
as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world'. The Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa
uses the word जगद्गुरु for Shiva
in his great poem (Mahākāvya) titled Kumārasambhava.Kumārasambhava, Canto 6, Verse 15 and also Canto 8, verse 24. In the Rāmacaritamānasa, the poet-saint Tulasidas uses the same word for Rāma
.Rāmacaritamānasa, , verse 3.9.
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
s belonging to the Vedānta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
school (among the six traditional schools of thought in Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
) who have written Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
commentaries on the Prasthānatrayī (literally the three sources) - the Brahma Sutra (the original scripture of Vedānta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
), the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
(part of the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
) and the principal Upanishads. Historically, Jagadgurus have established a lineage (Paramparā
Parampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
), established an institution to spread Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
, and have been accepted as the supreme spiritual master by all the learned Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholars of Hindu religion who have been based in Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, famous for being the centre of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
study and the "Capital Of all Knowledge". Now it is the authority of Kashi Vidvat Parishad to confer the title of Original Jagadguru.
Origin and history of the term
जगद्गुरु is of SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
origin where जगत् (jagat) means 'the entire world' and गुरु (guru) means 'spiritual master'.
In the classics and scriptures, the word has been used for several Deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
s. In the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
addresses Shree Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world'. The Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
uses the word जगद्गुरु for Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
in his great poem (Mahākāvya) titled Kumārasambhava. In the Rāmacaritamānasa, the poet-saint Tulasidas uses the same word for Rāma
RAMA
Rama is a first-person adventure game developed and published by Sierra Entertainment in 1996. The game is based on Arthur C. Clarke's books Rendezvous with Rama and Rama II and supports both DOS and Windows 95. It is the second Rama game to be produced...
.
Notable Jagad Gurus
- Adi ShankaraAdi ShankaraAdi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
(789-821) (also known as "Shankaracharya"), or Shankara Bhagavatpaada: Founder of Advaita school of vedanta. - Shrimad Ramanujacharya: Wrote Sribhashya, commentary on Brahma Sutras. He also established Vishistadvaita Siddhanta.
- Shrimad MadhvacharyaMadhvacharyaMadhvācārya was the chief proponent of Tattvavāda "Philosophy of Reality", popularly known as the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy. It is one of the three most influential Vedānta philosophies. Madhvācārya was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti movement. He was a pioneer in...
: Founder of the DvaitaDvaitaDvaita is a school of Vedanta founded by Shri Madhvacharya....
school of vedanta. - Shrimad Nimbarkacharya: Founder of DvaitadvaitaDvaitadvaitaDvaitadvaita was proposed by Nimbarka, a Vaishnava Philosopher who hailed from Andhra Region. Nimbarka’s philosophical position is known as Dvaitadvaita . The categories of existence, according to him, are three, i.e., Chit, acit, and Isvara...
school of vedanta. - Shrimad Vallbhacharya: Founder of ShuddhadvaitaShuddhadvaitaShuddadvaita is the "purely non-dual" philosophy propounded by Vallabhacharya , the founding philosopher and guru of the or , a Hindu Vaishnava tradition focused on the worship of Krishna. Vallabhacharya's pure form philosophy is different from Advaita...
school of vedanta and established the PushtimargPushtimargPushtimarg is a sect of the Hindu religion, founded by Shrimad Vallabhacharya around 1500 AD.Shri Vallabhacharya is one of the five main Acharyas of the Hindu Religion...
sect of bhaktivad - Shree Kripaluji Maharaj (1922 - Present): Founder of Nikhil Darshan Samanvay (Philosophy of Synthesis). He was conferred the "Jagadguruttam" title by Kashi Vidvat Parishad on 14th January 1957. He is the fifth original Jagadguru of this age.
Jagadguru (Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
जगद्गुरु), literally meaning the Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
s belonging to the Vedānta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
school (among the six traditional schools of thought in Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
) who have written Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
commentaries on the Prasthānatrayī (literally the three sources) - the Brahma Sutra (the original scripture of Vedānta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
), the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
(part of the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
) and the principal Upanishads. Historically, Jagadgurus have established a lineage (Paramparā
Parampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
), established an institution to spread Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
, and have been accepted as the supreme spiritual master by all the learned Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholars of Hindu religionTrue History and the Religion of India (ISBN 978-8120817890), pg. 619] who have been based in Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, famous for being the centre of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
study and the "Capital Of all Knowledge". Now it is the authority of Kashi Vidvat Parishad to confer the title of Original Jagadguru. Varanasi, the centre for Kashi Vidvat Parishad
Origin and history of the term
जगद्गुरु is of SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
origin where जगत् (jagat) means 'the entire world' and गुरु (guru) means 'spiritual master'.
In the classics and scriptures, the word has been used for several Deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
s. In the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
addresses Shree Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world'. The Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
uses the word जगद्गुरु for Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
in his great poem (Mahākāvya) titled Kumārasambhava.Kumārasambhava, Canto 6, Verse 15 and also Canto 8, verse 24. In the Rāmacaritamānasa, the poet-saint Tulasidas uses the same word for Rāma
RAMA
Rama is a first-person adventure game developed and published by Sierra Entertainment in 1996. The game is based on Arthur C. Clarke's books Rendezvous with Rama and Rama II and supports both DOS and Windows 95. It is the second Rama game to be produced...
.Rāmacaritamānasa, , verse 3.9.
Notable Jagad Gurus
- Adi ShankaraAdi ShankaraAdi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
(789-821) (also known as "Shankaracharya"), or Shankara Bhagavatpaada: Founder of Advaita school of vedanta. - Shrimad Ramanujacharya: Wrote Sribhashya, commentary on Brahma Sutras. He also established Vishistadvaita Siddhanta.
- Shrimad MadhvacharyaMadhvacharyaMadhvācārya was the chief proponent of Tattvavāda "Philosophy of Reality", popularly known as the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy. It is one of the three most influential Vedānta philosophies. Madhvācārya was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti movement. He was a pioneer in...
: Founder of the DvaitaDvaitaDvaita is a school of Vedanta founded by Shri Madhvacharya....
school of vedanta. - Shrimad Nimbarkacharya: Founder of DvaitadvaitaDvaitadvaitaDvaitadvaita was proposed by Nimbarka, a Vaishnava Philosopher who hailed from Andhra Region. Nimbarka’s philosophical position is known as Dvaitadvaita . The categories of existence, according to him, are three, i.e., Chit, acit, and Isvara...
school of vedanta. - Shrimad Vallbhacharya: Founder of ShuddhadvaitaShuddhadvaitaShuddadvaita is the "purely non-dual" philosophy propounded by Vallabhacharya , the founding philosopher and guru of the or , a Hindu Vaishnava tradition focused on the worship of Krishna. Vallabhacharya's pure form philosophy is different from Advaita...
school of vedanta and established the PushtimargPushtimargPushtimarg is a sect of the Hindu religion, founded by Shrimad Vallabhacharya around 1500 AD.Shri Vallabhacharya is one of the five main Acharyas of the Hindu Religion...
sect of bhaktivad - Shree Kripaluji Maharaj (1922 - Present): Founder of Nikhil Darshan Samanvay (Philosophy of Synthesis). He was conferred the "Jagadguruttam" title by Kashi Vidvat Parishad on 14th January 1957. He is the fifth original Jagadguru of this age.Singh, K. January 29, 2007. Free diagnosis. The TelegraphThe Telegraph (Kolkata)The Telegraph is an Indian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Kolkata since 1982. It is published by the ABP Group and the newspaper vies with the Times of India for the position of having the widest widest circulation of any newspaper in Eastern India.According to the Audit...
Hashmi, L. 16th Jan 2011. Figure of Divine Love : Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj. Pranam India
Jagadguru (Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
जगद्गुरु), literally meaning the Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
s belonging to the Vedānta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
school (among the six traditional schools of thought in Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
) who have written Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
commentaries on the Prasthānatrayī (literally the three sources) - the Brahma Sutra (the original scripture of Vedānta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
), the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
(part of the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
) and the principal Upanishads. Historically, Jagadgurus have established a lineage (Paramparā
Parampara
Parampara denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism...
), established an institution to spread Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
, and have been accepted as the supreme spiritual master by all the learned Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholars of Hindu religionTrue History and the Religion of India (ISBN 978-8120817890), pg. 619] who have been based in Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, famous for being the centre of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
study and the "Capital Of all Knowledge". Now it is the authority of Kashi Vidvat Parishad to confer the title of Original Jagadguru. Varanasi, the centre for Kashi Vidvat Parishad
Origin and history of the term
जगद्गुरु is of SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
origin where जगत् (jagat) means 'the entire world' and गुरु (guru) means 'spiritual master'.
In the classics and scriptures, the word has been used for several Deva
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
s. In the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
addresses Shree Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
as the 'Supreme Master of the entire world'. The Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
uses the word जगद्गुरु for Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
in his great poem (Mahākāvya) titled Kumārasambhava.Kumārasambhava, Canto 6, Verse 15 and also Canto 8, verse 24. In the Rāmacaritamānasa, the poet-saint Tulasidas uses the same word for Rāma
RAMA
Rama is a first-person adventure game developed and published by Sierra Entertainment in 1996. The game is based on Arthur C. Clarke's books Rendezvous with Rama and Rama II and supports both DOS and Windows 95. It is the second Rama game to be produced...
.Rāmacaritamānasa, , verse 3.9.
Notable Jagad Gurus
- Adi ShankaraAdi ShankaraAdi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
(789-821) (also known as "Shankaracharya"), or Shankara Bhagavatpaada: Founder of Advaita school of vedanta. - Shrimad Ramanujacharya: Wrote Sribhashya, commentary on Brahma Sutras. He also established Vishistadvaita Siddhanta.
- Shrimad MadhvacharyaMadhvacharyaMadhvācārya was the chief proponent of Tattvavāda "Philosophy of Reality", popularly known as the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy. It is one of the three most influential Vedānta philosophies. Madhvācārya was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti movement. He was a pioneer in...
: Founder of the DvaitaDvaitaDvaita is a school of Vedanta founded by Shri Madhvacharya....
school of vedanta. - Shrimad Nimbarkacharya: Founder of DvaitadvaitaDvaitadvaitaDvaitadvaita was proposed by Nimbarka, a Vaishnava Philosopher who hailed from Andhra Region. Nimbarka’s philosophical position is known as Dvaitadvaita . The categories of existence, according to him, are three, i.e., Chit, acit, and Isvara...
school of vedanta. - Shrimad Vallbhacharya: Founder of ShuddhadvaitaShuddhadvaitaShuddadvaita is the "purely non-dual" philosophy propounded by Vallabhacharya , the founding philosopher and guru of the or , a Hindu Vaishnava tradition focused on the worship of Krishna. Vallabhacharya's pure form philosophy is different from Advaita...
school of vedanta and established the PushtimargPushtimargPushtimarg is a sect of the Hindu religion, founded by Shrimad Vallabhacharya around 1500 AD.Shri Vallabhacharya is one of the five main Acharyas of the Hindu Religion...
sect of bhaktivad - Shree Kripaluji Maharaj (1922 - Present): Founder of Nikhil Darshan Samanvay (Philosophy of Synthesis). He was conferred the "Jagadguruttam" title by Kashi Vidvat Parishad on 14th January 1957. He is the fifth original Jagadguru of this age.Singh, K. January 29, 2007. Free diagnosis. The TelegraphThe Telegraph (Kolkata)The Telegraph is an Indian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Kolkata since 1982. It is published by the ABP Group and the newspaper vies with the Times of India for the position of having the widest widest circulation of any newspaper in Eastern India.According to the Audit...
Hashmi, L. 16th Jan 2011. Figure of Divine Love : Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj. Pranam IndiaSaraswati, S. 2001. The true history and the religion of India: a concise encyclopedia of authentic hinduism. Motilal BanarsidassMotilal BanarsidassMotilal Banarsidass is a leading Indian publishing house on Sanskrit and Indology since 1903, located in Delhi, India. It publishes and distributes serials, monographs, and scholarly publications on Asian religion, philosophy, history, culture, arts, architecture, archaeology, language,...
Melton, G. 2003. The Encyclopedia of American ReligionsThe Encyclopedia of American ReligionsThe Encyclopedia of American Religions is a reference book by J. Gordon Melton first published in 1978, by Consortium Books, A McGrath publishing company. It is currently in its eighth edition and has become a standard reference work in the study of religion in the United States....
. GaleGale (publisher)Gale is an educational publishing company based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, the United States, in the western suburbs of Detroit. It was part of the Thomson Learning division of the Thomson Corporation, a Canadian company, but became part of Cengage Learning in 2007.The company, formerly known...