The concluding stanza of the Jagadguru's Aarti, which goes:
लली लाल लीला का सलोना सुविलास, छाया दिव्य दृष्टि बिच प्रेम का प्रकाश |
वैसा ही विनोद वही मंजु मृदु हास. करें बस बरबस उच्च अट्टहास |
झूमि चलें चाल वही नटवर की, गावो मिलि आरती रसिकवर की ||
Lalī lāl līlā kā salonā suvilās, chhāyā divya dṛṣṭi bich prema kā prakāś।
Vaisā hī vinod vahī manjū mṛdu hās, kareṁ bas barabas uchch aṭṭahās।
Jhūmi caleṁ cāl vahī naṭavar kī, gāvo mili ārti rasikavara kī॥
Translation: One can observe his divine personality, which is filled with love, reminiscent of the sweet form of Shri Radha Krishna. His eyes, shining and piercing, express an overflowing love. His sense of humour is exceptional, and his sweet and gentle smile and loud, hearty laughter captivate the heart irresistibly. His walk is intoxicating, reminiscent of the Lord of Love, Shri Krishna, who captivates all. Let us all perform his Arati.
The last stanza of the Aarti identifies the divine form of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj as that of Radha and Krishna in their "yugal" form. This form is believed to have descended to perform divine pastimes for the benefit of fallen souls. Some even consider Maharajji as Brahm (God) Himself, who took an avatar to liberate these souls. His divine form reflects the grace and love of Radha and Krishna, which is evident in his eyes filled with love, his divine humour, and his gentle smile that forcibly steals the hearts of devotees.
The Similarities Between Kripaluji Maharaj and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
The philosophies of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the veritable forms of Radha and Krishna, are remarkably similar. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed the path of divine love, and Maharajji expanded on Radha Krishna bhakti in his teachings. He emphasised and elaborated on essential aspects of divine love: Nishkām, Nitya, and Ananya Bhakti. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's tradition also introduced external ritualistic practices like mālā jap, kanthi dhāran, and observance of ekādashi as essential to God-realisation. In contrast, Maharajji went deeper by introducing the technique of 'Rūp Dhyān' as a means to purify the mind.
Understanding the Nature of Suffering and Purification
Shree Kripaluji Maharaj's teachings emphasise that suffering doesn't exist in the external world but results from our internal impurities. He believed that the external world, being a creation of God, is not to be blamed. To overcome suffering, one must cleanse one's internal world by contemplating the names, attributes, pastimes, and abodes of Radha and Krishna. Saints have lived in the same world and found divine bliss because they purified their internal world. The external world becomes blissful when God resides in the mind. This philosophy was propagated by Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, building on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings.
Contemplating the Nature of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
Maharajji's behaviour was a blend of scholarship and childlike innocence. He entertained his devotees with varied moods and leelas, just like Shyamsundar (Shree Krishna). His mischievous and entertaining 'vinodi swabhav' mirrored that of Shyamsundar. His alluring smile and hearty laughter were truly divine. His graceful walk resembled that of Shyamsundar, captivating all who witnessed it. Maharajji was the relisher of divine bliss, distributing the bliss of God, both in the formless aspect (brahmānand) and the forms of God (premānand). As devotees, it's vital to understand the significance of our Guru's grace, internalise the philosophy, and implement it in our lives. Surrender (samarpan) and following the path of Nishkām, Nitya, and Ananya Bhakti, as outlined by Maharajji, are essential elements of his siddhant.
In conclusion, the concluding stanza of the Jagadguru's Aarti reflects the divine form of Shree Kripaluji Mahara and his role in propagating the teachings of divine love. His teachings emphasise the purification of the internal world to overcome suffering and find true bliss in the external world. Understanding the nature of Maharajji and his philosophy is crucial for his devotees.
