Why Sharad Purnima is Special: Celebrating the Birth of Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj
India, the sacred land of saints, scriptures, and divine descents, offers countless opportunities for spiritual elevation through its festivals. Each festival, from Diwali to Holi, carries symbolic and spiritual significance. Yet, among them all, Sharad Purnima radiates a uniquely transcendental glory.
It is the night when Bhagwan Shree Krishna performed the Maharaas, the divine dance of love — the highest leela, the pinnacle of divine bliss. But even more significantly, for devotees of Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj, Sharad Purnima marks the divine appearance of their eternal spiritual master — a manifestation of divine love, divine knowledge, and divine grace in human form.
For devotees, Sharad Purnima is not just a sacred event in history — it is a living, breathing day of gratitude, grace, and spiritual awakening, the day when the sun of divine knowledge rose to dispel the darkness of Kali Yuga.
Understanding Raas: The Nectar of Supreme Bliss
To grasp the true importance of Sharad Purnima, we must begin with understanding ‘Raas’, the divine dance of Bhagwan Shree Krishna that sanctified this full moon night.
The word ‘Raas’ (रास) originates from ‘Rasa’ (रस), a profound term in the Vedas that signifies divine nectar, bliss, and essence.
रसानां समूहो रासः |
rasānāṁ samūho rāsaḥ |
Meaning: The collective group of rasa (nectars) is called Raas.
In its highest context, Rasa refers to the infinite, eternal bliss that is the very nature of God. The Raas was not merely a dance — it was the ultimate union of the divine with the surrendered souls. On this night, Shree Krishna offered the nectar of his innermost divine love to the adhikāri jīvas — those who had attained the highest spiritual qualification through complete surrender and pure devotion.
Rasa is God – Vedic Revelation of Anand
The Vedas take this understanding even deeper. According to the Taittiriya Upanishad, God is not just the possessor of bliss — He is Bliss.
रसो वै सः।
रसं ह्येवायां लब्ध्वाऽनन्दी भवति।
Raso vāi saḥ |
Rasaṁ hyevāyāṁ labdhvā'nandī bhavati |
(Taittiriya Upanishad 2.7)
Meaning: He (God/Brahman) is indeed the nectar (Rasa). By attaining this nectar, the individual soul becomes truly blissful.
आनन्दो ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात्।
आनन्दाध्येव खल्विमानि भूतानि जायन्ते।
आनन्देन जातानि जीवन्ति।
आनन्दं प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्तीति।
ānando brahmeti vyajānāt |
ānandādhyeva khalvimāni bhūtāni jāyante |
ānandena jātāni jīvanti |
ānandaṁ prayantyabhisaṁviśantīti |
(Taittiriya Upanishad 3.6)
Meaning: Bliss is Brahman. All beings are born from Bliss, live by Bliss, and ultimately merge into Bliss
This divine Bliss — Anand — is not temporary or emotional joy. It is eternal, causeless, and absolute. It is God Himself, and this bliss is what Shree Krishna distributed in the Maharaas, and what Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj made accessible again in the age of spiritual decline.
The Highest Essence: Rasatamaḥ Paramaḥ
Even within this divine nectar, the scriptures reveal a hierarchy of bliss:
स एष रसानाँ रसतमः परमः
Sa eṣa rasānāṁ rasatamaḥ paramaḥ
Meaning: He is the supreme among all rasas.
This Vedic statement declares that God is not only the source of all rasa (bliss), but He Himself is the highest, most complete, and most perfect form of bliss.
The Many Levels of Rasa (Joy/Bliss)
- Material joy (indriya sukha) – the temporary happiness we get from the senses (like taste, touch, sound, etc.).
- Intellectual joy (buddhi sukha) – the happiness of gaining knowledge, understanding, or solving problems.
- Spiritual bliss (Brahmanand) – the infinite, formless peace that realized souls (jñānīs) experience in union with Nirgun Nirakar Brahman.
- Devotional bliss (Bhakti rasa) – the sweetness of a loving relationship with God in His personal form (Shree Krishna).
So, God Himself, especially in His most intimate, loving, and personal form (such as Shree Krishna) is the "rasatamaḥ paramaḥ" — the supreme rasa, the essence of all joy.
In the context of Sharad Purnima, this verse underscores that the bliss distributed during the Maharaas was not just divine — it was the highest possible rasa ever existed in this entire universe, directly experienced in loving union with Shree Krishna.
Hence, even among divine experiences, the bliss of formless Brahman (Brahmanand) — which jñānīs attain after lifetimes of austerity — is the lowest form of spiritual joy.
Higher than this is the bliss of Bhagwan with form (Sagun Sakar), where one enjoys a personal loving relationship with God. And at the pinnacle is the Samartha Rati, the divine love of the Gopis — unconditional, selfless, and focused solely on Shree Krishna’s happiness.
🌕 The Divine Appearance of Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj: A Cosmic Blessing on Earth
On Sharad Purnima, 5th October 1922, in the tranquil village of Manghar in Uttar Pradesh, a divine child was born — not due to karma, not due to biological necessity — but as a descent of pure grace, an incarnation of divine love and wisdom. Many devotees believe that he was a descension of Shree Radha Rani Herself.
This was Jagadguru Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj, who would go on to become:
- The fifth original Jagadguru in Indian history
- The only one conferred with the title Jagadguruttam — Supreme among all Jagadgurus
- The incarnation of Radha Krishna’s combined grace, who descended not to just teach theories, but to also awaken dormant souls and reconnect them with their eternal Beloved.
❖ His Life: A Divine Script
From early childhood, Shree Maharaj Ji displayed divine characteristics — an intuitive command over scriptures, an enchanting voice that stirred the soul, and a natural ability to inspire spiritual longing in those around him.
In 1957, at the age of just 34, he delivered unprecedented scriptural discourses before the Kashi Vidvat Parishat, a body of India's greatest scholars. So profound, precise, and poetic was his presentation of the essence of the Vedas, Upanishads, and all six darśanas that the scholars unanimously honored him as:
"Jagadguruttam" — Supreme among all Jagadgurus
Such a title had never been given before in history. It was a testimony not to his human intellect, but to his divine descent.
Yet despite his unmatched knowledge, what truly defined Shree Maharaj Ji was his unparalleled compassion. His only mission was:
To awaken souls from the illusion of the material world,
and reconnect them with Radha Krishna through the path of Prem Bhakti.
❖ His Mission: To Give the Highest Rasa — Samartha Rati
Shree Maharaj Ji did not merely speak about devotion. He opened the rarest gates of divine love and invited everyone in — not just saints or renunciates, but householders, children, youth, and elders — all who were willing to surrender with sincerity.
He taught that Samartha Rati, the love of the Gopis, was not beyond reach — it could be attained in this very life through:
- Constant remembrance of Radha Krishna
- Loving devotion through chanting and kirtan
- Humble, heartfelt surrender to the Guru
In his devotional writing, he prayed:
रति समर्था की गोपी बना दे, रास में नाम मेरा लिखा दे।
rati samarthā kī gōpī banā de, rāsa mēṁ merā nām likhā de
Meaning: “O Shree Krishna! Make me a Gopi of Samartha Rati — and enroll my name in the Raas.”
This was not just a couplet — it was the very cry of his soul, and the invitation he extended to every one of us.
He didn’t simply talk about Raas — he made it attainable. He gave us the tools. He gave us the longing. And above all, he gave us his divine presence, which even today continues to awaken love in the hearts of seekers across the world. Though Shree Maharaj Ji may have concluded his divine leelas on this earthly plane, he continues to pour his boundless love, protection, and association upon all surrendered souls from the eternal abode of Shree Krishna.
❖ A Night Like No Other: Why Sharad Purnima is the Holiest Day
For a true devotee of Shree Maharaj Ji, no other day carries such profound meaning.
On this night:
- The Maharaas took place — the highest leela of divine love
- The nectar of Samartha Rati was once again made available
- And most importantly, the one who would give that nectar to the world — Shree Maharaj Ji — appeared.
This day is not a memory; it is a spiritual rebirth, a moment to remember that God's mercy descended in the form of the Guru, and that through our beloved Shree Maharaj Ji, we have been given the opportunity to receive the very bliss of the Gopis.
🪔 Conclusion: Let Us Celebrate With Hearts Full of Gratitude
On this divine night of Sharad Purnima, let us not merely celebrate, but surrender.
Let us:
- Offer our deepest gratitude at the lotus feet of Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj
- Reflect on the immeasurable grace that his appearance represents
- Pray to become true aspirants of Samartha Rati, living with one desire: Shree Krishna’s happiness
Through his life, teachings, and divine love, Shree Maharaj Ji has given us everything. Now it is upon us to walk the path he showed, and to forever keep his divine form, his words, and his love etched in our hearts.
And during this sacred Sharad Purnima, you can experience his divine love and association in a tangible way at the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas — where devotees will gather for a heartfelt celebration of Maharaj Ji’s 103rd Appearance Day
🌕 Sharad Purnima Celebration at Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas
📅 Dates: October 6th – October 8th, 2025
🕖 Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM each evening
📍 Venue: Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas
1450 N Watters Rd, Allen, TX
✨ Event Highlights:
- Shree Maharaj Ji’s Abhishek & Charan Poojan – A sacred bathing ceremony and offering of love.
- Soulful Kirtans with Swami Mukundananda Ji – Dive into the nectar of divine chants.
- Sharad Purnima Sadhana & Discourse – Experience meditation and timeless wisdom from Swamiji.
- Shree Maharaj Ji’s Special Gems – Precious teachings revealed for spiritual upliftment.
- Chhappan Bhog – A grand offering of 56 satvik delicacies.
- Mahaprasad – Relish sanctified food, blessed and offered with devotion.
🎉 Special Occasion:
This year marks the 103rd Birth Anniversary of Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj, lovingly celebrated as a tribute to his divine legacy and eternal inspiration.
🌐 Learn More & Register: Radha Krishna Temple Sharad Purnima
🙏 Offer Seva / Donation: Click here to contribute
🌕 Sharad Purnima Celebration 🌕
October 6th – October 8th, 2025 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, Allen, TX
🕉️ Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj ki Jay!
🌕 Blessed Sharad Purnima to All!
💖 May our hearts overflow with divine nectar — the Rasa of Radha Krishna’s love.