JKP

Who is our Real Father?

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
21 June 2026
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(Speech delivered by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj in Mussoorie)

(Father’s Day is traditionally a time to honour and express gratitude to our fathers. However, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj invites us to reflect on a deeper spiritual truth: Who is our real Father? In this profound discourse delivered on Father’s Day in Mussoorie in 2008, Maharaj Ji explains that while we should respect and serve our worldly father, our eternal Father is Shri Krishna alone. Until we attain Him, Guru serves as His living representative and is to be revered and served as non-different from Him.) 

From beginningless time until now, we have been making one mistake: we have considered ourselves to be the body, and we have accepted the parents of this body as our real parents. Now this mistake must come to an end.

Souls themselves have begun calling one another mother and father in this world. One soul becomes the father of another; one soul becomes the mother of another.

Consider this carefully. No one truly calls the body their mother or father. You may say that they do. Very well, if the body itself is the mother or father, then after death how can the son strike his father’s body? During cremation, the son performs kapal-kriya by striking the father’s skull. Is it proper to strike one’s father? No. He is only breaking the body. The soul has already departed. Therefore, it is the soul that is the real relative.

The body is temporary and short-lived. Life is like a train journey, where each person is a passenger travelling toward their own destination. When a passenger’s station arrives, they must get off, regardless of who remains on the train.

Sometimes a son may depart before his father. The father may lament, “How can you leave before me?” But the son can only reply, “My station has arrived.”

In the same way, every soul leaves this world when its allotted time is complete. No one departs early or late; each leaves when their destination is reached.

The logic that the father must depart before the son does not apply here.

Every soul carries different sanskars from countless past lives. According to those sanskars, God has already determined, “This human body is being given to you for a certain number of days, years, or even hours. Realise God now, for this opportunity can be taken away at any moment.”

Thereafter, every soul must reap the results of its actions. In this world, one may escape consequences through influence, power, or bribery. But in the kingdom of God, none of these can save anyone. There, every action bears its inevitable fruit.

Our true Mother, Father, everything, is Shri Krishna alone. Our mind should not be attached anywhere else.

And until we attain Shri Krishna, our Guru is our mother and father. There is no difference between the Guru and Shri Krishna. It is the Guru who takes responsibility for all our welfare, and it is the Guru who will continue to do so.

As for God (Bhagwan), we will serve Him directly when we finally attain Him. Until then, service to the Guru alone is considered service to God.

The Vedas declare:

दिव्यो देव एको नारायणो माता पिता भ्राता सुहृद् गतिः।

Transliteration:
 Divyo Deva Eko Nārāyaṇo Mātā Pitā Bhrātā Suhṛd Gatiḥ.

Meaning:
“The one divine Lord Narayana alone is our mother, father, brother, friend, and ultimate refuge (goal).”

In the Ramayana, when Shri Ram was instructing Lakshman, He repeatedly emphasized the importance of following Varnashram Dharma and said, “Dasharath is your father.”

Shri Ram certainly said this, but Lakshman did not accept it in that sense. He replied:

भ्राता भर्ता च बन्धुश्च पिता च मे राघव।

(Bhrātā Bhartā Cha Bandhuś Cha Pitā Cha Me Rāghava) 

“O Raghava! You alone are my brother, protector, relative, and father.” 

In other words, “My father is Ram, not Dasharath.”

Lakshman spoke these words in the very presence of Shri Ram. Shri Ram smiled, acknowledging the truth of Lakshman’s devotion. While He had incarnated to establish and uphold Varnashram Dharma and therefore spoke in that manner, the deeper reality is that God alone is the true Father of every soul. 

Therefore, today we should celebrate the day of our real Father – Hari and Guru.

Respect your worldly father. Perform whatever physical service and duties are necessary toward him. Fulfil your responsibilities. But do not allow worldly attachment to arise in the mind.

At the same time, let us remember the eternal truth taught by the saints and scriptures: our true Father is Hari and Guru alone. Let us celebrate this Father’s Day by deepening our love and gratitude for them.

By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education. To stay updated with all the news and events of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, visit www.jkp.org.in/jkpwhatsapp.