JKP

Who is Lord Jagannath?

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
27 June 2025
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(Speech by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on Jagannath Yatra)
Who is Lord Jagannath by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat

Lord Jagannath is the Supreme Creator, who manifests the universe and permeates every particle of it. 

He resides within the hearts of all beings, silently energising every sense and faculty. From the infinite karmas of each soul, He selects a few – both virtuous and sinful – to bear fruit as destiny in this lifetime. 

At the same time, He keeps a precise account of all actions performed in this birth, both good and bad. These are the divine tasks He performs.

He also watches over all souls at every moment, for the very instant someone surrenders and takes refuge in Him, Lord Jagannath immediately takes full responsibility for their well-being and fulfills all their needs. Remarkably, He performs all these divine tasks Himself.

Of the countless brahmandas (cosmic universes), in each one –  in every world, every country, every state, every town and village, every stream and waterhole, and even within every microscopic germ among the countless forms of life –  Lord Jagannath is ever-present and all-knowing. 

Instantly and effortlessly, He notes every action of every soul and dispenses the appropriate consequences with perfect precision. Such is the infinite reach and justice of Lord Jagannath.

In the Vedant, God declares, ”I shall bestow My divine bliss and knowledge upon My devotees, but the work of creating, sustaining, and dissolving the universe –  I shall personally carry out Myself. I will oversee the actions of each and every soul, recording each one without fail. This  responsibility will be undertaken by Me and I shall not delegate this to any Saint.”

There are broadly speaking, two categories of worlds. The first is known as Devi Dham, which comprises the mayic realms –  the material creation governed by Maya. Maya exercises its influence over everything in this domain, all the way up to Brahmaloka, the highest of the celestial worlds.

The second is Paravyom Dham – the transcendental, divine realm untouched by Maya, where God and His divine associates eternally reside in their full glory.

Maya has countless brahmandas under its control. Beyond these lies the Viraja River, also known as Karanarava. Further beyond is Paravyom Dham, which contains the eternal abodes of the various forms of God.

These are, then, the material (mayic) worlds and the Divine worlds. Lord Jagannath is the Lord of both realms, not just of this world. Maya has no control over the Divine world. Neither the sun nor the moon can reach there.

Lord Jagannath is the sovereign of even those transcendental realms. He is also Dinanath – the Lord of the helpless. If a soul sincerely regards himself as humble, sinful, or a wrongdoer and accepts this truth from within, he becomes eligible for the Lord’s boundless grace. 

Lord Jagannath will forgive all his sins – even those accumulated over countless lifetimes. So compassionate is He, that if a soul truly accepts his helplessness, the Lord Himself becomes his servant!

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.