Swami Mukundananda - Yoga for the Body, Mind and Soul

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Spiritual Master, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, the greatest of all Yogis, who is like the combined ocean of the Bliss of Devotion and the transcendental knowledge of the Vedas. He is illuminating the world with the sublime secrets of the most perfect system of Yog, imbued with the sweetness of Divine Love for God.

His desire to spread the teachings of the true Science of Yog to every part of the globe, for the spiritual and material well-being of all humankind, and to enlighten Yoga enthusiasts with its true meaning, has resulted in the establishment of the system of Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog.

I pray that by his blessings readers will be inspired to adopt the practices and techniques taught in this book to perfect their health, elevate their minds, enlighten their intellects, and unite their soul with God.

Swami Mukundananda

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj

A Brief Introduction

Eternally liberated Divine personalities sometimes descend upon the earth for the welfare of humankind. Jagadguru Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj is such a Divine personality. Maharaj ji, as He is lovingly called by his devotees, was born on the auspicious night of Sharat Purnima in 1922, in the village Mangarh, near Allahabad.

Childhood and Youth

He spent his childhood in youthful fun, playing games and frolicking with his young friends. But at the same time, he would display intense gravity and excel effortlessly in his studies. Then at the age of 14, he left the village and attended three Universities, in Kashi, Chitrakoot, and Indore. There he covered a whole series of courses in the space of just two-and-a-half years.

Absorption in Divine Bliss

At the young age of 16, he suddenly gave up his studies and entered the dense forests of Chitrakoot. There he spent his time absorbed in intense of love for Radha Krishna. Often he would lose all external consciousness, and go without eating and drinking for many days at a stretch. For long intervals, he would remain in Mahbhv, the highest stage of devotion that manifests in Radha Rani. These symptoms of Mahbhv love had also manifested in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, 500 years ago. He emerged from the forest after two years to begin his mission of revealing the glories of Radha Krishna devotion to the world.

Krtan Movement

He conducted satsangs that brought about a flood of Bhakti in the states of UP and Rajasthan in the 1940s and 50s. He would lead krtans imbued with intense devotion, which would continue throughout the night. These krtans, which he wrote himself, have been compared by scholars with those of Meerabai, Soordas, Tulsidas, and Ras Khan.

JagadguruSpiritual Master of the World

Divine personalities who displayed unparalleled mastery over all Vedic scriptures, and who brought about a spiritual revolution in the minds of the people by their unique explanation of Vedic knowledge, have traditionally been conferred with the title of Jagadguru, or Spiritual Master of the whole world.

In 1957, Kripaluji Maharaj expounded the true import of the scriptures, speaking in sophisticated Sanskrit language before the Kah Vidvat Parishat, the supreme body of Vedic scholars in the country. After 10 days, when the entire body was convinced that his knowledge was deeper than the combined knowledge of all 500 of them put together, they honoured him with the title of Jagadguru.

In the past 5000 years of the present age of Kali, only five personalities have been recognized as original Jagadgurus: Jagadguru Shankaracharya, who came about 2000 years ago, and propounded the philosophy of non-dualism; Jagadguru Nimbarkacharya, who came shortly after Shankaracharya, and preached the philosophy of dualistic non-dualism; Jagadguru Ramanujacharya, who appeared on the planet 800 years ago, and was the vigorous propagator of qualified non-dualism; and Jagadguru Madhvacharya, who appeared 700 years ago, and preached the philosophy of dualism.

Kripaluji Maharaj is the fifth original Jagadguru in history. Further, the Kh Vidvat Parishat declared that Kripaluji Maharaj was Jagadguruttam, or Supreme amongst the Jagadgurus. Seeing his absorption in the devotion of Radha Krishna, they also accorded on him the title of Bhakti-Yog Rasavatar, or the Descension of the Bliss of Divine Love.

Scriptural Discourses

After accepting the title of Jagadguru, Kripaluji Maharaj travelled throughout the country for 14 years. He would deliver month-long discourses in each city, in which he would unravel the mysteries of the scriptures before the public. Tens of thousands of people would throng to these discourses, and listen spellbound while he tantalized them with humour, worldly examples, practical instructions, and chastisement. It was a unique experience as he made the deepest scriptural truths accessible to everyone in the simplest language.

Devotional Literature

Kripaluji Maharaj has written thousands of verses, revealing the Divine pastimes of Radha Krishna. His style of writing is unique: he begins the chanting of a pada or krtan, and then keeps adding lines to it, as it goes along.

Worldwide Mission

To enable the worldwide spread of his teachings, Kripaluji Maharaj began training preachers and sending them to different parts of the globe. He also created a formal organization and began the construction of huge hrams, to provide facilities for devotees who wished to practically apply the teachings in their lives. This organization is today known as the Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat. It is a huge umbrella organization that has sister and branch organizations in various states of India, and many countries of the world. Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog is one such organization that has been established for the propagation of Yog around the world, in its true and complete form.

About the Author

Swami Mukundananda is a world-renowned spiritual teacher from India, and is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. He is the founder of the Yogic system called Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog.

Swamiji is a unique sanys (in the renounced order of life), who has a distinguished technical and management educational background as well. He completed B.Tech. from the world-renowned Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. He then did MBA from the equally distinguished Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kolkata. After that, he worked for some time with one of Indias topmost industrial houses.

However, distinguished material education and a promising corporate career did not quench his thirst for knowing the Absolute Truth. The longing for God was so strong that he renounced his career and travelled throughout India as a sanys. During these travels, he got the opportunity to closely associate with many elevated Saints of India, read the writings of the great chryas of the past, and resided in many famous holy places.

Ultimately his search took him to the lotus feet of his Spiritual Master, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj (who is lovingly called Maharajji by his devotees). He was overawed by the unfathomable scriptural knowledge and ocean of Divine love that he saw manifest in his Spiritual Master. About this first meeting, Maharajji later remarked, He recognized me as one would recognize his mother.

Under the guidance of Shree Maharajji, he practiced intense sdhan while residing at the hram. He also extensively studied the Vedic scriptures, and the Indian and Western systems of philosophy. Upon completion of his studies, his Guru entrusted him with the key task of propagating the ancient knowledge of the Eternal Truth the, world over.