Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj (IAST: ; 5 October 1922 – 15 November 2013) was the fifth original Jagadguru in Indian history. He was the founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), a worldwide Hindu non-profit organization with five main ashrams, four in India and one in the United States. He was awarded the title of Jagadguru (world teacher) by Kashi Vidvat Parishat on Makar Sankranti (14 January 1957). Early life Jagadguru Shri Kripalu ji Maharaj was born on Sharad Purnima in Mangarh district Pratapgarh, close to the holy city of Prayag (Allahabad), in India. He received his preliminary education in Hindi and Sanskrit in the local school. He went on to study advanced Sanskrit and Ayurved in Ashtang Ayurved College, Lokmanya Nagar, Indore and Varanasi and spent a year or more around Chitrakoot. He completed much of his scholastic duties at the early age of 15, earning his degree in sanskrit literature & history as Vyakaranachrya (Master of Sanskrit Grammar). He had also been awarded the degree of Kavyatirtha in 1942, Also received his degree as Ayurved Acharya (Master of Ayurved) from Delhi Vidyapeet in 1943 and Sahitya Acharya (Master of History) from Calcutta Vidyapeet. After completing his formal education, at the age of 16, he entered into self-imposed vanvas. He found his way to Vrindavan and the next year he emerged as a Guru of the lineage of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gaudiya Vaishnavism), known affectionately as Shri Maharaj Ji. When he was 17 years old, he led a 6-month continuous chanting of the "Maha Mantra". Jagadguru In 1955, Kripalu Ji Maharaj organized a religious convention for prominent spiritual leaders in India. Mahamahopadhyay Giridhar Sharma, President of the Kashi Vidvat Parishat had also come and was impressed by Kripalu's scriptural knowledge. Kripalu was invited to give discourse at the Kashi Vidvat Parishat in 1957. The congregation had scholars from Varanasi and other parts of India. His speeches lasted for seven days, after which he was formally installed as the fifth Jagadguru ("world teacher"). He was 34 years old when given the title on 14 January 1957, by the Kashi Vidvat Parishat, a group of Hindu scholars. The Kashi Vidvat Parishat also conferred on him the titles Bhaktiyog-Ras-Avtar and Jagadguruttam. Shri Kripalu Ji was given the title of Jagadguru in 1957, prior to him there were four original Jagadgurus i.e. Śrīpāda Śaṅkarācārya (788–820), Śrīpāda Rāmānujācārya (1017–1137), Śrī Nimbārkācārya and, Śrīpāda Madhvācārya (1239–1319),