Bhagavaan Gopinath Ji is called JagatGuru
As we all know Kashmir which is also called as ‘Rishwar’ (The land of saints) has produced many great saints & rishis. Among these great saints who have spread the message of love throughout the globe was Jagat Guru Bhagavaan Gopinath Ji Maharaj. The only saint who has been conferred with the title "Bhagavaan"(The God). Bhagavaanji was born in Srinagar in 1898 at Banamohalla Srinagar Kashmir (J&K) India and attained Mahasamadhi in 1968. Bhagavaanji is rightly called the saint of all times. Bhagavaanji's Ashram is situated at Kharyar (Habba Kadal) on the banks of river Vitasata (Jhelum). People from all over India and abroad used to come and have the darshan and blessings of this great saint. It was under the divine touch of this great saint suffering and problems of people were removed automatically. The divine power of Bhagavaanji was such that he offered the solution to the people who came under his lotus feet without waiting for the person to express his problems. Bhagavaanji heart was full of love. There are quite a few instances of near miracles performed by him in removing disease, postponing death, warding off clouds and also help some devotees to have a glimpse of Divine Mother (Sharika). Bhagavaan Gopinath Ji is called Jagat Guru because of his world view. To an Australian devotee he has given a message that all religious and spiritual forums of the world should put in their all efforts in order to raise the mankind from animality to Divinity.
One great instance or what can be rightly said the Miracle which was performed by Jagat Guru Bhagavaan Gopinath Ji Maharaj was during the Indo-Pak Conflict at Tiger Hills (Kargil J&K) in 1999 when the officer's & personnel of the Indian Army, Who had never heard of Bhagavaan Gopinath Ji, saw Him at the front guiding them during the operations. These Army Officers have attributed the successful capture of the Tiger Hills mainly due to the directions they received by him during the counter attack.
It was an officer of 18 Grenadiers, who first revealed how this mysterious saint of Kashmir directed the operation and how the commandos acted accordingly to his command with the result that the strategically important point (Tiger Hills) was snatched back from the clutches of the enemy. The Officer had heard about Bhagavaanji from a Kashmiri army officer, who was wearing a locket with the photograph of Shri Bhagavaanji in his neck. It was because of this back ground that he had recognized the saint with a white turban and a red "Tilaka" on his forehead. He had no doubt in his mind that this success in recapturing this formidable and strategically all important peak was made possible by this unforgettable character emerging on the scene on July3,1999.
And some devotees of him who were very close to him said that during 1962 when the Indian army was engaged in halting the onslaught of the Chinese troops, one day he left his residence and returned only the next day. His body was shivering and he had caught cold and was having the symptoms of bronchitis. When asked he replied that he had gone to Tibet border to settle scores. A few days soon thereafter there was ceasefire on the battlefront. Bhagavaanji preached the oness of all religions. His belief was to work collectively for the welfare of Mankind throughout the Globe. He had a world view of spirituality. He desired that the forces of peace, piety and righteousness world over should pool their efforts and serve humanity so that universal brotherhood prevails and the forces of dissention and division are defeated. Mayor Schundler of New Jersy proclaimed Jul 26, 1997 as Jagat Guru Bhagavaan Gopinath Ji Day when a colorful function was held there with devotion and religious fervor.
Let the Blessings of This Great Saint should bestow on all of us throughout the globe and Let the divine light of Bhagavaan Ji Guide us on every point and show the right path in order to make this world happier place to live in.
Jai Gurudev.
Compiled by : Sanjay Koul