The Daśanāmi Sampradaya (IAST: "Tradition of Ten Names"), also known as the Order of Swamis, is a Hindu monastic tradition of "single-staff renunciation" (ēka daṇḍi saṃnyāsī)[1] [2] [3] Ēkadandis were already known during what is sometimes referred to as "Golden Age of Hinduism" (ca. 320-650 CE). According to hagiographies composed in the 14th-17th century, the Daśanāmi Sampradaya was established by Vedic scholar and teacher Adi Shankaracharya (9th cent. CE), organizing a section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping of ten names and the four cardinal mathas of the Advaita Vedanta tradition. However, the association of the Dasanāmis with the Shankara maṭhas remained nominal.
Ēkadandis were already known during what is sometimes referred to as "Golden Age of Hinduism" (ca. 320-650 CE). The Ēkadaṇḍis existed in the Tamil speaking area during the southern-Indian Pandyan dynasty (3rd century BCE - 16th century CE) and the Southern-Indian Pallava dynasty (2nd - 9th centuries CE). Being wandering monastics, they were not settled in the brahmadeyas or settlement areas for Brahmins. There existed tax free bhiksha-bogams for feeding the Ēkadaṇḍi ascetics in the ancient Tamil speaking territory.[4]
Ēkadaṇḍis and Tridandis were also active in Eastern India, and appear to have existed there during the Northern-Indian Gupta Empire (320 to 550 CE).[5]
According to R. Tirumalai, "There appears to have been no sectarian segregation of the Shaiva (Ēkadaṇḍi) and Srivaishnava (Tridandi Sannyāsins)".[6]
Professor Kiyokazu Okita and Indologist B. N. K. Sharma says, Sannyasis in the lineage of Advaita of Adi Shankara and the Sannyasis in the lineage of Dvaita of Madhvacharya are all Ēkadaṇḍis.
See also: Sampradaya and Parampara.
According to tradition, Adi Shankara (9th cent. CE) established the Dasanami Sampradaya. Shankara came to be presented as an incarnation of Shiva in the 14th century, to facilitate the adoption of his teachings by previously Saiva-oriented mathas in the Vijayanagara Empire. From the 14th century onwards hagiographies were composed, in which he is portrayed as establishing the Daśanāmi Sampradaya, organizing a section of the Ekadandi monks under an umbrella grouping of ten names. Several other Hindu monastic and Ekadandi traditions remained outside the organisation of the Dasanāmis.[7] [8] [9]
According to these hagiographies, Adi Shankara organized the Hindu monastics of these ten sects or names under four maṭhas or monasteries, with headquarters at Dvārakā in the west, Jagannathadham Puri in the east, Sringeri in the south and Badrikashrama in the north. Each maṭha was headed by one of his four main disciples, who each continued the Vedanta Sampradaya.
Monastics of these ten orders differ in part in their beliefs and practices, and a section of them is not considered to be restricted to specific changes made by Shankara. While the Dasanāmis associated with the Shankara maṭhas follow the procedures enumerated by Adi Śankara, some of these orders remained partly or fully independent in their belief and practices; and outside the official control of the Shankara maṭhas.
The association of the Dasanāmis with the Smarta tradition or Advaita Vedānta is not all-embracing. One example is the Kriyā Yoga tradition that considers itself eclectic (see: Eclecticism), with ancient[10] unchangeable beliefs, and outside the ambit of differences in the understanding of Vedanta. Other examples are the Tantric Avadhūta Sampradāyas and Ekadaṇḍi sannyāsa traditions outside the control of the Shankara maṭhas.[9] The Dasanāmis or Ēkadaṇḍis also founded, and continue to found or affiliate themselves with, maṭhas, ashrams and temples outside the control of the Shankara maṭhas.[11]
The Advaita Sampradāya is not a Shaiva sect, despite the historical links with Shaivism:
Nevertheless, contemporary Shankaracaryas have more influence among Saiva communities than among Vaisnava communities. The greatest influence of the gurus of the Advaita tradition has been among followers of the Smartha tradition, who integrate the domestic Vedic ritual with devotional aspects of Hinduism.
According to Nakamura, these maṭhas contributed to the influence of Shankara, which was "due to institutional factors". The maṭhas which he built exist until today, and preserve the teachings and influence of Shankara, "while the writings of other scholars before him came to be forgotten with the passage of time".
The table below gives an overview of the four Amnaya maṭhas founded by Adi Shankara, and their details.[12]
| Shishya (lineage) | Direction | Veda | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | Rig Veda | Bhogavala | ||||
| South | Yajur Veda | |||||
| West | Sama Veda | Kitavala | ||||
| North | Atharva Veda | Nandavala |
According to the tradition in Kerala, after Shankara's samādhi at Vadakkunnathan Temple, his disciples founded four maṭhas in Thrissur, namely Naduvil Madhom, Thekke Madhom, Idayil Madhom and Vadakke Madhom.
According to Pandey, the ēkadaṇḍis or Dasanāmis had established monasteries in India and Nepal in the 13th and 14th century.[13]
In the 16th century, Madhusudana Saraswati of Bengal organised a section of the Naga (naked) tradition of armed sannyasis in order to protect Hindus from the tyranny of the Mughal rulers.
Warrior-ascetics could be found in Hinduism from at least the 1500s and as late as the 1700s, although tradition attributes their creation to Sankaracharya.[14]
Some examples of Akhara currently are the Juna Akhara of the Dashanami Naga, Niranjani Akhara, Anand Akhara, Atal Akhara, Awahan Akhara, Agni Akhara and Nirmal Panchayati Akhara at Prayagraj.[15] Each akhara is divided into sub-branches and traditions. An example is the Dattatreya Akhara (Ujjain) of the naked sadhus of Juna Naga establishment.[16]
The naga sadhus generally remain in the ambit of non-violence presently, though some sections are also known to practice the sport of Indian wrestling. The Dasanāmi sannyāsins practice the Vedic and yogic Yama principles of ahimsā (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), aparigraha (non-covetousness) and brahmacārya (celibacy / moderation).
The naga sadhus are prominent at Kumbh mela, where the order in which they enter the water is fixed by tradition. After the Juna akhara, the Niranjani and Mahanirvani Akhara proceed to their bath. Ramakrishna Math Sevashram are almost the last in the procession.[17]
In the Indian religious and philosophical traditions, all knowledge is traced back to the gods and to the Rishis who primarily heard the Vedas by meditation.
The current Acaryas, the heads of the maṭhas, trace their authority back to the four main disciples of Shankara, and each of the heads of these four maṭhas takes the title of Shankaracharya ("the learned Shankara") after Adi Shankara.
The Advaita guru-paramparā (Lineage of Gurus in Non-dualism) begins with the mythological time of the Daiva-paramparā, followed by the vedic seers of the Ṛṣi-paramparā, and the Mānava-paramparā of historical times and personalities:[18]
Daiva-paramparā
Ṛṣi-paramparā
Mānava-paramparā
Hindus who enter sannyāsa in the ēkadaṇḍi tradition take up one of the ten names associated with this Sampradaya: Giri, Puri, Bhāratī, Vana/Ban, Āraṇya, Sagara, Āśrama, Sarasvatī, Tīrtha, and Parvata.[19] Sanyasis of Advaita Vedanta and Dvaita Vedanta belong to ēkadaṇḍi tradition.
One thing to be noted, the surname "Natha" is not given to dashnami sanyasis, this title is given to Natha Yogis who take sanyasa under the tradition of Natha Shaivism, which, is very close to the Siddhanta of Advaita Vedanta's monism.
A swami, as the monk is called, is a renunciate who seeks to achieve spiritual union with the swa (Self). In formally renouncing the world, he or she generally wears ochre, saffron or orange-colored robes as a symbol of non-attachment to worldly desires, and may choose to roam independently or join an ashram or other spiritual organizations, typically in an ideal of selfless service. Upon initiation, which can only be done by another existing Swami, the renunciate receives a new name (usually ending in ananda, meaning 'supreme bliss') and takes a title which formalizes his connection with one of the ten subdivisions of the Swami Order. A swami's name has a dual significance, representing the attainment of supreme bliss through some divine quality or state (i.e. love, wisdom, service, yoga), and through a harmony with the infinite vastness of nature, expressed in one of the ten subdivision names: Giri (mountain), Puri (tract), Bhāratī (land), Vana (forest), Āraṇya (forest), Sagara (sea), Āśrama (spiritual exertion), Sarasvatī (wisdom of nature), Tīrtha (place of pilgrimage), and Parvata (mountain). A swami is not necessarily a yogi, although many swamis can and do practice yoga as a means of spiritual liberation; experienced swamis may also take disciples.
Single-staff renunciates are distinct in their practices from Shaiva trishuladhari or "trident-wielding renunciates" and Vaishnava traditions of Tridandi sannyāsis.[20]
This section enumerates, in standardised manner, members of the Dasanāmī Order with articles in Wikipedia, listing each under his formal title and name, without the use of the honorifics used by devotees and disciples. The word "Swāmī" here is not an honorific. It is the title of an initiated member of the Dasanāmī Order. Entries are listed in standard form: TITLE (Swāmī) + PERSONAL NAME + SUB-ORDER NAME. A few entries have the additional title (not honorific) of "Jagadguru Śankarācārya" which designates either one of the four supreme leaders of the order (somewhat similar to the position of Pope in Catholic Christianity). "Mahanta" is an administrative title designating an organizational position or office assigned to certain persons.
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Abhayānanda Puri | French American initiate of Vivekānanda. | |
| Swāmī Abhedānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna.[21] | |
| Swāmī Abhinavavidyā Tīrtha | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Śrngeri. | |
| Swāmī Achalānanda Puri | Disciple of Vivekānanda. | |
| Swāmī Achyutananda Sarasvatī | Gaudiya Vaisnava teacher. | |
| Swāmī Adbhutānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Adidevānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Advaitānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Agehānanda Bhāratī | Austrian American intellectual and expert on Indian languages and phonology.[22] [23] [24] | |
| Swāmī Agnivesha Sarasvatī | Social activist, well known for his protest against bonded labor.[25] | |
| Swāmī Akhandānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Akhilānanda Puri | Founder of Vedanta Society of Providence and Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of Boston. | |
| Swāmī Akshobhya Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. | |
| Swāmī Ānanda Tīrtha | Preceptor of Dvaita. | |
| Swāmī Ānandānanda Puri | Gandhian activist. | |
| Swāmī Ashokānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Atmabodhendra Sarasvatī | Pīthādhipati of Kamakoti Math, Kanchipuram. | |
| Swāmī Ātmājñānānanda Puri | American Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Ātmasthānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Bhāratī Tīrtha | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Śrngeri. | |
| Swāmī Bhāratīkrsna Tīrtha | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Puri and scholar of Indian mathematics. First Śankarācārya to visit the West. Authored Vedic Mathematics. | |
| Swāmī Bhaskarānanda Sarasvatī | Scholar and anchorite of Benāres. | |
| Swāmī Bhūmānanda Tīrtha | Social reformer. Teacher of Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana. | |
| Swāmī Bhuteshānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Bodhendra Sarasvatī | Pīthādhipati of Kamakoti Math, Kanchipuram. | |
| Swāmī Brahmānanda Sarasvatī | Highly respected Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Jyotirmāyā Pītha, Badrināth. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Candrasekhara Bhāratī | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Śrngeri. | |
| Swāmī Chandrasekharendra Sarasvatī | Pīthādhipati of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram. Featured in Paul Brunton's A Search in Secret India. | |
| Swāmī Chidānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple of Swāmī Śivānanda Sarasvatī. President of Divine Life Society. Interfaith advocate and friend of Thích Nhất Hạnh. | |
| Swāmī Chidānanda Sarasvatī | Founder of temples in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the USA. | |
| Swāmī Chidvilasānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple and designated successor of Muktānanda. Sister of Nityānanda.[26] | |
| Swāmī Chinmāyānanda Sarasvatī | Hindu missionary. Disciple of Swāmī Śivānanda Sarasvatī and Swāmī Tapovanam Giri. Founder of Chinmaya Mission.[27] | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Dayānanda Sarasvatī | Socio-religious reformer. Founder of the Arya Samaj. | |
| Swāmī Dayānanda Sarasvatī | Vedānt ācārya. Founder of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam.[28] | |
| Swāmī Dhanarāja Giri | Advaita Vedānta ācārya. Founder of the highly-prestigious Kailash Ashram, Rishikesh. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Gahanānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Gambhirānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Ganapati Sarasvatī | Long-lived yogī of Benāres.[29] [30] | |
| Swāmī Ganeshānanda Sarasvatī | Yoga teacher. Pupil and sannyās initiate of Swāmī Śivānanda Sarasvatī. Pupil of Swāmī Suraj Giri. | |
| Swāmī Gangadharendra Sarasvatī | Teacher of Advaita Vedānta. | |
| Swāmī Ghanānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk who was active in Europe. | |
| Swāmī Ghanānanda Sarasvatī | Ghanaian disciple of Swāmī Krishnānanda Sarasvatī. Possibly the first Black African convert to Hinduism. | |
| Swāmī Gītānanda Giri | Indian Canadian physician. Yoga teacher; Mahanta of the Brighu Order; "Lion of Pondicherry". | |
| Swāmī Gñānānanda Giri | Long-lived yogī. Guru of French Catholic monastic Abhishiktānanda. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Haridāsa Giri | Disciple of Swāmī Gñānānanda Giri. | |
| Swāmī Hariharānanda Āranya | Noted Samkhya Yogī | |
| Swāmī Hariharānanda Giri | Kriyā Yoga teacher. Pupil of Śrījukteśvara, Bhupendranāth Sanyal, Yogānanda, Satyānanda, and Bijoy Krishna.[31] | |
| Swāmī Hariharānanda Sarasvatī | Respected Vedānt ācārya. Disciple of Swāmī Brahmānanda Sarasvatī. Met Yogānanda at the Kumbh Mela. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Isvara Puri | Dvaitavādin. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Janakānanda Sarasvatī | Danish disciple of Swāmī Satyānanda Sarasvatī; founder of Skandinavisk Yoga och Meditationsskola. | |
| Swāmī Jaya Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. | |
| Swāmī Jaya Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. | |
| Swāmī Jayendra Sarasvatī | Disciple of Swāmī Chandrasekharendra Sarasvatī. Pīthādhipati of Kamakoti Math, Kanchipuram. | |
| Swāmī Jītātmānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Kalyanānanda Puri | Disciple of Vivekānanda. | |
| Swāmī Kesavānanda Bhāratī | Mahānta/Pīthādhipati of Edneer Math, Kasaragod district, Kerala. | |
| Swāmī Kesavānanda Tīrtha | Yogī of Vrindāban. | |
| Swāmī Kirtidānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Krishnānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple of Śivānanda; General Secretary of Divine Life Society, 1963–2001.[32] [33] | |
| Swāmī Kriyānanda Giri | American disciple of Yogānanda. Founder of Ananda World Brotherhood Colonies. | |
| Swāmī Kṛṣṇacaitanya Bhāratī | Vaisnava scholar and teacher. Foremost historical figure of Bangla Vaisnavism. Regarded as an avatār and called "Caitanya Mahaprabhu" by devotees.[34] | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Laksmanānanda Sarasvatī | Humanitarian social relief worker of Orissa. Assassinated by suspected Christian Maoists. | |
| Swāmī Laksmīnārāyana Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Madhavānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Madhavendra Puri | Dvaitavādin. Disciple of Lakshmipati Tirtha. | |
| Swāmī Madhusūdana Sarasvatī | Teacher of Advaita Vedānta. | |
| Swāmī Mahādevendra Sarasvatī | Pīthādhipati of Kamakoti Math, Kanchipuram. | |
| Swāminī Māyātitānanda Sarasvatī | Ayurveda teacher. | |
| Swāmī Muktānanda Sarasvatī | Meditation teacher. Founded the SYDA (Siddha Yoga Dham) organization, with several ashrams and centers. Author. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Narahari Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. Disciple of Swāmī Ānanda Tīrtha. | |
| Swāmī Nārāyanānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. Rāja yoga teacher in Denmark. | |
| Swāmī Nigamānanda Sarasvatī | Bhakta, gyānī, yogī, tantrika of Eastern India. | |
| Swāmī Nikhilānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monastic; Vedānta teacher in the USA. | |
| Swāmī Nirañjanānanda Puri | One of the six disciples of Ramakrishna who were regarded as iśvarakoti.[35] | |
| Swāmī Nirañjanānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple of Satyānanda; head of Bihar School of Yoga.[36] | |
| Swāmī Nirmalānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Nischayānanda Puri | Disciple of Vivekānanda. | |
| Swāmī Nrsimha Sarasvatī | Sage of Mahārāshtra. Regarded as an incarnation of the legendary sage Dattātreya. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Omānanda Puri | Irish violinist, singer, Theosophist, writer, poet, esoteric teacher and authority on Indian music. | |
| Swāmī Omānanda Sarasvatī | Educator. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Padmanabha Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. Disciple of Swāmī Ānanda Tīrtha. | |
| Swāmī Paramānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. Vedānta teacher in the USA. | |
| Swāmī Prabhavānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. Vedānta teacher in the USA. | |
| Swāmī Prakāshānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk; Vedānta teacher in the USA. | |
| Swāmī Prakāshānanda Sarasvatī | Rādhā-Krsna devotee, convict and fugitive in the USA. Disciple of Rādhā-Krsna bhakta Kripālu "Mahārāj." | |
| Swāmī Prakāshānanda Sarasvatī | Hindu teacher in Trinidad. | |
| Swāmī Prameyānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swami Pranavānanda Giri | Founder of Bharat Sevashram Sangha. | |
| Swāmī Pranavānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple of Śivānanda; Yoga-Vedānta teacher, Divine Life Society, Malaysia. | |
| Swāmī Premānanda Puri | One of the six disciples of Ramakrishna who were regarded as iśvarakoti. | |
| Swāmī Purana Puri | An 18th century Indian ascetic monk and traveller who visited many places including Sri Lanka, Moscow, Yemen & Tibet. | |
| Swāmī Purnaprajñā Tīrtha | Founder and Preceptor of Dvaitavāda. | |
| Swāmī Purushottamānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Raghavendra Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin and Pīthādhipati. | |
| Swāmī Raghaveshwara Bhāratī | Advaita Vedāntin. 36th Jagadguru of Sri Ramachandrapura Math, Hosanagara, Shimoga, Karnātaka. | |
| Swāmī Raghuttama Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 14th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Rāma Bhāratī | Yogī; founder of Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. | |
| Swāmī Rāma Tīrtha | Teacher of "Practical Vedanta". | |
| Swāmī Rāmakrishnānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Ramakrishna Puri | Temple priest, ascetic, mystic of Bengal. Regarded as an avatār (a "descent" or physical incarnation of God) by devotees. | |
| Swāmī Rāmānanda Tīrtha | Activist in Hyderābād. | |
| Swāmī Ranganāthānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission and a great Vedantin. | |
| Swāmī Rudrānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk in Fiji. | |
| Swāmī Rudrānanda Sarasvatī | American spiritual teacher. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Saccidānanda Bhāratī | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Śrngeri. | |
| Swāmī Saccidānandaśivābhinavanrsiṃha Bhāratī | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Śrngeri. | |
| Swāmī Sadānanda Puri | Disciple of Vivekānanda. | |
| Swāmī Sadaśivendra Sarasvatī | Scholar, yogī-siddha, poet, avadhūta; mentioned in Yogānanda's Autobiography of a Yogi. | |
| Swāmī Sahajānanda Sarasvatī | Indian nationalist. | |
| Swāmī Sahajānanda Sarasvatī | South African spiritual teacher. Disciple of Śivānanda. | |
| Swāmī Samarpanānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Samyamindra Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 21st Mathadhipati of Kashi Math. | |
| Swāmī Śaradānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. Author of the Śrī Śrī Ramakrishna Līlaprasanga, the lead biography of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Sarvapriyānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. Resident of Vedanta Society of New York. | |
| Swāmī Satchidānanda Sarasvatī | Yoga teacher. Disciple of Śivānanda. Founder of Sivananda Ashram (Sri Lanka) and Satchidananda Ashrams (USA). | |
| Swāmī Satcidānandendra Sarasvatī | Vedānt ācārya. | |
| Swāmī Satyābhinava Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 21st Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyabodha Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 25th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyadharma Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 28th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyadhyāna Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 38th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyajñāna Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 37th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyamitrānanda Giri | Founder of Bharat Mata Mandir, a temple in Haridwar. | |
| Swāmī Satyānanda Giri | Kriyā Yoga teacher. Disciple of Śrījukteśvara. | |
| Swāmī Satyānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple of Śivānanda; founder of Bihar School of Yoga. | |
| Swāmī Satyanātha Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 20th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyanidhi Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 19th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyapramoda Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 41st Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyapriya Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 24th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyātmā Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 42nd Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyavara Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 27th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Satyavijaya Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 23rd Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Shambhavānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Shankarānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Shankarānanda Sarasvatī | American disciple of Muktānanda. | |
| Swāmī Shantānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple of Śivānanda. Spiritual guide in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. | |
| Swāmī Shivānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna and 2nd President of the Ramakrishna Order.[37] | |
| Swāmī Shivom Tīrtha | Siddhayoga teacher. | |
| Swāmī Shraddhānanda Sarasvatī | Hindu social activist. Assassinated by a Muslim. | |
| Swāmī Shuddhānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Śivānanda Sarasvatī | Founded Divine Life Society and Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy, Rishikesh; authored 200 books. | |
| Swāmī Śivānanda Rādhā Sarasvatī | Canadian yoga teacher. Disciple of Śivānanda. | |
| Swāmī Smaranānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. President of the Ramakrishna Order.[38] | |
| Swāmī Śrījukteśvara Giri | Kriyā Yoga adept. Astrologer. Disciple of Shyāmacharan Lahirī. Guru of Yogānanda. | |
| Swāmī Subodhānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Sudhindra Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 20th Mathadhipati of Kashi Math. | |
| Swāmī Sukhabodhānanda Sarasvatī | Teacher of scripture. | |
| Swāmī Sukrathindra Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 19th Mathadhipati of Kashi Math. | |
| Swāmī Swahānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Swarūpānanda Puri | Disciple of Vivekānanda. | |
| Swāmī Swarūpānanda Sarasvatī | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Jyotirmāyā and Dwarka Pītha. | |
| Swāmī Swarūpānandendra Sarasvatī | Founder of Visakha Sri Sarada Pitha. |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Tapasyānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Reclusive yogī of Uttar Kashi.[39] | ||
| Swāmī Tathāgatānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swami Tejomayananda Saraswati | Current Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide. | |
| Swāmī Trigunatitānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Turiyānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Tyagānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. Hindu chaplain of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Vadirāja Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 20th Pīthādhipati of Sodhe Math. | |
| Swāmī Vasudevānanda Sarasvatī | Wandering monk, spiritual teacher, author. | |
| Swāmī Vedanidhi Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 17th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Venkateśānanda Sarasvatī | Disciple of Śivānanda; founder of Sivananda Ashrams in South Africa and Mauritius. | |
| Swāmī Vidyānāthānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk and mathematician. | |
| Swāmī Vidyāranya Tīrtha | Jagadguru Śankarācārya of Śrngeri. | |
| Swāmī Vidyātmānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. | |
| Swāmī Vidyādhīśa Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. 16th Pīthādhipati of Uttaradi Math. | |
| Swāmī Vijayendra Sarasvatī | Disciple and designated successor of Jayendra Sarasvatī. | |
| Swāmī Vijayendra Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. | |
| Swāmī Vijñānānanda Puri | Disciple of Ramakrishna. | |
| Swāmī Vimalānanda Puri | Disciple of Vivekānanda. | |
| Swāmī Vipulānanda Puri | Srī Lankān Ramakrishna monastic and Hindu revivalist. | |
| Swāmī Virajānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Vireshwarānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Vishnu Tīrtha | Siddhayoga teacher. | |
| Swāmī Vishnudevānanda Sarasvatī | Yogī. Peace activist. Most famous disciple of Swāmī Śivānanda Sarasvatī (the two of them are the most well-known members of the Sarasvati sub-order). Founder of the worldwide Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres. Authored The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga. Airplane pilot. | |
| Swāmī Vishuddhānanda Puri | President of the Ramakrishna Mission. | |
| Swāmī Vishwadevānanda Puri | Teacher of Advaita Vedānta. | |
| Swāmī Vivekānanda Puri | Most famous of disciples of Ramakrishna (the two of them are the most well-known members of the Puri sub-order). Most famous figure at first Parliament of the World's Religions (Chicago, 1893). Organizer of the Ramakrishna Mission. One of the six disciples of Ramakrishna who were regarded as iśvarakoti. | |
| Swāmī Vyāsa Tīrtha | Dvaitavādin. | |
| Swāmī Vyāsachalamahādevendra Sarasvatī | Pīthādhipati of Kamakoti Math, Kanchipuram. | |
| width=25% | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Swāmī Yatīśwarānanda Puri | Ramakrishna monk. Spiritual teacher and meditation instructor. | |
| Swāmī Yogānanda Giri | Disciple of Svāmī Śrīyukteśwara Giri. Founder of Self-Realization Fellowship. Author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Known by honorific "Paramahansa." | |
| Swāmī Yogānanda Giri | Leading Hindu of Italy. Disciple of Gītānanda. | |
| Swāmī Yogānanda Puri | One of the six disciples of Ramakrishna who were regarded as iśvarakoti. | |