List of Hindu gurus and sants explained

This is a list of religious people in Hinduism, including gurus, sants, monks, yogis and spiritual masters.

A guru is defined as a "teacher, spiritual guide, [or] godman,"^[1] by author David Smith. To obtain the title of guru, one must go through a standard initiation process referred to as diksha, in which they receive a mantra, or sacred Sanskrit phrase.^[2]

The list

A to C

• A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada^[3] (1September 189614November 1977)
• Abhinavagupta (c. 9501020)
• Adi Shankara^[4] (507 BCE 475 BCE)
• Acharya Prashant (1978 Present)
• Advaita Acharya (1434–1539)
• Agastyar (3rd millennium BCE)^[5]
• Akka Mahadevi (c.1130 – 1160), Kannada literature
• Alvar Saints (700–1000)
• Anandamayi Ma (30April 1896 – 27August 1982)
• Anasuya Devī, also known as Jillellamudi Amma(28March 192312June 1985)
• Andal (c.767), Tamil literature
• Anukulchandra Chakravarty, also known as Sree Sree Thakur (1888–1969)
• Arunagirinathar (15th century A.D.)
• Avvaiyar (c. 1st and 2nd century AD), Tamil literature
• Ayya Vaikundar (1809–1851)
• Atri (Vedic times) Rig Veda

• Baba Hari Dass (26March 192325September 2018)
• Baba Mast Nath (born 1764)
• Bahinabai (1628–1700), Marathi literature
• Bamakhepa, or Bamakhyapa/ Bamdev Bhairav (18371911)
• Basava (1105 CE–1167 CE)
• Bhadase Sagan Maraj (1920–1971), Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and politician, founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
• Bhagat Dhanna (born 1415)
• Bhagatji Maharaj (20March 18297November 1897)
• Bhagawan Nityananda^[6] (November orDecember 18978August 1961)
• Bhakti Charu Swami (17September 1945 – 4 July 2020)
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami^[7] (25February 195027June 2005)
• Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (6 February 1874 – 1 January 1937)
• Bhaktivinoda Thakur (2September 1838 – 23June 1914)
• Bharathi Tirtha (born 11 April 1951, 36th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham)
• Bhaskararaya (c. 1690–1785)
• Bijoy Krishna Goswami (2August 18411899)
• Brahma Chaitanya, also known as Gondavalekar Maharaj (1845–22December 1913)
• Brahmanand Swami (1772–1832)
• Brahmananda Saraswati^[8] (20December 186820May 1953)

• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu^[9] (18February 148614June 1534)
• Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (20May 18948January 1994)
• Chandrashekhara Bharati III (1892–1954)
• Chattampi Swamikal (c. 1853–1924)
• Chaturbhuj Sahay (3November 188324September 1957)
• Chinmayananda Saraswati (8May 19163August 1993)
• Chokhamela (14th century)

D to F

• Dada Bhagwan, founder of Akram Vignan (7Novembery 19082January 1988)^[10]
• Damodardev (c. 1488c. 1598)
• Dayananda Saraswati (Ärsha Vidya) (15August 193024September 2015)
• Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj (12February 182430October 1883)
• Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas (1878–1994)
• Dhirendra Krishna Shastri
• Dnyaneshwar^[11] (1275–1296)
• Drona (Mahabharat era)
• Eknath (1533–1599)
• Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999)

G to I

• Gagangiri Maharaj (19064February 2008)
• Gajanan Maharaj (c. mid-19th century)
• Ganapati Muni (c. 1878–c.1936)
• Gambhirnath (death 1917)
• Garib Das (1717–1778)
• Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji (1838–1915)
• Gnanananda Giri^[12] (c. early 19th century)
• Gopala Bhatta Goswami (1503–1578)
• Gopalanand Swami (1781–1852)
• Gopi Krishna (yogi) (1903–1984)
• Gora Kumbhar (c. 1267–c.1317)
• Gorakhnath (c. 10th or 11th century)
• Gulabrao Maharaj (6 July 1881 – 20 September 1915)
• Gunatitanand Swami (17October 178511October 1867)
• Guru Jambheshwar (1451–1536)
• Gurumayi Chidvilasananda^[13] (born 24June 1955)

• Hans Ji Maharaj (8November 190018July 1966)
• Haridasa Thakur^{[14] [15]} (born 1451 or 1450)
• Hariharananda Giri (Paramahamsa Hariharananda) (27May 19073December 2002)
• Isaignaniyar (c. 7th century), Tamil literature

J to L

• Jagannatha Dasa (c. 1490-1550] Odia Vaishnav poet and devotee
• Jaggi Vasudev (born 3September 1957)
• Jalaram Bapa (4November 1799 23February 1881)
• Janabai (c. 13th century), Marathi literature
• Jayadeva (CE 1170), Indian Sanskrit poet and devotee
• Jayatirtha (1345–1388)
• Jiva Goswami (c. 1513–1598)

• Kabir (c. 15th century), Indian saint and mystic
• Kalki Bhagwan (born 1949)^{[16] [17]}
• Kamlesh D. Patel, also known as Daaji (born 28 September 1965)
• Kanakadasa (1509–1609)
• Kanhopatra (c. 15th century), Marathi literature
• Kanwar Saheb
• Karaikkal Ammaiyar (c. 6th century), Tamil literature
• Khaptad Baba
• Khatkhate Baba (1859–1930)^[18]
• Kirpal Singh (c. 1894–1974) (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission)
• Kirupanandha Variyar (25August 19067November 1993)
• Kripalu Maharaj (5October 192215November 2013)
• Krishna Prem (1898–1965)
• Krishnadasa Kaviraja (born 1496)
• Krishnananda Saraswati (25April 192223November 2001)

• Lahiri Mahasaya (Shyamacharan Lahiri)^[19] (30September 182826September 1895)
• Lakshman Joo (9May 190727September 1991), modern scholar of Kashmiri Shaivism
• Lakshmanananda Saraswati (192623August 2008)
• Lalleshwari (c.13201392), Kashmiri literature

M to O

• Madhavdev (c. 1489c. 1596)
• Madhvacharya^[20] (c. 12381317)
• Mahant Swami Maharaj (born 13September 1933)
• Maharishi Mahesh Yogi^[21] (12January 19185February 2008)
• Mahavatar Babaji^[22] (mid-19thmid-20th century)
• Mangayarkkarasiyar (c. 7th century), Tamil literature
• Manik Prabhu
• Master C. V. V. (4August 1868 – 12May 1922)
• Mata Amritanandamayi^[23] (born 27September 1953)
• Matsyendranath (c. 10th century)
• Meera (c. 1498c. 1547), Hindi literature
• Meher Baba (25February 189431January 1969)
• Mehi (28April 18858June 1986)
• Mirra Alfassa (21February 187817November 1973)
• Morari Bapu (born 25September 1946)
• Mother Meera^[24] (born 26December 1960)
• Muktabai (c.12791297), Marathi literature
• Muktanand Swami (1758–1830)
• Muktananda (16May 19082October 1982)
• Murugan Chillayah (born 22November 1978)
• Muthuswami Dikshitar (24March 177621October 1835)

• Namdev (c. 1270c. 1350)
• Narasimha Saraswati(1378–1459)
• Narayan Maharaj^[25] (20May 18853September 1945)
• Narayana Guru, writer of Daiva Dasakam^[26] (c. 18541928)
• Narayanprasaddasji Swami (14January 192130January 2018), also known as Tapomurti Shastri Swami (Gujarati: તપોમૂર્તિ શાસ્ત્રી સ્વામી)
• Narottama Dasa (born 1466)
• Narsinh Mehta (1414–1481), also known as Narsi Mehta or Narsi Bhagat
• Nayakanahatti Thipperudra Swamy (c. 15th–c. 16th century), also known as Nayakanahatti Thippeswamy
• Nayanmars Saints (700–1000)
• Neem Karoli Baba^[27] (c. late 19th or early 20th century 11September 1973)
• Nigamananda Paramahansa^[28] (18August 1880 – 29November 1935)
• Nimbarka^[29] (c. 13th century or earlier)
• Niranjanananda (c. 18629May 1904)
• Nirmala Srivastava, also known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi (21March 192323February 2011)
• Nisargadatta Maharaj^[30] (17April 18978September 1981)
• Nishkulanand Swami (1766–1848)
• Nischalananda Saraswati (born 30 June 1943 145th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan Math)
• Nityananda Prabhu (born 1474)

• Om Swami (born 1979)
• Osho also known as Rajneesh (11December 1931 – 19January 1990)

P to R

• Panth Maharaj (3 September 1855 – 16 October 1905)
• Paramahansa Yogananda^[31] (5January 18937March 1952)
• Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, also known as chariji (24 July 1927 – 20 December 2014)
• Pattinathar (c. 10th or 14th century AD)
• Pavhari Baba (birth unknown1898)
• Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami (c. 17th century)
• Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (21May 192121October 1990)
• Pramukh Swami Maharaj^{[32] [33]} (born 7December 1921 – 13August 2016)
• Pranavananda, also known as Yugacharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda Ji Maharaj (29January 18968February 1941)
• Pranavanda Saraswati (28August 190828August 1982)
• Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, Guru Maharaj Ji, and Balyogeshwar (born 10December 1957)
• Purandara Dasa (c. 1484 – c. 1565)
• Puran Puri (born 1742)

• Rambhadracharya (born 14January 1950)
• Ramdas Kathiababa (early 24July 1800 – 8February 1909)
• Ramdev Pir (1352–1385 AD)
• Radhanath Swami (born 7December 1950)
• Raghavendra Swami^[34] (15951671)
• Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami (1505–1579)
• Rajinder Singh (spiritual master) (20 September 1946) (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission) (Founder of Science of Spirituality)
• Rakeshprasad^[35] (born 23July 1966)
• Raghuttama Tirtha (15371596)
• Ram Chandra (Babuji) (30April 1899 – 19April 1983)
• Ram Thakur (2February 18601May 1949)
• Rama Tirtha (22October 187327October 1906)
• Ramakrishna^[36] (18February 183616August 1886) See Disciples
• Ramalinga Swamigal (5 October 1823, disappeared on 30 January 1874), also known as Vallalar
• Ramana Maharshi^[37] (30December 187914April 1950)
• Ramanuja (c. 1017c. 1137)
• Ramprasad Sen (c. 1718 or c. 1723c. 1775)
• Ravidas (1398–1540)
• Rupa Goswami (1489–1564)

S to U

• Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj (1951–present)
• Santadas Kathiababa (10 June 1859 – 9 November 1935)
• Sahadeo Tiwari (1892–1972)
• Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838–1918)
• Samarth Ramdas (1608–1681)
• Sanatana Goswami (1488–1558)
• Sankardev (c. 1449c. 1568)
• Sant Charandas (1703–1782)
• Sant Nirmala (c. 14th century), Marathi literature
• Sant Soyarabai (c. 14th century), Marathi literature
• Sarada Devi (22 December 1853 – 20 July 1920)
• Satchidananda Saraswati (22December 191419August 2002)
• Sathya Sai Baba (23November 192624April 2011)
• Satnarayan Maharaj (born 1931), Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and son-in-law of Bhadase Sagan Maraj
• Satsvarupa dasa Goswami^[38] (born 6December 1939)
• Satya Narayan Goenka (30January 192429September 2013)
• Satyananda Saraswati (25December 19235December 2009)
• Satyapramoda Tirtha (1918–1997)
• Satyeswarananda Giri (born 16 August 1941 – 3 September 2017)
• Shaunaka,
• Seshadri Swamigal (22January 18704January 1929)
• Shastriji Maharaj (31January 186510May 1951)
• Shivabalayogi (24January 193528March 1994)
• Shreedhar Swami (7December 190819April 1973)
• Shrimad Rajchandra (11November 18679April 1901)
• Shripad Shri Vallabha
• Shrivatsa Goswami (27October 1950present
• Shyama Shastri (26April 17626February 1982)
• Sitaramdas Omkarnath (17February 18926December 1827)
• Sivananda Saraswati (8September 188714July 1963)
• Sivaya Subramuniyaswami^[39] (5January 192712November 2001)
• Soham Swami (birth unknown1918)
• Sopan (c. 13th century)
• Sri Aurobindo (15August 18725December 1950)
• Sripadaraja (c. 1422 – 1480)
• Sri Chinmoy^[40] (27August 193111October 2007)
• Sri Madhukarnath (born 06November 1948)
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (born 1956)
• Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj (born May 1955)
• Surdas (c. late 15th-century)
• Swami Abhedananda (2October 18668September 1939)
• Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha (born 13May 1933)
• Swami Chidbhavananda (11March 189816November 1985)
• Swami Janakananda (born 13June 1939)
• Swami Keshwanand Satyarthi (born 5 September 1943) (Paramhans Satyarthi Mission, Advait Mat)
• Swami Nithyananda (born 1January 1978 or 13March 1977)
• Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (born 15 January 1929 –)
• Swami Purnachaitanya (born 1984)
• Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855–1936)
• Swami Rama (1925–1996)
• Swami Ramanand (c. 1738c. 1802)
• Swami Ramdas (10April 188425July 1963)
• Swami Samarth
• Swami Vivekananda (12January 18634July 1902)
• Swaminarayan (3April 17811June 1830)
• Swarupanand (1February 18849April 1936), part of Advait Mat lineage
• Swarupananda (8July 187127June 1906)

• Trailanga (16071887)
• Tukaram (c. 16081649)
• Tulsidas (15321623), also known as Goswami Tulsidas
• Tyagaraja (4May 17676January 1847)

• Upasni Maharaj (15May 187024December 1941)
• Uppaluri Gopala Krishnamurti (9July 1918 22March 2007)
• Utpaladeva (ca. 900–950), teacher of Kashmiri Shaivism

V to X

• Vallabha^[41] (14791531)
• Vadiraja Tirtha (1480–1600)
• Vasugupta (~ 800–850 CE), author of the Shiva Sutras in Kashmiri Shaivism
• Vidyaranya (c. 1268c. 1386)
• Vishwananda^[42] (13 June 1980)
• Vishwesha Tirtha (19312019)
• Vyasatirtha (c. 14601539)
• Vasistha (Rig Veda)
• Valmiki (Ramayana)

Y to Z

• Yogaswami (1872March 1964)
• Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1December 191820February 2001)
• Yogiji Maharaj (23May 189223January 1971)
• Yukteswar Giri (10May 18559March 1936)

See also

• Dalit saints of Hinduism
• List of Hindus
• List of founders of religious traditions
• Modern yoga gurus

Notes and References

1. Book: Smith, David. Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations. Routledge. 2016. 978-0-415-85881-6. New York, New York. 70.
2. Book: Smith, David. Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations. Routledge. 2016. 978-0-415-85881-6. New York, New York. 58.
3. Book: Dasa Goswami, Satsvarupa. Gurupada. Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Vol 1–2. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. 2002 . vol.1 1133 pages vol.2 1191 pages . 0-89213-357-0. true.
4. Namboodiripad, E.M.S. . 1989 . Adi Sankara and His Philosophy: A Marxist View . 3520108 . 3–12 . 17 . 1 . . 10.2307/3520108.
5. Web site: Sri Agastiyar: The Ageless Guru of Gurus. murugan.org.
6. White, C.S.J. . 1974 . Swami Muktananda and the Enlightenment Through Sakti-pat . . 13 . 4 . 306–322 . 10.1086/462708 . 1062089. 162248231 .
7. Sherbow, P.H. . 2004 . Ac Bhaktivedanta Swam Is Preaching in the Context of Gaudiya Vaishnavism . The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant.
8. Web site: TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM Part One: Is TM a Religion?. 2008-07-02.
9. Rosen, S.J. . 2004 . Who Is Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu . The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant.
10. Web site: About Gnani Purush (Enlightened Being) . /www.dadabhagwan.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160519072646/https://www.dadabhagwan.org/spiritual-masters/pujya-dadashri/about-gnani-purush/ . 19 May 2016.
11. Abbas, K.A. . Sant Dnyaneshwar—His Miracles and Manushya Dharma . Bombay Chronicle . 33–35.
12. Book: Dr. T.M.P. MahaDevan . M.P. Pandit . 1979 . Sadguru Gnanananda, His life, Personality and teaching . S.Ramakrishan / Sudarsan Graphics . xxi / 308.
13. Web site: Siddha Yoga . 2009-07-14.
14. Dimock, E.C. Jr. 1963. Doctrine and Practice among the Vaisnavas of Bengal. History of Religions. 3. 1. 106. 10.1086/462474. 1062079. 162027021.
15. O'Connell, J.T.. 1973. The Word'Hindu'in Gaudiya Vaisnava Texts. Journal of the American Oriental Society. 93. 3. 340–344. 10.2307/599467. 599467.
16. Web site: Kalki Bhagavan, guru who started as LIC clerk & now has 'undisclosed income' of Rs 500 cr. Rohini. Swamy. 22 October 2019.
17. Web site: Narayanan, "A 'White Paper' on Kalki Bhagavan". msuweb.montclair.edu.
18. G.K. Gurtu, "Khatkhate Baba – The Savior of Etawah". Ikashmir.net
19. Book: Uban, S.S. . 1978 . The Gurus of India . Sterling .
20. Book: Sarma, D. . 2007 . Madhva Vedanta and Krishna . Krishna: A Sourcebook . 2008-07-02 . 978-0-19-514892-3.
21. Web site: Journal of Religious Culture . 2008-07-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20211218070134/http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/opus4/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/560/file/relkultur06.pdf . 18 December 2021.
22. Book: Key, P.S. . 2004 . The Journey to Radiant Health . .
23. Warrier, M. . 2003 . Processes of Secularization in Contemporary India: Guru Faith in the Mata Amritanandamayi Mission . . 37 . 1 . 213–253 . 10.1017/S0026749X03001070. 145492491 .
24. Ross, C. . 1997 . Experiencing Mother Meera . . 17 . 78–82 . 2008-07-02.
25. Bhide, R.G. . 1933 . Shri Narayan Maharaj . Marathi, Published by DL Lele, Wai.
26. Book: Thomas, D. . 1965 . Sree Narayana Guru . Bangalore: The Christian Institute for the Religion and Society .
27. Book: Dass, Ram . Ram Dass . 1979 . Miracle of love: stories about Neem Karoli Baba . registration. . 9780525476115 .
28. Book: Paramahamsa Prajnanananda. My Time with the Master. 18 March 2011. 15 August 2006. Sai Towers Publishing. 978-81-7899-055-2. 25–.
29. Book: Khurana, G.R. . 1990 . The theology of Nimbārka : a translation of Nimbārka's Daśaślokī with Giridhara Prapanna's Laghumañjūsā . Vantage . 978-0-533-08705-1.
30. Book: Maharaj, N. . Powell, R. . 1987 . The Nectar of the Lord's Feet: Final Teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: Discourses January–November 1980 . .
31. Book: Yogananda, P. . 2005 . Autobiography of a Yogi . Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. .
32. "Spiritual Leader of Bochansanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha...", Calgary Herald, 18July 2012, available at https://calgaryherald.com/life/story.html?id=6952731
33. Kalarthi, S.M. . Idol of Inspiration—Pramukh Swami Maharaj . Ahmedabad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith.
34. Narayanan, V. . 2006 . Religious Vows at the Shrine of Shahul Hamid . Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia . 2008-07-02 . 978-0-7914-6707-7.
35. News: Vadtal, the delinquent in Swaminarayan family . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023194706/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-02-17/ahmedabad/27275061_1_vadtal-nautam-swami-swaminarayan-sect. dead. 2012-10-23. 2003-02-17. . 2009-04-13.
36. Kripal, J.J. . 1998 . Mystical Homoeroticism, Reductionism, and the Reality of Censorship: A Response to Gerald James Larson . . 66 . 3 . 627–635 . 1466137 . 10.1093/jaarel/66.3.627.
37. Osis, K. . 1970 . Informal methods of research in psychic phenomena for religious believers . . 21 . 7 . 35–40 . 10.1007/BF01797827. 143283370 .
38. Book: Rochford, E. Burke . Hare Krishna transformed . limited . . New York . 2007 . 978-0-8147-7579-0 . 224.
39. Book: Feuerstein, G. . Georg Feuerstein . 2002 . The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice . .
40. News: Athletic Spiritual Leader, Dies at 76. 1997-10-13. The New York Times. 2013-04-01.
41. Book: Barz, R. . 1992 . The Bhakti sect of Vallabhacarya . . New Delhi.
42. Book: Vishwananda, P. . 2021. Just Love: A Journey into the Heart of God . Bhakti Event GmbH .