Saints, Acharyas & Sages

1896–1977 CE · Calcutta — New York — Vrindavan

Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Saraswata branch)

Bhakti to Krishna through nama-sankirtan, deity-worship, and study; Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the inseparable bond of Krishna and Radha.

~788–820 CE (traditional dates; some scholars argue earlier) · Kaladi, Kerala

Advaita Vedanta

Brahma satyam, jagat mithya, jivo brahmaiva naparah — Brahman alone is real, the world is appearance, the individual self is identical with Brahman.

12th century CE · Karnataka

Lingayat / Veerashaiva

Shiva (Chenna Mallikarjuna) as her divine husband; rejection of all worldly relationships for sake of devotion.

~9th century CE · Srivilliputtur (Tamil Nadu)

Sri Vaishnavism; one of the 12 Alvars (the only female)

Krishna as her divine husband; Margashirsha-month observance of bridal devotion (Pavai-nombu).

~7th century CE · Tamil Nadu

Shaiva Nayanmar (one of the 63)

Bhakti to Shiva; restoration to right tradition (he was originally a Jain ascetic before reconverting to Shaivism).

1131–1167 CE (approximate) · Karnataka

Lingayat / Veerashaiva (founder)

One Shiva accessed directly through the ishta-linga without temple-mediation; rejection of caste hierarchy; equality of all devotees; service (kayaka) and sharing (dasoha) as spiritual practice.

1486–1534 CE · Mayapur, Nabadwip (West Bengal)

Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Achintya Bheda Abheda)

Achintya Bheda Abheda — the inconceivable simultaneous oneness and difference of jiva and Krishna. Bhakti as the supreme path; sankirtan (especially the Hare Krishna mahamantra) is the yuga-dharma for Kali Yuga.

1497/1532–1623 CE · Rajapur (UP)

Rama-bhakti; Ramanandi Sampradaya

Rama is the supreme Brahman, accessible through nama (the Name). Saguna and Nirguna are both legitimate; both lead to mukti.

1910–1997 CE · Punjab — Lucknow

Ramana Maharshi lineage

Direct transmission of self-recognition; immediate awakening through grace; questioning of all spiritual achievements as mind-content.

~1440–1518 CE · Kashi (Varanasi)

Nirguna-bhakti / Sant Mat

One formless God beyond Hindu/Muslim divisions; rejection of empty ritual; emphasis on the inner Sadguru, nama-bhakti, and ethical living.

1238–1317 CE · Pajaka near Udupi, Karnataka

Dvaita Vedanta

Pancha-bheda (5-fold difference): jiva-Ishvara, jiva-jiva, jiva-jada, Ishvara-jada, jada-jada are eternally distinct. Vishnu is the supreme being.

~9th century CE · Tamil Nadu

Shaiva Siddhanta (one of the four Samaya Acharyas, with Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar)

Bhakti to Shiva as Supreme; mystical longing of the soul for the Lord.

1894–1969 CE · Pune — Meherabad (Maharashtra)

Avatar of the Age (his self-claim)

Don't worry, be happy. The five Perfect Masters of every age. Mast-seva (service to god-intoxicated souls). Silence as message.

1498–1547 CE (approximate) · Kudki (Rajasthan)

Krishna-bhakti; nirguna-saguna synthesis

Krishna as her divine husband; rejection of social conventions for the sake of devotion. Madhurya-bhakti.

1414–1480 CE (approximate) · Junagadh, Gujarat

Krishna-bhakti

Krishna as the supreme; identification of the true Vaishnava as one who feels others' pain.

~1900 – 1973 CE · Akbarpur (UP)

Hanuman-bhakti

Love everyone, serve everyone, remember God. Hanuman-bhakti as the perfect path. Selfless service and surrender.

~13th century CE · Vaiduryapatnam (in present-day Andhra Pradesh) — birthplace

Dvaitadvaita (dualistic non-dualism); Nimbarka Sampradaya

Dvaitadvaita — the relationship between Brahman, jiva, and jagat is simultaneously dual and non-dual, like the sun and its rays. Worship of Radha-Krishna as the supreme couple.

1893–1952 CE · Gorakhpur (UP)

Kriya Yoga (Lahiri Mahasaya — Sri Yukteswar lineage)

Kriya Yoga as a direct technique for God-realization; harmony between Christian and Hindu mysticism; the unity of Yoga and Vedanta.

1017–1137 CE · Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu

Vishishtadvaita Vedanta; Sri Vaishnavism

Brahman (Vishnu/Narayana) is one but qualified by jiva (chit) and matter (achit) as inseparable attributes; sharanagati (surrender) is the supreme means.

1957– · Mysore (Karnataka)

Yogic

Yoga as a science for inner transformation; integrated practice of asana, pranayama, dhyana; consecrated spaces and methods accessible to modern lifestyle.

1533–1599 CE · Paithan (Maharashtra)

Warkari

Bhakti and social equality; criticism of caste-based purity rules; saguna-bhakti to Vithoba and Rama.

1275–1296 CE · Apegaon (Maharashtra)

Warkari; Nath sampradaya influence

Advaita Vedanta presented in Marathi; bhakti and jnana converge; the supreme is realized in the heart of the seeker through guru's grace.

1270–1350 CE · Narsi Bahmani (Maharashtra)

Warkari (Maharashtra); Sant Mat

Equality of all before God; nirguna-saguna synthesis; nama-japa as the supreme practice.

~1450–1520 CE · Kashi (Varanasi)

Sant Mat / Nirguna

One formless God; equality of all; piety in honest work (he was a cobbler — a chamar).

1608–1650 CE · Dehu (Maharashtra)

Warkari

Vitthala (Vithoba) of Pandharpur as the supreme; bhakti through abhanga-singing; criticism of false sadhus and empty ritual.

1909–1968 CE · Yawli (Maharashtra)

Modern Bhakti / Reformer

Self-reliance, rural development, education, communal harmony, devotion through work.

~1838 (or earlier) – 1918 CE · Shirdi (Maharashtra)

Universal devotion (Hindu-Muslim synthesis)

Sabka Malik Ek (one God for all); faith (shraddha) and patience (saburi) as the only requirements; service to all beings.

1872–1950 CE · Calcutta — Pondicherry

Integral Yoga

Integral Yoga — synthesis of all yogas leading to a transformation of life and matter through the descent of the Supramental into matter; evolution of consciousness as the cosmic purpose.

1897–1981 CE · Mumbai

Navnath Sampradaya (Inchgiri branch)

You are not the body, you are not the mind. You are pure awareness. Inquiry into 'I am' as the gateway to the absolute.

1836–1886 CE · Kamarpukur (Bengal)

Universal Bhakti (Kali / Vedanta synthesis)

All paths lead to the same God; experiential confirmation of Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Tantric paths through his own sadhana; bhakti as supreme for Kali Yuga.

1879–1950 CE · Tiruchuli (TN)

Advaita Vedanta (silent transmission)

Self-inquiry — 'Who am I?' (nan yar). Direct path to realization by tracing the I-thought to its source.

1853–1920 CE · Jayrambati (Bengal)

Ramakrishna lineage

Universal motherhood of God; quiet devotion; service to all without distinction.

1926–2011 CE · Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh)

Universal Sai (claimed continuation of Shirdi Sai Baba)

Love All, Serve All; Help Ever, Hurt Never. Five human values: Sathya (truth), Dharma (righteousness), Shanti (peace), Prema (love), Ahimsa (non-violence).

~8th century CE · Tamil Nadu

Shaiva Nayanmar

Shiva as the inseparable friend of the bhakta — the bond is one of love bordering on intimate camaraderie.

1478–1583 CE (traditional) · Sihi village near Delhi

Krishna-bhakti; Pushti Marga

Bhakti through the imagery of Krishna's childhood and youth; vatsalya-rasa and madhurya-rasa.

1916–1993 CE · Ernakulam (Kerala)

Advaita Vedanta — Tapovan Maharaj lineage

Vedanta for the modern householder; jnana-yoga as practical psychology; the Bhagavad Gita as a manual of life.

1930–2015 CE · Manjakkudi (Tamil Nadu)

Advaita Vedanta — Sankaracharya lineage

Vedanta as a pramana (means of knowledge); the importance of traditional teaching methodology; samanyaya of all the Upanishadic texts.

1887–1963 CE · Pattamadai (TN)

Yoga-Vedanta synthesis

Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize. Synthesis of all yogas; practical Vedanta.

1863–1902 CE · Calcutta (now Kolkata)

Ramakrishna lineage; modern Vedanta

Practical Vedanta; potential divinity of every soul; service to humanity as worship of God; harmony of religions; revival of national spirit.

1878–1973 CE · Paris — Pondicherry

Integral Yoga (with Sri Aurobindo)

Continuation of Sri Aurobindo's integral yoga after his passing; descent of the Supramental into earth's consciousness; transformation of the body cells as final yoga.

~7th century CE · Sirkali (Tamil Nadu)

Shaiva Nayanmar

Spontaneous bhakti to Shiva from infancy.

1479–1531 CE · Champaran (Chhattisgarh) — birthplace

Pushti Marga (Shuddhadvaita)

Shuddhadvaita — pure non-dualism. The world is the real self-manifestation of Krishna. Pushti (divine grace) is the path; bhakti to Bal-Krishna.