List of Hindu gurus and sants

Encyclopedia

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

A guru is defined as a “teacher, spiritual guide, godman,” 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.

  • A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1 September 1896 – 14 November 1977)
  • Abhinavagupta (c. 950 – 1020)
  • Adi Shankara (c. 788 – 820)
  • Advaita Acharya (1434–1539)
  • Agastyar 
  • Akka Mahadevi (c.1130 – 1160), Kannada literature
  • Alvar Saints (700–1000)
  • Anandamayi Ma (30 April 1896 – 27 August 1982)
  • Anasuya Devī also known as Jillellamudi Amma(28 March 1923 – 12 June 1985)
  • Andal (c.767), Tamil literature
  • Anukulchandra Chakravarty, also known as Sree Sree Thakur (born 14 September 1888)
  • Arunagirinathar (15th Century A.D.)
  • Avvaiyar (c. 1st and 2nd century AD), Tamil literature
  • Ayya Vaikundar (1809–1851)
  • Baba Hari Dass (26 March 1923 – 25 September 2018)
  • Bahinabai (1628–1700), Marathi literature
  • Bamakhepa, or Bamakhyapa/ Bamdev Bhairav (1837 – 1911)
  • Basava (1105 CE–1167 CE)
  • Bhadase Sagan Maraj (1920–1971), Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and politician, founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
  • Dhanna jatt (born 1415)
  • Bhagawan Nityananda (November or December 1897 – 8 August 1961)
  • Bhakti Charu Swami (17 September 1945 – 4 July 2020)
  • Bhakti Tirtha Swami (25 February 1950 – 27 June 2005)
  • Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (6 February 1874 – 1 January 1937)
  • Bhaktivinoda Thakur (2 September 1838 – 23 June 1914)
  • Bhaskararaya (c. 1690–1785)
  • Bijoy Krishna Goswami (2 August 1841 – 1899)
  • Brahma Chaitanya, also known as Gondavalekar Maharaj (1845–22 December 1913)
  • Brahmanand Swami (1772–1832)
  • Brahmananda Saraswati (20 December 1868 – 20 May 1953)
  • Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534)
  • Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994)
  • Chandrashekhara Bharati III (1892–1954)
  • Charan Singh (Sant) (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (12 December 1916 – 1 June 1990)
  • Chattampi Swamikal (c. 1853–1924)
  • Chaturbhuj Sahay (3 November 1883 – 24 September 1957)
  • Chinmayananda Saraswati (8 May 1916 – 3 August 1993)
  • Chokhamela (14th century)
  • Dada Bhagwan, founder of Akram Vignan (7 Novembery 1908 – 2 January 1988)
  • Damodardev (c. 1488 – c. 1598)
  • Darshan Singh (Sant Mat) (1921–1989), founder of Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission
  • Dayananda Saraswati (Ärsha Vidya) (15 August 1930 – 24 September 2015)
  • Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj (12 February 1824 – 30 October 1883)
  • Dnyaneshwar (1275–1296)
  • Drona (mythohistorical)
  • Eknath (1533–1599)
  • Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999)
  • Gagangiri Maharaj (1906 – 4 February 2008)
  • Gajanan Maharaj (c. mid 19th century)
  • Ganapati Muni (c. 1878–c.1936)
  • Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji (1838–1915)
  • Gnanananda Giri (c. early 19th century)
  • Gopala Bhatta Goswami (1503–1578)
  • Gopala Krishna Goswami (born 14 August 1944)
  • 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 (17 October 1785 – 11 October 1867)
  • Gurinder Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (born 1 August 1954)
  • Gurumayi Chidvilasananda (born 24 June 1955)
  • Hans Ji Maharaj (8 November 1900 – 18 July 1966)
  • Haridasa Thakur (born 1451 or 1450)
  • Hariharananda Giri, (Paramahamsa Hariharananda) (27 May 1907 – 3 December 2002)
  • Isaignaniyar (c. 7th century), Tamil literature
  • Jagannatha Dasa Babaji (1776–1894)
  • Jaggi Vasudev (born 3 September 1957)
  • Jaimal Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (July 1839 – 29 December 1903)
  • Janabai (c. 13th century), Marathi literature
  • Jayatirtha (1345-1388)
  • Jiddu Krishnamurti (11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986)
  • Jiva Goswami (c. 1513–1598)
  • Kabir (c. 15th century) Indian saint and mystic
  • Kalki Bhagwan (born 1949) 
  • Kanakadasa (1509–1609)
  • Kanhopatra (c. 15th century), Marathi literature
  • Kanwar Saheb
  • Karaikkal Ammaiyar (c. 6th century), Tamil literature
  • Khatkhate Baba (1859–1930)
  • Kirpal Singh (c. 1894–1974) (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission)
  • Kripalu Maharaj (5 October 1922 – 15 November 2013)
  • Krishnadasa Kaviraja (born 1496)
  • Krishnananda Saraswati (25 April 1922 – 23 November 2001)
  • Lahiri Mahasaya, (Shyamacharan Lahiri) (30 September 1828 – 26 September 1895)
  • Lakshmanananda Saraswati (1926 – 23 August 2008)
  • Lalleshwari (c.1320 – 1392), Kashmiri literature
  • Madhavdev (c. 1489 – c. 1596)
  • Madhvacharya (c. 1238 – 1317)
  • Mahant Swami Maharaj (born 13 September 1933)
  • Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (12 January 1918 – 5 February 2008)
  • Mahavatar Babaji (mid 19th – mid 20th century)
  • Mangayarkkarasiyar (c. 7th century) Tamil literature
  • Manik Prabhu
  • Master C. V. V. (4 August 1868 – 12 May 1922)
  • Mata Amritanandamayi (born 27 September 1953)
  • Matsyendranath (c. 10th century)
  • Meera (c. 1498 – c. 1547) Hindi literature
  • Mehi (28 April 1885 – 8 June 1986)
  • Mirra Alfassa (21 February 1878 – 17 November 1973)
  • Morari Bapu (born 25 September 1946)
  • Mother Meera (born 26 December 1960)
  • Muktabai (c.1279 – 1297) Marathi literature
  • Muktanand Swami (1758–1830)
  • Muktananda (16 May 1908 – 2 October 1982)
  • Namdev (c. 1270 – c. 1350)
  • Narasimha Saraswati(1378–1459)
  • Narayan Maharaj (20 May 1885 – 3 September 1945)
  • Narayana Guru, writer of Daiva Dasakam (c. 1854 – 1928)
  • Narayanprasaddasji Swami (14 January 1921 – 30 January 2018) also known as Tapomurti Shastri Swami (Gujarati: તપોમૂર્તિ શાસ્ત્રી સ્વામી) and Guruji by his devotees, was one of the most noted Swami of the Swaminarayan Sampraday
  • 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 (c. late 19th or early 20th century – 11 September 1973)
  • Nigamananda Paramahansa (18 August 1880 – 29 November 1935)
  • Nimbarka (c. 13th century or earlier)
  • Niranjanananda (c. 1862 – 9 May 1904)
  • Nirmala Srivastava, also known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi (21 March 1923 – 23 February 2011)
  • Nisargadatta Maharaj(17 April 1897 – 8 September 1981)
  • Nishkulanand Swami (1766–1848)
  • Nityananda Prabhu (born 1474)
  • Om Swami (born 1979)
  • Osho (born 1931)
  • Panth Maharaj (3 September 1855 – 16 October 1905)
  • Paramahansa Yogananda (5 January 1893 – 7 March 1952)
  • Pattinathar (c. 10th or 14th century AD)
  • Pavhari Baba (birth unknown – 1898)
  • Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami (c. 17th century)
  • Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (21 May 1921 – 21 October 1990)
  • Pramukh Swami Maharaj (born 7 December 1921–13 August 2016)
  • Pranavananda, also known as Yugacharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda Ji Maharaj (29 January 1896 – 8 February 1941)
  • Pranavanda Saraswati (28 August 1908 – 28 August 1982)
  • Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, Guru Maharaj Ji, and Balyogeshwar (born 10 December 1957)
  • Purandara Dasa
  • Radhanath Swami (born 7 December 1950)
  • Raghavendra Swami (1595 – 1671)
  • Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami (1505–1579)
  • Rajinder Singh (spiritual master) (20 September 1946) (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission) (Founder of Science of Sprituality)
  • Rakeshprasad (born 23 July 1966)
  • Raghuttama Tirtha (1537 – 1596)
  • Ram Thakur (2 February 1860 – 1 May 1949)
  • Rama Tirtha (22 October 1873 – 27 October 1906)
  • Ramakrishna (18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886) See Disciples
  • Ramalinga Swamigal (5 October 1823 Disappeared on 30 January 1874) aka Vallalar
  • Ramana Maharshi (30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950)
  • Ramanuja (c. 1017 – c. 1137)
  • Ramprasad Sen (c. 1718 or c. 1723 – c. 1775)
  • Ravidas (1398-1540)
  • Rupa Goswami (1489–1564)
  • Sahadeo Tiwari (1892–1972),
  • Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838–1918)
  • Samarth Ramdas (1608–1681)
  • Sanatana Goswami (1488–1558)
  • Sankardev (c. 1449 – c. 1568)
  • Sant Charandas (1703–1782)
  • Sant Nirmala (c. 14th century) Marathi literature
  • Sant Soyarabai (c. 14th century) Marathi literature
  • Satchidananda Saraswati (22 December 1914 – 19 August 2002)
  • Sathya Sai Baba (23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011)
  • Satnarayan Maharaj (born 1931) is an Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and son-in-law of Bhadase Sagan Maraj
  • Satsvarupa dasa Goswami (born 6 December 1939)
  • Satya Narayan Goenka (30 January 1924 – 29 September 2013)
  • Satyananda Giri (17 November 1896 – 2 August 1971)
  • Satyananda Saraswati (25 December 1923 – 5 December 2009)
  • Satyapramoda Tirtha (1918-1997)
  • Sawan Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (27 July 1858 – 2 April 1948)
  • Seshadri Swamigal (22 January 1870 – 4 January 1929)
  • Shiv Dayal Singh also known as “Soamiji Maharaj” (25 August 1818 – 15 June 1878)
  • Shivabalayogi (24 January 1935 – 28 March 1994)
  • Shreedhar Swami (7 December 1908 – 19 April 1973)
  • Shripad Shri Vallabha
  • Sitaramdas Omkarnath (17 February 1892 – 6 December 1982)
  • Sivananda Saraswati (8 September 1887 – 14 July 1963)
  • Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (5 January 1927 – 12 November 2001)
  • Soham Swami (birth unknown – 1918)
  • Sopan (c. 13th century)
  • Sri Aurobindo (15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950)
  • Sripadaraja (c. 1422 – 1480)
  • Sri Chinmoy (27 August 1931 – 11 October 2007)
  • Sri M (born 06 November 1948)
  • Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (born 1956)
  • Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj (Born May 1955)
  • Surdas (c. late 15th-century)
  • Swami Abhedananda (2 October 1866 – 8 September 1939)
  • Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha (born 13 May 1933)
  • Swami Chidbhavananda (11 March 1898 – 16 November 1985)
  • Swami Janakananda (born 13 June 1939)
  • Swami Keshwanand Satyarthi (born 5 September 1943) (Paramhans Satyarthi Mission, Advait Mat )
  • Swami Nithyananda (born 1 January 1978 or 13 March 1977)
  • Swami Purnachaitanya (born 1984)
  • Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855–1936)
  • Swami Rama (1925–1996)
  • Swami Ramanand (c. 1738 – c. 1802)
  • Swami Ramdas (10 April 1884 – 25 July 1963)
  • Swami Samarth
  • Swami Vivekananda (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902)
  • Swaminarayan (3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830)
  • Swarupanand (1 February 1884 – 9 April 1936) part of Advait Mat lineage
  • Swarupananda (8 July 1871 – 27 June 1906)
  • Tibbetibaba (birth unknown – 19 November 1930)
  • Trailanga (1607–1887)
  • Tukaram (c. 1608 – 1649)
  • Tulsidas (1532–1623) also known as Goswami Tulsidas
  • Upasni Maharaj (15 May 1870 – 24 December 1941)
  • Uppaluri Gopala Krishnamurti (9 July 1918 – 22 March 2007)
  • Vallabha Acharya (1479 – 1531)
  • Vadiraja Tirtha (1480-1600)
  • Vethathiri Maharishi (14 August 1911 – 28 March 2006)
  • Vidyaranya (c. 1268 – c. 1386)
  • Vishuddhananda Paramahansa (14 March 1853 – 14 July 1937)
  • Vishwesha Tirtha (1931-2019)
  • Vyasatirtha (c. 1460 – 1539)
  • Yogaswami (1872 – March 1964)
  • Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1 December 1918 – 20 February 2001)
  • Yogiji Maharaj
  • Yukteswar Giri (10 May 1855 – 9 March 1936)