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This article lists a number of hindu saints and gurus.

Contents

Ancient and medieval saints (includes legendary saints)

Modern-day saints

See also

References

External links

Ancient and medieval saints (includes legendary saints)

★ Mirabai, famous Bhakta poetess, devotee of Krishna

★ Sant Dynaneshewar ^{[1] [2]}, son of a Brahmin, made an outcast by society along with his family, part of the Bhakti movement, fought for the rights of the backward castes as did his siblings sants Muktabai, Nivrutinath and Sopana. He and his family left the Sahaja Panth for sants like Kabir.

★ Sant Eknath, Brahmin, outcast by society, fought for the rights of the backward castes

★ Sant Narsi Mehta, outcast for trying to break caste barriers

★ Sant Tulsidas, Brahmin who supported the ancient Vedic caste system which is based on one's occupation rather than birth, and further argued that we should all treat each other equally with no basis of caste. He had many lower caste followers whom he gladly accepted and furthermore taught that all men are equal in eyes of God with his book the Ramacharitamansa.

★ Sant Ramananda, Brahmin, devotee of Rama, had many backward caste disciples including Kabir

★ Sant Ramanuja, Brahmin whose guru was from a backward caste (and saw seeing equality in all humans). Many of his disciples were from backward castes, including Kanchipurna.

★ Sant Tukaram, a Kunbi member, devotee of Krishna, guru of Bahinabai (Brahmin) and part of the Bhakti movement

★ Sant Bogar, goldsmith, a South Indian Siddhar who became a Siddhar under the guidance of Kalanginaathar. It is said that he proceeded to China to teach the ways of the Siddhars. There is even a myth that Lao Tze is noneother than Bhogar. Bhogar’s Samadhi is to be found in the South West corridor at the Palani Muruga shrine.^[3]

★ Sant Nammalvar ^[4], an Alvar Vaishnava devotee

★ Sant Dadu, cotton carder, founded Dadu Panth, tried to bridge gap between Hindus and Muslims

★ Sant Goroba Kumbhar ^[5], Kumhar (potter), Vaishnava devotee of Vithoba

★ Sant Janabai, Dasi (servant), Vaishnava devotee of Vitthal domestic servant in Sant Namdev's home

★ Sant Kabir, member of the weaver caste, Vaishnava devotee of Rama tried to bring peace between Hindus and Muslims

★ Sant Kwaja Lassa Sahib ^[6]

★ Sant Kanchipurna ^[7], devotee of Varadaraja

★ Sant Namdev ^[8], Vaishnava devotee of Vithoba

★ Sant Narahari Sonar, Sunar (goldsmith), Vaishnava devotee of Krishna

★ Sant Phule, Mali (gardener)

★ Sant Sajan Kasai

★ Sant Savata Mali, Mali

★ Sant Sena Nhavi, Nai (barber)

★ Vidhyadhiraja Chattampi Swamikal.

★ Sant Sen Maharaj -Nai Rajsthan

★ Sant Tiruneelakanda Nayanar ^[9], potter, devotee of Shiva, one of 63 Shaivite saints

★ Sant Tirukkacchi Nambi ^[10]

★ Maharshi Aitreya Mahidasa, composed the Aitreya Brahmana and sections 1-3 of the Aitreya Aranyaka (the latter contains the Aitreya Upanishad- one of the 10 canonical Upanishads for Hindus) belonging to the Rigveda.

★ Maharishi Karve

★ Bhakta Ghosa, the daughter to Bhakta Kakshivat who wrote verses in the Rig Veda.

★ Bhakta Jayadeva, made poetry of the Gita Govinda^[11]

★ Bhakta Kakshivat, a Brahmavadin, was the son of Dirghatamas by a Shudra maid servant (Brihaddevata 4.24-25). His descendants are also referred to as "Kakshivat"

★ Bhakta Madanapala was the son of a boatwoman

★ Bhakta Vatsa, a descendant of Kanva RV 6.1; 8.8 etc; was called a Shudra-putra (Panchavimsha Brahman 14.66).

★ Sree Narayana Guru, a very well-known Sage, Saint, Reformer and Philosopher

★ guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati a disciple of Sree Narayana Guru

★ Nataraja Guru, disciple of Sree Narayana Guru

★ Guru Muni Narayana Prasad, disciple of Sree Narayana Guru

★ Swami Bodhananda, disciple of Sree Narayana Guru

★ Vagbhatananda Gurudevar

★ Bhikshu Dharmaskandha

★ Brahmashri Swami Sashwathikananda, former Matathipathi Sivagiri Mutt

★ Brahmashri Swami Sookshmananda Matathipathi Sivagiri Mutt

★ Ayya Vaikundar, considered incarnation of Vishnu in the Ayyavazhi sect as per it's scripture Akilattirattu Ammanai.

★ Maharshi Veda Vyas, fisherman, composed the Mahabharata, considered an avatara of Vishnu. Furthermore, Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita (10.37)[1] says, "Of the descendants of Vrishni I am Vasudeva, and of the Pandavas I am Arjuna. Of the sages I am Vyasa, and among great thinkers I am Usana."

★ Narada Muni, was son of maidservant who became a Brahmana and was taught by Vaishnava gurus, wrote the ''Narad Bhakti Sutra.'' He is mentioned as one of the 25 avatars of Lord Vishnu.^[12] Krishna also says in the Bhagavad Gita (10.26)[2], "Of all trees I am the banyan tree, and of the sages among the demigods I am Narada. Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila."

★ Sevabhaya Sant Sevalal Ji Maharaj, a Banjara, Goaar Tribe Saint that worked for the upliftment of Adivasis Banjaras (Goaars) of India.

★ Bhagini Shabari, a Bhil woman that offered Shri Rama and Shri Laxmana her half eaten 'ber' when they were searching for Shri Sita in the forest.

★ Maharshi Ved Vyasa, composed the Mahabharata, Bhagawat Gita and the Upanishads. Ved Vyasa was born of and raised by a fisherwoman

★ Maharshi Matanga, Matanga Bhil, Guru of Bhakta Shabari. In fact, Chandalas are often addressed as ‘Matanga ’in passages like Varaha Purana 1.139.91

★ Sant Anayar Nayanar

★ Sant Atipattar Nayanar

★ Sant Chokha Mela, Mahar

★ Sant Enati Nayanar

★ Sant Guru Ghasidas, founded Satnami sect

★ Sant Kaliar Nayanar ^[13]

★ Sant Kannappa Nayanar, one of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints, a hunter from whom Lord Shiva gladly accepted food offerings

★ Sant Kapinjalada, Chandala, according to Mahabharata (Anushasana Parvan 53.13-19)

★ Sant Nandanar (Nanthanaar) ^[14], Athanuur, devotee of Shiva ^[15], one of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints

★ Sant Raidas/Ravidas, Chamar (cobbler) member, the Guru of Mirabai

★ Sant Soyarabai, Sant Chokha Mela's wife

★ Sant Tirukkurippu Tondar Nayanar

★ Sant Tiru Nilakanta Nayanar, potter, devotee of Shiva

★ Sant Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar, one of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints

★ Maharshi Valmiki, great devotee of Rama, composed the Ramayana, considered an avatara of God, especially by the Balmiki community

Modern-day saints

★ Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma.

★ Satya Sai Baba, considered an avatara of Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva, Shakti and Vishnu

★ Bangaru Adigalar (Melmaruvathur, Tamil Nadu)

See also

★ List of Hindu gurus and saints

★ Hindu reform movements

★ Hinduism
Hindu Saints:
Ramana Maharishi, Kanchi Paramacharya, Papa Swami Ramdas, Mother Krishnabai, Swami Satchitananda, Ramakrishna Paramahams, Mother Saradha, Swami Vivekananda, Seshadri Swamigal, Yogi Ramsuratkumar,Sadhasiva Bremendrar, Sridhara Iyyaval, Bhagawan Nama Bodendrar, Gnananandha Swamigal, Raghavendra Swamigal, Ramalingar, Pattinathar, Aurobindo, Mother, Shirdi Sai Baba, Thyagaraja Swamigal

References

1.
Caste Protectors Detailed Article at Hindutva.org
2. Santgyan
3. India9.com Bhogar in India
4. Word Document
5. Saileelas.org Info on Saints
6. IKashmir.net
7. www.dlshq.org
8. Namadev the Saint
9.
Hindu Saint Tiruneelakanda Nayanar
10. TRS Iyengar
11. ThaiSikh.org
12. Bhag-P 1.3 Canto 1, Chapter 3
13. Nayanar
14. Nanthanaar, who the gods showered with flowers
15. Nanaalai Article at Shaivam.org

External links

★ Hindu Deities, Sages and Saints Who were not Brahmins an article by Vishal Agarwal

★ Gurus ot India