# List of Hindu gurus and sants

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," 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.

## The list
### A to C

* A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1 September 1896 – 14 November 1977)
* Abhinavagupta (c. 950 – 1020)
* Adi Shankara (8th c. CE)
* Acharya Prashant (1978 – Present)
* Advaita Acharya (1434–1539)
* Agastyar (3rd millennium BCE)
* Akka Mahadevi (c.1130 – 1160), Kannada literature
* Akshobhya Tirtha (c. 1282- c. 1365), disciple of Madhvacharya
* 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 (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 (26 March 1923 – 25 September 2018)
* Baba Mast Nath (born 1764)
* 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
* Bhagat Dhanna (born 1415)
* Bhagatji Maharaj (20 March 1829 – 7 November 1897)
* 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)
* Bharathi Tirtha (born 11 April 1951, 36th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham)
* 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)
* Chattampi Swamikal (c. 1853–1924)
* Chaturbhuj Sahay (3 November 1883 – 24 September 1957)
* Chinmayananda Saraswati (8 May 1916 – 3 August 1993)
* Chokhamela (14th century)

### D to F

* Dada Bhagwan, founder of Akram Vignan (7 Novembery 1908 – 2 January 1988)
* Damodardev (c. 1488 – c. 1598)
* Dayananda Saraswati (Ärsha Vidya) (15 August 1930 – 24 September 2015)
* Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj (12 February 1824 – 30 October 1883)
* Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas (1878–1994)
* Dhirendra Krishna Shastri
* Dnyaneshwar (1275–1296)
* Drona (Mahabharat era)
* Eknath (1533–1599)
* Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999)

### G to I

* Gagangiri Maharaj (1906 – 4 February 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 (c. early 19th century)
* Gopala Dasa (1721-1769
* 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 (17 October 1785 – 11 October 1867)
* Guru Jambheshwar (1451–1536)
* 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

### J to L

* Jagannatha Dasa (c. 1490-1550] Odia Vaishnav poet and devotee
* Jagannatha Dasa (Kannada poet)
* Jaggi Vasudev (born 3 September 1957)
* Jalaram Bapa (4 November 1799 23 February 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)
* 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)
* Kirpal Singh (c. 1894–1974) (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission)
* Kirupanandha Variyar (25 August 1906 – 7 November 1993)
* Kripalu Maharaj (5 October 1922 – 15 November 2013)
* Krishna Prem (1898–1965)
* Krishnadasa Kaviraja (born 1496)
* Krishnananda Saraswati (25 April 1922 – 23 November 2001)
* Lahiri Mahasaya (Shyamacharan Lahiri) (30 September 1828 – 26 September 1895)
* Lakshman Joo (9 May 1907 – 27 September 1991), modern scholar of Kashmiri Shaivism
* Lakshmanananda Saraswati (1926 – 23 August 2008)
* Lalleshwari (c.1320 – 1392), Kashmiri literature

### M to O

* 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
* Meher Baba (25 February 1894 – 31 January 1969)
* 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)
* Murugan Chillayah (born 22 November 1978)
* Muthuswami Dikshitar (24 March 1776 – 21 October 1835)
* Namdev (c. 1270 – c. 1350)
* Narahari Tirtha
* 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)
* 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. 7th 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)
* Nischalananda Saraswati (born 30 June 1943 145th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan Math)
* Nityananda Prabhu (born 1474)
* Om Swami (born 1979)

### P to R

* Padmanabha Tirtha
* Panth Maharaj (3 September 1855 – 16 October 1905)
* Paramahansa Yogananda (5 January 1893 – 7 March 1952)
* Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, also known as chariji (24 July 1927 – 20 December 2014)
* 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)
* Premanand Ji Maharaj, Radhavallabh Sampradaya, Vrindavan (born 30 March 1969)
* Purandara Dasa (c. 1484 – c. 1565)
* Puran Puri (born 1742)
* Rambhadracharya (born 14 January 1950)
* Ramdas Kathiababa (early 24 July 1800 – 8 February 1909)
* Ramdev Pir (1352–1385 AD)
* 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 Spirituality)
* Rakeshprasad (born 23 July 1966)
* Rakesh Jhaveri (born 26 Sep 1966)
* Raghuttama Tirtha (1537 – 1596)
* Ram Chandra (Babuji) (30 April 1899 – 19 April 1983)
* 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), also known as 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)

### S to U

* Siyaram Baba(1914 – 11 December 2024)
* Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj (1951–present)
* Sahadeo Tiwari (1892–1972)
* Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838–1918)
* Samarth Ramdas (1608–1681)
* Samyamindra Thirtha
* 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
* Sarada Devi (22 December 1853 – 20 July 1920)
* Satchidananda Saraswati (22 December 1914 – 19 August 2002)
* Sathya Sai Baba (23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011)
* Satnarayan Maharaj (born 1931), Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and son-in-law of Bhadase Sagan Maraj
* Satsvarupa dasa Goswami (born 6 December 1939)
* Satyadhyana Tirtha A great mystic
* Satyasandha Tirtha Dvaita philosopher
* Satyanatha Tirtha
* Satyavrata Tirtha
* Satyapriya Tirtha
* Satyanidhi Tirtha
* Satyasandha Tirtha
* Satyadharma Tirtha
* Satya Narayan Goenka (30 January 1924 – 29 September 2013)
* Satyananda Saraswati (25 December 1923 – 5 December 2009)
* Satyapramoda Tirtha (1918–1997)
* Satyatma Tirtha (born 1973)
* Shaunaka,
* Seshadri Swamigal (22 January 1870 – 4 January 1929)
* Shastriji Maharaj (31 January 1865 – 10 May 1951)
* Shivabalayogi (24 January 1935 – 28 March 1994)
* Shreedhar Swami (7 December 1908 – 19 April 1973)
* Shrimad Rajchandra (11 November 1867 – 9 April 1901)
* Shripad Shri Vallabha
* Shrivatsa Goswami (27 October 1950 – present
* Shyama Shastri (26 April 1762 – 6 February 1982)
* Sitaramdas Omkarnath (17 February 1892 – 6 December 1827)
* 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 Madhukarnath (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 Prakashanand Saraswati (born 15 January 1929 – )
* 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)
* Trailanga (1607 – 1887)
* Tukaram (c. 1608 – 1649)
* Tulsidas (1532 – 1623), also known as Goswami Tulsidas
* Tyagaraja (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847)
* Upasni Maharaj (15 May 1870 – 24 December 1941)
* Uppaluri Gopala Krishnamurti (9 July 1918 – 22 March 2007)
* Utpaladeva (ca. 900–950), teacher of Kashmiri Shaivism

### V to X

* Vadiraja Tirtha (1480–1600)
* Vallabha (1479 – 1531)
* Valmiki (Ramayana)
* Vasistha (Rig Veda)
* Vasugupta (~ 800–850 CE), author of the Shiva Sutras in Kashmiri Shaivism
* Vedanta Desika, SriVaishnava Philosopher and Guru (c. 1268 – c. 1369)
* Vethathiri Maharishi (1911 - 2006) Indian yoga guru, philosopher and spiritual leader, Aliyar Tamilnadu State
* Vidyadheesh Teertha Swamiji
* Vidyaranya (c. 1268 – c. 1386)
* Vijayadasaru (1682-1755)
* Vijayindra Tirtha ( The guru of guru of Raghavendra Swami)
* Vishwananda (13 June 1980)
* Vishwesha Tirtha (1931 – 2019)
* Vyasatirtha (c. 1460 – 1539)

### Y to Z

* Yogaswami (1872 – March 1964)
* Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1 December 1918 – 20 February 2001)
* Yogiji Maharaj (23 May 1892 – 23 January 1971)
* Yukteswar Giri (10 May 1855 – 9 March 1936)