List of Hindu Gurus and Saints

According to 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, Kabir,

“If all the land were turned to paper and all the seas turned to ink, and all the forests into pens to write with, they would still not suffice to describe the greatness of the guru.”

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

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ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPRS TUVY

Names of Hindu Gurus and Saints A to Z

The title of Hindu Guru or Saint can be achieved via Diksha, a standard initiation process, in which they receive a sacred Sanskrit phrase referred to as mantra.

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with A

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSeptember 1896 – 14 November 1977
Abhinavagupta950 – 1020
Adi Shankara788 – 820
Advaita Acharya1434–1539
Agastyar 
Akka Mahadevi1130 – 1160, Kannada literature
Alvar Saints700–1000
Anandamayi Ma30 April 1896 – 27 August 1982
Anasuya Devī also known as Jillellamudi Amma28 March 1923 – 12 June 1985
Andalc.767, Tamil literature
Anukulchandra Chakravarty, also known as Sree ThakurBorn 14 September 1888
Arunagirinathar15th Century A.D.
Avvaiyarc. 1st and 2nd century AD, Tamil literature
Ayya Vaikundar1809–1851
Great Saints of India beginning with A
List of Hindu Gurus and Saints
List of Hindu Gurus and Saints

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with B

Baba Hari Dass26 March 1923 – 25 September 2018
Bahinabai1628–1700), Marathi literature
Bamakhepa, or Bamakhyapa/ Bamdev Bhairav1837 – 1911
Basava1105 CE–1167 CE
Bhadase Sagan Maraj1920–1971, Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and politician, founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Dhanna JattBorn 1415
Bhagawan NityanandaNovember or December 1897 – 8 August 1961
Bhakti Charu Swami17 September 1945 – 4 July 2020
Bhakti Tirtha Swami25 February 1950 – 27 June 2005
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati6 February 1874 – 1 January 1937
Bhaktivinoda Thakur2 September 1838 – 23 June 1914
Bhaskararayac. 1690–1785
Bijoy Krishna Goswami2 August 1841 – 1899
Brahma Chaitanya, also known as Gondavalekar Maharaj1845–22 December 1913
Brahmanand Swami1772–1832
Brahmananda Saraswati20 December 1868 – 20 May 1953
Great Saints of India beginning with B

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with C

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534
Chandrashekarendra Saraswati20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994
Chandrashekhara Bharati III1892–1954
Charan Singh (Sant) (Radha Soami Sant Satguru)12 December 1916 – 1 June 1990
Chattampi Swamikalc. 1853–1924
Chaturbhuj Sahay3 November 1883 – 24 September 1957
Chinmayananda Saraswati8 May 1916 – 3 August 1993
Chokhamela14th century
Great Saints of India beginning with C

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with D

Dada Bhagwan, founder of Akram Vignan7 November 1908 – 2 January 1988
Damodardevc. 1488 – c. 1598
Darshan Singh (Sant Mat)1921–1989, founder of Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission
Dayananda SaraswatiÄrsha Vidya – 15 August 1930 – 24 September 2015
Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj12 February 1824 – 30 October 1883
Dnyaneshwar1275–1296
Dronamythohistorical
Great Saints of India beginning with D
List of Hindu Gurus
List of Hindu Gurus

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with E

Eknath 1533–1599
Eknath Easwaran 1910–1999
Great Saints of India beginning with E

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with G

Gagangiri Maharaj1906 – 4 February 2008
Gajanan Maharajc. mid-19th century
Ganapati Munic. 1878–c.1936
Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji1838–1915
Gnanananda Giric. early 19th century
Gopala Bhatta Goswami1503–1578
Gopala Krishna Goswamib. 14 August 1944
Gopalanand Swami1781–1852
Gopi Krishna (yogi)1903–1984
Gora Kumbharc. 1267–c.1317
Gorakhnathc. 10th or 11th century
Gulabrao Maharaj6 July 1881 – 20 September 1915
Gunatitanand Swami17 October 1785 – 11 October 1867
Gurinder SinghRadha Soami Sant Satguru) (born 1 August 1954
Gurumayi Chidvilasanandaborn 24 June 1955
Great Saints of India beginning with G

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with H

Hans Ji Maharaj8 November 1900 – 18 July 1966
Haridasa Thakurb. 1451 or 1450
Hariharananda Giri, (Paramahamsa Hariharananda)27 May 1907 – 3 December 2002

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with I

Isaignaniyarc. 7th century, Tamil literature
Great Saints of India beginning with I

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with J

Jagannatha Dasa Babaji1776–1894
Jaggi VasudevBorn 3 September 1957
Jaimal SinghRadha Soami Sant Satguru) (July 1839 – 29 December 1903
Janabaic. 13th century), Marathi literature
Jayatirtha1345-1388
Jiddu Krishnamurti11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986
Jiva Goswamic. 1513–1598
Great Saints of India beginning with J
List of Hindu Saints
List of Hindu Saints

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with K

Kabir c. 15th century Indian saint and mystic
Kalki BhagwanBorn 1949
Kanakadasa1509–1609
Kanhopatrac. 15th century, Marathi literature
Kanwar Saheb 
Karaikkal Ammaiyarc. 6th century, Tamil literature
Khatkhate Baba1859–1930
Kirpal Singhc. 1894–1974 (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission)
Kripalu Maharaj5 October 1922 – 15 November 2013
Krishnadasa KavirajaBorn 1496
Krishnananda Saraswati25 April 1922 – 23 November 2001
Great Saints of India beginning with K

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with L

Lahiri Mahasaya, (Shyamacharan Lahiri) 30 September 1828 – 26 September 1895
Lakshmanananda Saraswati 1926 – 23 August 2008
Lalleshwari c.1320 – 1392, Kashmiri literature
Great Saints of India beginning with L

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with M

Madhavdevc. 1489 – c. 1596
Madhvacharyac. 1238 – 1317
Mahant Swami MaharajBorn 13 September 1933
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi12 January 1918 – 5 February 2008
Mahavatar BabajiMid-19th – mid 20th century
Mangayarkkarasiyarc. 7th century Tamil literature
Manik PrabhuNA
Master C. V. V.4 August 1868 – 12 May 1922
Mata Amritanandamayi27 September 1953
Matsyendranathc. 10th century
Mauni Babac. 20th century
Meerac. 1498 – c. 1547 Hindi literature
Mehi28 April 1885 – 8 June 1986
Mirra Alfassa21 February 1878 – 17 November 1973
Morari BapuBorn 25 September 1946
Mother MeeraBorn 26 December 1960
Muktabaic.1279 – 1297 Marathi literature
Muktanand Swami1758–1830
Muktananda16 May 1908 – 2 October 1982
Great Saints of India beginning with M

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with N

Namdevc. 1270 – c. 1350
Narasimha Saraswati1378–1459
Narayan Maharaj20 May 1885 – 3 September 1945
Narayana Guru, writer of Daiva Dasakamc. 1854 – 1928
Narayanprasaddasji Swami14 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 DasaBorn 1466
Narsinh Mehta1414–1481 also known as Narsi Mehta or Narsi Bhagat
Nayakanahatti Thipperudra Swamyc. 15th–c. 16th century) also known as Nayakanahatti Thippeswamy
Nayanmars Saints700–1000
Neem Karoli Babac. late 19th or early 20th century – 11 September 1973
Nigamananda Paramahansa18 August 1880 – 29 November 1935
Nimbarkac. 13th century or earlier
Niranjananandac. 1862 – 9 May 1904
Nirmala Srivastava, also known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi21 March 1923 – 23 February 2011
Nisargadatta Maharaj17 April 1897 – 8 September 1981
Nishkulanand Swami1766–1848
Nityananda PrabhuBorn 1474
Great Saints of India beginning with N

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with O

Om SwamiBorn 1979
OshoBorn 1931
Great Saints of India beginning with O

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with P

Panth Maharaj3 September 1855 – 16 October 1905
Paramahansa Yogananda5 January 1893 – 7 March 1952
Pattinatharc. 10th or 14th century AD
Pavhari Bababirth unknown – 1898
Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swamic. 17th century
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti21 May 1921 – 21 October 1990
Pramukh Swami Maharajb. 7 December 1921–13 August 2016
Pranavananda, also known as Yugacharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda Ji Maharaj29 January 1896 – 8 February 1941
Pranavanda Saraswati28 August 1908 – 28 August 1982
Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, Guru Maharaj Ji, and Balyogeshwarb. 10 December 1957
Purandara Dasa 
Great Saints of India beginning with P

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with R

Radhanath SwamiBorn 7 December 1950
Raghavendra Swami1595 – 1671
Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami1505–1579
Rajinder Singh – spiritual master20 September 1946. Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission, Founder of Science of Spirituality
Rakeshprasadb. 23 July 1966
Raghuttama Tirtha1537 – 1596
Ram Thakur2 February 1860 – 1 May 1949
Rama Tirtha22 October 1873 – 27 October 1906
Ramakrishna18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886 See Disciples
Ramalinga Swamigal5 October 1823 Disappeared on 30 January 1874 aka Vallalar
Ramana Maharshi30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950
Ramanujac. 1017 – c. 1137
Ramprasad Senc. 1718 or c. 1723 – c. 1775
Ravidas1398-1540
Rupa Goswami1489–1564
Great Saints of India beginning with R

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with S

Sahadeo Tiwari1892–1972
Sai Baba of Shirdi1838–1918
Samarth Ramdas1608–1681
Sanatana Goswami1488–1558
Sankardevc. 1449 – c. 1568
Sant Charandas1703–1782
Sant Nirmalac. 14th century Marathi literature
Sant Soyarabaic. 14th century Marathi literature
Satchidananda Saraswati22 December 1914 – 19 August 2002
Sathya Sai Baba23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011
Satnarayan Maharajborn 1931) is an Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and son-in-law of Bhadase Sagan Maraj
Satsvarupa dasa Goswamib. 6 December 1939
Satya Narayan Goenka30 January 1924 – 29 September 2013
Satyananda Giri17 November 1896 – 2 August 1971
Satyananda Saraswati25 December 1923 – 5 December 2009
Satyapramoda Tirtha1918-1997
Sawan Singh, Radha Soami Sant Satguru27 July 1858 – 2 April 1948
Seshadri Swamigal22 January 1870 – 4 January 1929
Shiv Dayal Singh also known as “Soamiji Maharaj”25 August 1818 – 15 June 1878
Shivabalayogi24 January 1935 – 28 March 1994
Shreedhar Swami7 December 1908 – 19 April 1973
Shripad Shri Vallabha 
Sitaramdas Omkarnath17 February 1892 – 6 December 1982
Sivananda Saraswati8 September 1887 – 14 July 1963
Sivaya Subramuniyaswami5 January 1927 – 12 November 2001
Soham Swamibirth unknown – 1918
Sopanc. 13th century
Sri Aurobindo15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950
Sripadarajac. 1422 – 1480
Sri Chinmoy27 August 1931 – 11 October 2007
Sri MBorn 06 November 1948
Sri Ravi ShankarBorn 1956
Sudhanshu Ji MaharajBorn May 1955
Surdasc. late 15th-century
Swami Abhedananda2 October 1866 – 8 September 1939
Swami Bhoomananda Tirthaborn 13 May 1933
Swami Chidbhavananda11 March 1898 – 16 November 1985
Swami JanakanandaBorn 13 June 1939
Swami Keshwanand Satyarthiborn 5 September 1943, Paramhans Satyarthi Mission, Advait Mat
Swami NithyanandaBorn 1 January 1978 or 13 March 1977
Swami PurnachaitanyaBorn 1984
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri1855–1936
Swami Rama1925–1996
Swami Ramanandc. 1738 – c. 1802
Swami Ramdas10 April 1884 – 25 July 1963
Swami Samarth 
Swami Vivekananda12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902
Swaminarayan3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830
Swarupanand1 February 1884 – 9 April 1936 part of Advait Mat lineage
Swarupananda8 July 1871 – 27 June 1906
Great Saints of India beginning with S

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with T

TibbetibabaBirth unknown – 19 November 1930
Trailanga1607–1887
Tukaramc. 1608 – 1649
Tulsidas1532–1623 also known as Goswami Tulsidas
Great Saints of India beginning with T

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with U

Upasni Maharaj15 May 1870 – 24 December 1941
Uppaluri Gopala Krishnamurti9 July 1918 – 22 March 2007
Great Saints of India beginning with U

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with V

Vallabha Acharya1479 – 1531
Vadiraja Tirtha1480-1600
Vethathiri Maharishi14 August 1911 – 28 March 2006
Vidyaranyac. 1268 – c. 1386
Vishuddhananda Paramahansa14 March 1853 – 14 July 1937
Vishwesha Tirtha1931-2019
Vyasatirthac. 1460 – 1539
Great Saints of India beginning with V

List of Hindu Gurus and Saints Beginning with Y

Yogaswami1872 – March 1964
Yogi Ramsuratkumar1 December 1918 – 20 February 2001
Yogiji Maharaj 
Yukteswar Giri10 May 1855 – 9 March 1936
Great Saints of India beginning with Y

FAQs (People Also Ask)

What is the difference between Guru and Sadguru?

Guru is referred to a teacher from whom we learn and gain knowledge. Sadguru is referred to as the “Only One”, also known as Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Sadguru is the guru in the highest order, he/she is the one that has achieved the highest order of divinity and remains completely immersed in it.

What is a Guru?

As per Hindu and Buddhist tradition, a guru is a spiritual leader and a teacher. The Guru Gita (verse 17) describes the guru as “dispeller of darkness” (from gu, “darkness” and ru, “that which dispels”).