Hindu saints

Saints are recognized in Hinduism although it does not require canonization or similar formal process to acknowledge a person as one. Generally a holy or saintly person is referred to as a mahatma, paramahamsa, or swami, or given the prefix Sri or Srila before their name.

The term "Sant" is derived from the Sanskrit sat (सद) (truth, reality) has overlapping usages, its root meaning being "one who knows the truth" or "one who has experienced Ultimate Reality". It differs from the false cognate "Saint" as it is often translated. The term Sant has taken on the more general ethical meaning of "good person", but is assigned specifically to the poet-sants of medieval India.

An incomplete list of Hindu saints

(In no particular order)

• Vallabhacharya, a great saint who was the follower of Vishnuswami Sampradaya (Vaishnavism). He proved the principle of "Shuddha Adwaita Brahmavada" meaning pure adwaita Brahmavada based on Veda. He showed the path of devotion to the world and taught that in this time of "Kaliyuga" self-less surrender to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna is the only thing a soul should do.
• Mahapurusha Sankardeva (1449–1568) (Assamese: মহাপুৰুষ শ্ৰীমন্ত শঙ্কৰেদৱ), saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer, is a colossal figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India. He is credited with providing a thread of unity to Assam straddling two major kingdoms (Ahom and Koch kingdoms), building on past literary activities to provide the bedrock of Assamese culture, and creating a religion that gave shape to a set of new values and social synthesis. The religion he started, Mahapuruxiya Dharma, was part of the Bhakti movement then raging in India, and he inspired bhakti in Assam just as Ramananda, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Basava and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired it elsewhere.
• Chaitanya (1486–1534), famous Bengali Saint known for his ecstatic devotion to Krishna.
• Baba Keenaramjee (1601–1770) Supposed to be the incarnation of lord Shiva. Born at Ramgarh village of Varanasi District. Lived for 170 years. His Taposthali (work place) Baba Keenaram Sthal, at Varanasi, regarded as the Headquarter and world fame pilgrim of Aghora.
• Yogananda (January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952), a modern day saint who brought the spiritual science of Kriya Yoga to the west, successfully disseminating eastern wisdom all over North America and Europe, and personally initiating many thousands of spiritual aspirants. Disciple of Sri Yukteswar Giri.
• Raghavendra Swami, one of the most famous Hindu saints was believed to have performed miracles during his lifetime and continues to bless his devotees. He espoused Vaishnavism monotheism (worship of Vishnu as Supreme God) and Dvaita philosophy.
• Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
• Shirdi Sai Baba (c. 1838 - October 15, 1918) was a Indian fakir/guru who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim followers as a saint, it is not clear if Sai baba was Hindu or Muslim.
• Bhagwan Ramji (1937–1992) A great saint and social reformer of 20th century. Born in 1937 at Gundi village of Bhojpur district of Bihar. Later at the little age of 9, he moved to Baba Keenaram Sthal ( Headquarter of Aghora ).
• Ramana Maharshi
• Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (Sage of Kanchi) (1894–1994) Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Revered by many as an avatara of Adi Sankara [1]
• Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth (around 1856 A.D) considered to be the Guru of Great Saints, supposed to be the direct manifestation of the supreme power—God.
• Sri Swami Jai Sathya, originally known as Sri Suryanarayana Jayanthi Kumaraswami of Chennai. Her Holiness is a Universal Avatar of God and seen in many form by Her followers including as Surya (Sun), Mother Durga, Mother Mary, Lord Vishnu.
• Tukaram was a great saint who was believed to have performed miracles and was a devotee of Krishna.
• Brahma Chaitanya, the saint of Gondawali who was a great devotee of Rama.
• Sant Shiri Nunuram Sahib (1898–1973), a great saint whose aashram is situated in Islamkot city of Sindh Province in Pakistan.[2]
• Tibbetibaba was a great saint whose life was based on both Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana principles.
• Shri Siddheshwar Maharaj of Solapur
• Nisargdatta Maharaj
• Sant Dnyaneshwar
• Sant Ramdas
• Sant Tulsidas
• Sant Gora Kumbhar
• Swami Krishnananda
• Swami Sivananda
• Neelakanta Gurupadar
• Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi
• Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati
• Swami Dayananda Saraswati

See also

• Sant
• List of Hindu gurus and saints