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

• Baba Keenaram (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.
• 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 ).
• Brahma Chaitanya, a saint of Gondawali who was a great devotee of Rama.
• Chaitanya (1486–1534), a famous Bengali Saint known for his ecstatic devotion to Krishna.
• Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (1894–1994) Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Revered by many as an avatara of Adi Sankara.
• Sankardeva (1449–1568) a saint-scholar, playwright, social-religious reformer, a figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam, India.
• 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
• Sant Dnyaneshwar
• Sant Ramdas
• Sant Tulasidas
• 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.
• Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati
• Swami Krishnananda
• Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi
• Swami Sivananda
• Tibbetibaba was a great saint whose life was based on both Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana principles.
• Tukaram was a great saint who was believed to have performed miracles and was a devotee of Krishna.
• 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.
• 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.

See also

• Sant
• List of Hindu gurus and saints