10 Most Famous Spiritual Gurus of India – India is full of spiritual Guru, this is very difficult to find out Most famous spiritual gurus. but we are trying to list out the most famous Gurus let’s begin.
India has always been a melting pot of diverse races, religions, cultures, and civilizations where people have lived in harmony. The country has been the birthplace of multiple religions including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism as well as numerous spiritual gurus.
A spiritual guru also referred to as a saint, maharishi or sage (and many other names) is a transcendental being.
From the prehistoric era up to the present age, India has witnessed the birth of gurus, yogis, monks, and spiritual leaders who’ve had a profound influence on the masses.
In this blog we’ll take a close look at some of the most popular and celebrated spiritual gurus who brought about an irreversible change in the way common people lived.
List of 10 Most Famous Spiritual Gurus of India
| Name | Born on | Passed Away On | Lifetime Achievement |
| Gautama Buddha | c. 563 BCE | c. 483 BCE | Pioneer Buddhism |
| Mahavira Bardhaman | c. 599 BCE | c. 527 BCE | Founded Jainism |
| Adi Shankaracharya | c. 700 CE | c. 750 CE | Interpreted Advaita Vedanta in a pioneering manner |
| Chaitnanya Mahaprabhu | 18.02.1486 | 14.06.1534 | Preached Gaudiya Vaishnavism; founded Achintya Bheda Abheda and Gaudiya Vaishnavism |
| Ramanuja | 25.04.1017 CE | 1137 CE | Pioneering proponent of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta |
| Ramakrishna Paramhansa | `18.02.1836 | 16.08.1886 | Established the Ramakrishna Order; expounded Tantra, Bhakti Yoga, and Advaita Vedanta |
| Swami Vivekananda | 12.01.1863 | 04.07.1902 | Contributed to making Hinduism a key world religion; founded Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math |
| Mother Teresa | 26.08.1910 | 05.09.1997 | Set up the Missionaries of Charity; won Nobel Peace Prize in 1979; was canonized as a saint on 04.09.2016 |
| Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev | 03.09.57 | Live and working to save soil | Advocate of spirituality; founded Isha Foundation in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) |
| Kabir | 1398 A.D. | 1518 A.D. | Influenced Bhakti Movement |
- Gautama Buddha
Born as Siddhartha, and known by many other names, Gautama Buddha was a spiritual master and ascetic who founded Buddhism. He was deeply influenced and stirred when he witnessed an old man, a corpse, and an ascetic at a very young age.
He denounced familial life at the age of 29 and meditated for several years before attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree which still exists at Bodh Gaya.
His philosophy and teachings have inspired countless individuals throughout the world and still continue to.
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- Mahavira Vardhaman
The 24th and the last Jain Tirthankar Mahavira Vardhaman was born in a regal Kshatriya (a caste of Hinduism) in 6th century BC in Vaishali, Bihar.
Mahavira gave up his imperial life and left his home and hearth to live life as an ascetic and attain enlightenment. After rigorously self-punishing himself for 12 years, he is said to have attained ‘Kevala Gyana’ or infinite wisdom.
- Adi Shankara or Adi Shankaracharya
Adi Shankara is also known as Adi Shankaracharya was a 8th-century Indian Hindu philosopher, acharya (teacher), and Vedic scholar. He is best known for consolidating and reinforcing the Advaita Vedanta doctrine in Hindu philosophy. Adi Shankara became famous largely posthumously, and more than 300 scriptures and texts are credited to him.
However, only some of his alleged works are regarded as authentic, including his observations on Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Upadesasahasri, and Brahmasutrabhasya.
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
A 15th-century Indian Hindu spiritualist, seer, and diviner, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a diehard Krishna devotee, who deeply influenced Bengali Vaishnavism.
His disciples regarded him as the joint incarnation of Krishna and Radha who spread the message of divine love through ‘kirtans’ and ‘bhajans’. He was the chief exponent of ‘Achintya Bheda Abheda Tattva’- a distinct school of Vedantic philosophy.
5. Ramanuja
A distinguished Hindu social reformer, spiritual guru, and philosopher in 11th-century India, Ramanuja is considered to be the most well-known advocate of Sri Vaishnavism.
Sri Vaishnavism is a religious tenet included and integrated within Hinduism, and the precept is associated with the Hindu Goddess of Wealth-Lakshmi. His philosophical beliefs and devotional ideas greatly influenced the Bhakti Movement that developed in the 15th century in eastern and northern India.
6. Ramakrishna Paramhansa
Ramakrishna Paramhansa born on 18th February, 1836 in West Bengal’s Hooghly district was the most renowned saint of 19th-century India. He became extremely devoted to Kali, a Hindu goddess from an early age and remained loyal towards the deity throughout his life. He dallied with various aspects of Islam and Christianity and also delved into sundry elements of Advaita Vedanta, Vaishnav Bhakti, and Tantra.
His followers regarded him to be a divine incarnation of Lord Shiva, and he is credited with finding the Ramakrishna Order.
7. Swami Vivekananda
Born as Narendranath Datta in Kolkata on 12th January 1863, Swami Vivekananda was a noted philosopher, writer, and Hindu monk. Swami Vivekananda was the favorite acolyte of the 19th century Hindu sage and spiritualist Ramakrishna, on whom occidental esotericism had a huge impact. He played a major role in introducing Yoga, Vedanta, and Indian philosophy to the West, and was singularly responsible for uplifting the status of Hinduism globally.
Swami Vivekananda is allegedly best remembered for his stirring and poignant address that he delivered at the ‘Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893.
8. Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa, an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic missionary and nun is best known and remembered for establishing the Missionaries of Charity. A Roman Catholic institution, the Missionaries of Charity has chapters in more than 133 countries, and over 7,000 nuns. Mother Teresa worked selflessly and tirelessly throughout her life for the upliftment of the poor and needy, and the marginalized sections of the society.
She was canonized as ‘Saint Teresa of Calcutta’ by Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City on 04.09.2016.
9. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
“Jaggi” Jagadish Vasudev, popularly called ‘Sadhguru is one of the leading Indian spiritual gurus who set up the Isha Foundation. He started his career as a poultry farmer and also dabbled in real-estate but eventually began offering yoga lessons and expounded spirituality. Sadhguru travelled extensively throughout Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to conduct yoga sessions, and instituted Isha Foundation in 1992 in Coimbatore.
He is a recognized speaker having addressed several international forums and has also penned several books on spirituality and meditation. He was conferred the 2nd-highest Indian civilian award-Padma Vibushan in 2017 as a recognition of his contributions to social welfare and development.
10. Kabir Das
A 15th century saint and mystic poet, Kabir Das has had a far-reaching influence on the Bhakti cult-a key Hindu renaissance movement. Kabir’s writings and oeuvres also contributed hugely to the emergence and evolution of Sikhism. The chief holy religious scriptures of Sikhs-Guru Granth Sahib and the Satguru Granth Sahib scripted by Guru Garib Das contain numerous dohas (poetic verses) of Kabir.
Kabir was equally revered and held in high esteem by both Hindus and Muslims. It is said that after Kabir died, Hindus, as well as Muslims lay claim to his body-the Hindus, wanted to cremate him and the Muslims wanted to bury him. However, miraculously his body turned into flowers, half of which were claimed by Hindus and the other half by Muslims.
FAQs
According to Hindu philosophy, a spiritual guru or a maharishi is a spiritual guide and religious teacher, acknowledged as such by the masses. “Guru” is basically a Sanskrit term meaning ‘master, guide, mentor or expert’ and refers to someone who has specialized knowledge in a particular field.
Spirituality is the realization of the feeling that there’s a being within you which is extracorporeal, and which exists beyond your sensory experience.
A guru is essentially a spiritual leader who guides his disciples, acolytes, and followers and helps them to realize the true purpose of one’s existence.
It is indeed very difficult to become a spiritualist in the true sense of the word or expression. One has to be extremely disciplined, dedicated, and focused, and practice sadhana in order to become enlightened. India has had numerous authentic and legitimate saints and seers who were adored by the masses and also had its fair share of god-men with feet of clay.