॥ श्रीः ॥
Teachers
The lineage of ācāryas (guru-paramparā) who have preserved, practised, and transmitted the living wisdom of Advaita Vedānta through the ages.
Ādi Śaṅkarācārya
The foremost exponent of Advaita Vedānta - Śaṅkara consolidated the doctrine of non-duality, wrote definitive commentaries on the Prasthāna Traya, and established the monastic order that carries his tradition.
Appayya Dikshita
Appayya Dikshita (अप्पय्य दीक्षित) - the 16th-century polymath and Advaita philosopher - authored over 100 works, defended non-dualism against rival schools, and remains one of the most prolific and influential figures in Indian intellectual history.
Gauḍapāda
The teacher of Śaṅkara's teacher - Gauḍapāda's Kārikā on the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad is the earliest systematic exposition of Advaita Vedānta and a foundational text of the tradition.
Sant Jnaneshwar
Sant Jnaneshwar (संत ज्ञानेश्वर) - the 13th-century Marathi saint and yogi - wrote the Jnaneshwari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, at age sixteen. His life is a miracle of spiritual realization, literary genius, and compassion.
Madhusudana Sarasvati
Madhusudana Sarasvati (मधुसूदन सरस्वती) - the 16th-century philosopher-saint who reconciled Bhakti and Advaita, author of the masterpiece Advaitasiddhi and one of the greatest scholars of Vedanta.
Madhvacharya
Madhvacharya (मध्वाचार्य) - the 13th-century philosopher who founded Dvaita (Dualism) - argued for the eternal distinction between God, souls, and the world, challenging the non-dual interpretation of the Upanishads.
Mirabai
Mirabai (मीराबाई) - the 16th-century Rajput princess who renounced her kingdom for Krishna - is the most beloved of the Bhakti poet-saints. Her songs of longing and union with the dark Lord transcend all boundaries of creed and caste.
Padmapada
Padmapada (पद्मपाद) - the foremost disciple of Adi Shankaracharya, revered for his unwavering devotion, profound scholarship, and the legendary story of how his feet became lotuses.
Purandara Dasa
Purandara Dasa (पुरन्दरदास) - the 15th-century composer-saint and father of Karnatic music - composed thousands of devotional songs that blend Vedantic philosophy with simple, heartfelt devotion to Lord Krishna.
Sri Ramakrishna
Sri Ramakrishna (श्रीरामकृष्ण) - the 19th-century mystic of Dakshineswar - realized God through every path: Vedanta, Tantra, Islam, and Christianity. His life demonstrates that all religions lead to the same goal.
Ramanujacharya
Ramanujacharya (रामानुजाचार्य) - the 11th-century philosopher-saint who founded Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism) - reconciled personal devotion to God with the non-dual philosophy of the Upanishads.
Sadasiva Brahmendra
Sadasiva Brahmendra (सदाशिव ब्रह्मेन्द्र) - the 18th-century saint, composer, and Avadhuta - wandered the earth as a living embodiment of Advaita, composing some of the most beautiful devotional and philosophical songs in the tradition.
Sant Surdas
Sant Surdas (सन्त सूरदास) - the 16th-century blind poet-saint who saw the Lord with clearer vision than any sighted person - composed the Sur Sagar, a vast collection of devotional songs to Krishna that are the bedrock of North Indian bhakti.
Sureśvara
The direct disciple of Ādi Śaṅkara and the first maṭhādhipati of Sringeri - author of the Naiṣkarmya Siddhi and the most brilliant defender of Śaṅkara's Advaita among the immediate disciples.
Swami Ramdas
Swami Ramdas (स्वामी रामदास) - the 17th-century saint of Maharashtra - was a devotee of Rama who combined intense devotion with social service, inspiring the Maratha revival under Shivaji.
Sant Tulsidas
Sant Tulsidas (सन्त तुलसीदास) - the 16th-century poet-saint who composed the Ramcharitmanas, the epic Hindi retelling of the Ramayana. His life exemplifies devotion as the path to knowledge, and his works are the bedrock of Bhakti in North India.
Vachaspati Mishra
Vachaspati Mishra (वाचस्पति मिश्र) was a towering figure in Indian philosophy, author of the Bhamati commentary on Shankara's Brahma Sutra Bhashya and founder of the Bhamati school of Advaita.
Vidyaranya
Vidyaranya (विद्यारण्य) - the 14th-century sage, philosopher, and spiritual guide - was the author of the Panchadashi and one of the most influential figures in the revival of Advaita Vedanta in medieval India.
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda (स्वामी विवेकानन्द) - the chief disciple of Ramakrishna and the first global ambassador of Vedanta - brought Indian spirituality to the West with his famous address at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions.