Indian Masters
(market / sangha mainly in India)
|
Swami Advaitananda*
M b1960ish Advaita Vedanta, Brahma Vidya Ashrama near Pune, Chinmayananda Sant Ajaib Singh Ji M 1926-1997 Kirpal Singh successor Swami Akhandanand Saraswati M 1911-1987 devotional type, scholar of Bhakti and Vedanta, Shri Udiyababa ji Maharaj Amma* F b1947 aka Srimad Sai Rajarajeshwari, avatar waited until 50 to declare self Shakti to S Sai Baba's Shiva. "The divine leelas are very nuptial." Anandamayi Ma F 1896-1981, trance states, speaking in tongues, widely respected. Now has her own site. TALES Mother Anasuya Devi* F 1923-1985 aka Amma, the Jillellamudi Mother, advaita who also inspired devotion. " 'I' does not signify Anasuya; it is the 'I' appearing as all." Aniljee M b1948 aka Anil Bharatey, Mumbai "Ex-Bank Manager, Industrialist businessman, expert in science of spirituality, Ayurveda and many other occult sciences," org = the unfortunate acronym SUGWAY, Society for Understanding God Within and Around You, Nana Maharaj Taranekar (Indore), Hon. Khapti Maharaj Aniruddha Bapu** M b1956 aka A Joshi MD based in Mumbai with Ayurveda epiphany, long-time Shirdi Sai Baba devotee who inquired about SSB's relics, inquiry taken as evidence of reincarnation, which he humbly denies. Many devotees, no website save unprepossessing MSN group Annada Thakur M 1886-1921 aka Annada Charan Bhattacharya inspired by visions of Mother Kali and Ramakrishna Annamalai Swami M 1906-1995 aka Sella Perumal, Ramana, regarded as the real deal, but his being "succeeded by Tuli Baba" apparently my misunderstanding Swami Anubhavananda* M b 1946ish no bio-info based in Lonavala but travels, "Be Happy, Inc," "A happy person alone is a creative force and so – Be Happy!" includes yoga and plenty of scriptural background Sree Archanapuri Ma F b1928 musician, multi-author, "Mahaskanya" of Sree Thakur Satyananda Raja-Yogi Swami Ashanand M b1950ish "Swamiji's Cosmic Energy Vibration Treatment" + yogic powers cure all! No physical location Swami Atmachaithanya M b1964 Kerala, darshans at age 10, service, bhajans, homeopathy, 1 month/year in London Bhagavan Sri Atmananda* M b1950ish no personal info, based in Tiruvannamalai, visits Nevada, Gita commentator, was Swami Sri A, Mahesh Yogi history Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmananda Saraswati M b1955ish Advaita Vedanta + technophile/science backgound, Vedanta Ashram in Indore (MP) lots of different programs, Swami Chinmayananda. New URL Aum Amma F b1956ish Tiru-based from Kerala no biodata, site mainly pics, "The Aum (Om) symbol appears naturally from the forehead of AUM AMMA" Bhagawan Sri Balasai Baba M b1960ish Sathya Sai Baba wannabe, "Inculcate Right Mental Attitude (RMA)," with "Laya Yoga . . . sufficient quanta of a particular thought value" HH Brahmarishi Barfani Dadaji* M ?ish aka Hari Dutt Dubey long time in Himalayas then "in 1930, the Dadaji relinquished his old body and attained a new one through Kayakalp Vidya," left after Chinese invasion for Amarkantak, source of the Narmada. New URL The Bauls* A class of non-sectarian celebrator poet-musicians drunk on the divine, based in Bengal, popularized by Rabindranath Tagore, some having recordings available in West. See also Shri Anirvan* (1896-1978 eclectic Baul saint and translator) SR Bhaaskharan * M b1969 aka Sre Kagabujandar, Supreme Preceptor of the Universe, "serving as a Civil engineer, Nadi Astrologer, Dream Astrologer, Numerologer, Vaasthu Astrologer and writer of Tamil Literatures etc." Financed by lottery win Bhagat Hans Raj Ji M b 1916 aka Pita Ji, guru was Shri Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaj Sathguru Sadasiva Bramendra M ?ish, possibly aka Gnanigal based in Chennai, org = Gnanacheri. Hodgepodge of unclear history and philosophy and who's who Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati M 1892-1954, Shankaracharya of Sringeri Swami Chandrasekharanand Saraswati* M b1930 many years study of Vedanta and Yoga + 25 years wandering mendicant, now based in Rishikesh, offers kundalini support and guidance, some outreach to US, Swami Bodhanand Saraswati Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal* M 1894-1994, Shankaracharya of Kanchi for all but 13 of those years, personal guru and official pontiff. Link has minibios of all Kanchi S'Acharyas, he is #68 Param Poojya Swami Chetananada Saraswati M b1948 realized at age 5, initiated by Nityananda at age 11 and Muktananda at age 28 Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj M b1955ish forest meditation from early age, then Sanskrit education. Charities, interfaith work, Hindu of the Year, Shukdevanand Trust, Rishikesh Sri Swami Chidananda Saraswati Maharaj M 1916-2008 aka Sridhar Rao service, saintly family, renunciation, yoga, inherited org from Sivananda Dadaji M 1906-1992 aka Amiya Roy Chowdhury, "You don't have to torture your mind or body to find God," devotional in methods, anti-guru in attitude, downloadable books. Sant Darshan Singh M 1921-1989, Kirpal Singh's son and successor, org now run by his son Rajinder Singh H H Śri Datta Swāmi M b1955ish aka Venugopala Krishna "leads a simple life" in AP, Chem PhD, pic photoshopped into iconic images, no org, cyber only, "Universal Spirituality for World Peace" Baba Faqir Chand M 1887-1977(?) aka Param Sant Param Dayal Faqir Chand Ji Maharaj, "Truth Always Wins" Param Poojya Swami Gagangiri Maharaj b1915ish Kolhapur MH sent to Nathsampradaya ashram at age 7, long penances + jungle austerities, still displays siddhis Gajanan Maharaj* M c1850-1910 yogi / avadhuta (naked wild & "crazy" saint) based in Shegaon (MH) origins unknown, had a dog to fetch his chillum, Narsing Baba, Akkalkot Swami Samarth et al Dada Gavand M b1917 (MH - Thane) aka Dattaram Madhavrao Gavand asa Gawand used to tour, now works with smaller groups, author, "Intuitive Intelligence." Bhagavan Sri Gnanananda M 1700ish?-1974! aka Subramanya hung with all the late 18th c greats, 50 years here, 60 there, larger than life but simple, "Be unattached but Do not run to the forest," Shri Swami Sivaratna Giri Sri Gopal Krishna Baba M b1951 with Sathya Sai Baba since childhood, org Ganga Kaveri Sangam. Site is annoying text-as-image format Pandit Gopi Krishna M author of classic "Kundalini: Path to Higher Consciousness." Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj no dates, unclear personal hagiography Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj M 1858-1948, guru of Kirpal Singh Hoshiarpur Masters Not an organised group, but all at one site, with pics and some vids and audio: Shabdanand, Lahori Pandit Ji, Lal Chand, KM Pardesi, SM Bharadwaj, Bassi Gulam Sant, "Station Master," Shoonyo Maharaj Negi, Nirmala Pandit Mataji, Pandit Dayal, Sita, Lakbir Singh, Bhargat Singh Maharaj Jagat Singh Ji M 1884-1951, Sant Mat branch, Hazur Maharaj, author of Science of the Soul Baba Jai Gurudeo* M b1930ish aka Param Sant Swami Tulsidas Ji Maharaj, Mathura (UP), Sant Mat proponent, "People of every country will have to learn HINDI language to understand spirituality," Swami Sant Ghurelalji Maharaj Swami Janananda Baba M 1893-1982, chief heir of Nityananda's Kanhangad operation Sri KagaPujandar* aka Ayya, "Send your questions to Sri KagaPujandar to bujandar@vsnl.com," cross-wired with SR Bhaaskharan (see above) Shree Kaka Maharaj M b1944 aka Ashok Kaka, lineage from Samarth, Lakshachandi Yadnya for 17 days in 1992 Param Pujya Kalavati Aai F 1908-1978 aka Kalavati Devi, bhakti, social upliftment, Belgaum, Siddharudha Swami Swami Keshabananda Brahmchari M 1830-?, Kriya yoga branch in Vrinadavan. Site has lots of Kriya lore Hon. Khapti Maharaj M 1890-2003 ( eastern MS), managed to get Gadge Baba to visit him twice despite busy schedules, succeeded by Aniljee above Shri Krishna Saraswati Swami M 1836-1900 aka Dattaswami incarnation of Dattatreya succeeded by Namdev Maharaj and Guruvarya Appa. Site has big bio Pujya Krishnabai F 1903-1989, aka Pujya Mataji, Ram Mantra: OM SRI RAM JAI RAM JAI JAI RAM, chief disciple of Swami Ramdas. Page is in French HH Sri Swami Krishnananda Saraswati Maharaj* M 1922-2001 successor of Sivananda. Site has complete books, lots of audio, video Lahiri Mahasaya M 1828-1895 aka Shyama Charan Lahiri, "grandfather" guru of P Yogananda Sri Lakshmana Swami M b1925 major disciple of Ramana realized in 1949, now mostly ret'd, affairs and darshans handled by "informally adopted daughter" Mathru Sri Sarada. New URL Mahayogi Baba Lokenath M 1730-1890 (!), naked sadhu for first 125, then settled down. Helped his own guru to become enlightened Madhobi Maa F b1954 aka Guru-Maa, knows everything, reads minds, astral travel, astrology, palmistry, etc Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandasji M 1878-1994, Kundalini Maha Yoga, est Dhyanyoga centers in US, heirs Shri Anandi Ma and Omdasji, Shri Parameshwardasji Manav Dayal M b1945ish, ret to US, ashram still in India (PB), Baba Faqir Chand Shri Rajendra Prasad Mishra* M b1969ish aka Pujya Guruji, in Raebareli UP moved from Allahabad 2008ish, 500+ centers across India. Site in Hindi only Pujya Morari Bapu b1946 GJ expounder of all things Ram, has centers around world but quite trad Hindu, endeared to animal-lovers by saving whale sharks from fisher nets Samartha Sadguru Shri Nana Maharaj Taranekar M 1896-1992/3 (Indore) aka Martand Shastri, "Extreme earnestness, immense sympathy and mercy for the suffering of mankind under the influence of nescience was an unparalleled and distinct quality," Dattawatar Wasudevanand Saraswati Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj M no dates, unclear personal hagiography Sadguru Sri Nannagaru* M b1934, dreamed of Ramana at 23, now spreads bhakti-style jnana in Andhra, TN Narayan Tirth M 1870-?, aka Kali Kishore, shaktipat Sri Sri Srimat Swami Narayan Tirthaji Maharaj M 1915-2001, ayurvedic ashrams in India and US, Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha Narayana Guru* 1854-1928 social and religious reformer, established many centers, HQ Kerala, succeeded by Nataraja Guru HDG Sri Srimad BV Narayana Maharaja* M b1921 one of many ISKCON heirs, via Kesava Gosvami -- said by some to be directly C(h)aitanya Mahaprabhu-derivative -- travels a lot, big, lots of disciples, centers all over, HQ in Mathura |
Narinder Singh Ji M ?-? excelled at worship, fixated on dust and feet, Baba Nand Singh Nataraja Guru* M 1895-1973 western-educated academic est Narayana Gurukula in honour of his guru, spread some to west Swami Nirmalananda M 1923-1997, "suicide" by fasting Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati* M 1923-1999 aka Jayachandran Panicker successor of Nataraja Guru Swami Nityananda Bhagwan M 1869?-1961, guru of Muktananda, Janananda and Sadanand, among others, long on testimonials of "four generations of devotees." Old site, non-Muktananda line, had long hagiographical history, now 403-ed. See also Muktananda line HH Dhyanyogi Sri Omdasji Maharaj* M b1962 aka Bhavendranath Jha based in GJ "acknowledged as Sidhpith Aadeshwar by the Saints of India," + Yogi Samrat + granted Certificate of Honor from San Francisco, guru was Madhusudandasji. Old site (omdasji.com) turned by disaffecteds into an Anti-site for a while, now gone Sri La Sri Swami Ongarananda no info, Pondicherry, "We are on the threshhold of the year 2000 AD. It has almost arrived and hastening towards 3000 AD." Sri Swami Prajnanpad* M 1891-1974 aka Yogeshvar Chatterjee, author, big in France. Site is in French Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj M b1921 fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan (GJ) big int'l org, social works, temples, dedicated from birth Swami Sai Premananda M b1972 Bhakti, "Love . . . will ultimately lead one to the state of inner freedom from the world and the play of the mind," guru is Sathya Sai Baba Pujya Prem Avadhoot Maharaj * M b1935ish aka Bapuji no bio-info, Rang Avadhoot. Page is an interview Swami Shri Punitachariji * M b1945ish aka Bapushri, ashram in Gujarat, wife runs operation in Rishikesh, mantra = Hari Om Tatsat Jai Guru Datta, guru Dattatreya Shri Purohit Swami* M 1882-1941 author of The Ten Principal Upanishads (collab with WB Yeats) + Autobiography of an Indian Monk, pioneer bringing Indian spirituality to west, Hamsa Swami Swami Radhamadhavananda Saraswati* M b1932ish school in Rishikesh?, pilgrimage story of ISKCON, Chinmaya, Chidananda Saraswati. Page a Yahoo profile :-) HH Gurudev Rahuleshwaranandji* M b1966 "made astounding progress in the spiritual field," founded Padmashri Siddhyog Pith, studied with Sacchidanandji, Mahavatar Babaji, Trijataji Dr N Rajgopal* b1955 (Bengalooru) big education, corporate consultancy, etc, now channels Babaji,, sells yantras, "the only person in the world ... with the divine guidance of his Divine Guru Mahavatar Sri Babaji," Babaji Sannidhan Trust, Dr PR Bhaskaran (¿same as SR Bhaaskaran, left column?). Site has some blank pages Param Pujya Paramhans Shri Swami Ram Baba M ?-? disciple of Shirdi Sai Baba Cambridge grad d 130 years old, site has others of interest Ram Bahadur Banjan* M Nepali b1990 asa Bomjon, aka Palden Dorje, "reincarnation of Buddha" was meditating 24/7 under tree fenced off but visible, then disappeared, now reappeared, etc Shri Ram Chandraji Maharaj M 1899-1983 aka Babuji non-renunciate, form of raja yoga called "pranahuti," guru also named RCM aka Lalaji HH Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Shri Rajiv Lochanacharyaji* M b1962, youngest J'guru (at age 36) since Adi Shankara, "divinity took its loots even before his birth," "sacrosanct system of 0m Kriya Yoga," Brahmarishi Barfani Dadaji, Mahavatar Babaji. New URL Swami Rama Tirtha M 1873-1906 aka Gossain Tirtha Rama, Papaji's uncle, past life(?), major saint though short-lived, poet. New URL Swami (Papa) Ramdas M 1884-1963, Ram Mantra Bhagwan Sri Yogi Ramsuratkumar * M 1918-2001 Busy graphics, Ram Nam mantra, service, bhakta, etc. "Remember the lord with any name," Swami Ramdas. See also mainly French site, which has a fair bit of English as well HH Rang Avadhoot Maharaj M 1898-1968 aka Paduranga Vitthal Valame, Pujya Bapji mainly a jungle saint (GJ), site has big bio, succeeded by Pujya Prem Avadhoot Maharaj Sri Sarada Devi F 1853-1925(?), wife of Ramakrishna, has her own devotees and website Mathru Sri Sarada(mma) F b1959 named for Ramakrishna's wife, "informally adopted daughter" of Sri Lakshmana Swami, detailed account of realization process in 1978, kept alive by him, now available (more than he) for devotees. New URL Maa Sarveshwari* F b1943 (GJ) "more than 21 years (since March 18th, 1984) without a single food grain," bhajan singer, organized the whole Shri Yogeshwarji ashram complex, charitable works, etc Pujya Swami Satchidananda M b1924ish aka Anantasivan, Nama Japa (Ram Mantra) Papa Ramdas heir Satpal Ji Maharaj* M b1951 aka Bal Bhagwan Ji, Indian politician, Guru Maharaji brother, org = Manav Dharam Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaj M 1861-?, author, Ram Naam devotional Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi M b1935, "Hindu of the Year" award, bhakti, service, some political struggles, Neelakanta Gurupadar Sree Thakur Satyananda Dev M 1902-1969, author, Ramakrishna lineage, Swami Abhedananda Sri Seshadri Swamigal* M 1870-1929 lived mostly at Tiruvannamalai, precursor, recognised Ramana, after 1929 purportedly channeled by mediums, now Sri S S Sriram Rev. Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya* M 1911-1990 "saint, spiritual scientist, yogi, philosopher, psychologist, writer, reformer, freedom fighter, researcher, eminent scholar and visionary" wrote 3000 books, initiated 24 lac in Gayatri Mantra, uplifted women, revered by millions, Swami Sarveshvaranandji Acharya Dr. Vagish Shastri M b1935ish "Vagyoga, a Tantric way to enlighten inner power," Sanskrit teacher, advisor of Muktananda, Mahesh Yogi, etc Shiva Bala Yogi M 1935-1994, specialty is "bhava samadhi," entering the body of disciple for transmission to others Shivapuri Baba M 1826-1963! aka Swami Govindanath Bharati awakened at 50 among first Indian masters to travel to West, three duties = right livelihood, truth-seeking and worship, bio by John G. Bennett, of Gurdjieff fame Shree Swami Shivkrupanandji M b1954 Indian Marketing Manager met "Shivbaba," who passed on total lifetime spiritual knowledge in one zap then died, "Samarpan meditation," many centers in west Swami Shivom Tirth M b1924 aka Shri Shivom Prakash poet, Shaktipat, kundalini, author of spiritual autobio Churning of the Heart, trilogy, Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj ParamPujya Pratahsamaraniya Gurudev Dr Narayan Dutt Shrimaliji M b1933 aka Paramhans Swami Nikhileshwaraanand astrology soc prez, author in many fields, + decades in Himalayan caves, mag = Mantra Tantra Yantra Vigyan Srimad Shuddhananda Brahmachari M b1949 renunciate monk, economist, "male Mother Teresa," Baba Lokenath Jadunath Sinha M 1892-1979, author Satguru Sri Sivananda Murthy* * M b1940ish no info, Ramana, Trailanga. "Site" is inactive blogspot last moved in 2005 Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja M 1895-1988 brother-disciple of Hare-Krishna founder Prabhupada, founded Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Goswami Prabhupada Siddha Yogi Sri Siva Shankar Baba M b1949 chemist, reincarnation of Adi Shankara, according to nadi leaves, walks on water, apparently no relation to Sri Siva, also a Tamil nadi wallah. Shri Ragahavendra Bhagwan Swaminarayan M 1781-1830 aka Ghanshyam, Neelakanth, Swami Sahajanand, Narayan Muni, left home as sadhu age 11, super teenage ascetic yogi, Ramanand Swami, worked to "uplift women" with education and against sati and female infanticide, though still into segregation Sri Swarupanand ji Maharaj M 1884-1936. Page is iconic pic only, part of Maharaj Ji site Sree Swami Tapovan Maharaj M 1889-1957 "monumental expression of an ideal Vedantic Teacher in the ancient Rishi tradition," "an amorous saint, a disciplined Vedantin, strict teacher, a compassionate mentor, and a poet," guru of Chinmayananda Sri Tathata M (Karnataka) b1942 aka Mahaswi, a Middle Way of seclusion and engagement, some traditional terminology, "I am not a Jnani or Yogi, nor a Guru either! I am only a channel of that primal truth" Totapuri M no bio, naked wandering monk famous for giving the final coup to Ramakrishna, page has that story in detail Upasani Baba Maharaj* M 1870-1941 aka Kashinath Govind Upasani, "successor" of Shirdi Sai Baba, influenced Meher Baba. New URL Vamaksepa M 1837-1911, "mad saint," constantly doing outrageous things, protected by goddess Tara Sri Vethathiri Maharishi M 1911-2006 (TN), worship, charity, duty, morality, "Kaya Kalpa Yoga," "Vethathiri Model of Unified Force" unifies science and religion Shri Swami Vidyanand Giri ji Maharaj M b1921 head of Kailas Ashram in R'kesh, Advaita Vedanta author Acharya Shri Vidyasagar* M b1946 digamber Jain Muni, ahimsa, cow protection, made Acharya in 72 by Acharya Gyansagar Swami Vishnu Tirth M 1895?-1969 aka Munilal Swami, author on Shaktipat stuff Viswa Yogi Viswamji M b1944, aka Viswanatha Sastri, "GURU of the Universe," miracles, etc HH Sri Sri Sri Guru Viswa Sphoorthi M b1941 Andhra, "transformed his mind to soul, soul to the Divine Soul, Divine Soul to the Universal soul and further to the Mother Nucleus - the origin of entire existence of the Universe." "Ability based viable liability yields reliable results." Swami Vivekanada M 1863-1902, one of first to bring Vedanta to the west, Ramakrishna Yogananda Maharaj M c1900-1959 aka Daya Shankar, Yogendra Vigyani, yoga and shaktipat, Swami Narayan Tirth Maharaj Sri Matha Yoganandamayi* * F b1953 aka Smt Banumathy, Amma, based in Chennai, service, bhakti, Sathguru Sadasiva Bramendra. Page is in French Satguru Siva Yogaswami M 1872-1964 Sri Lankan met guru at 33, intense sadhana, long service, attacked by his cow age 89, lineage to US via Gurudeva Shri Yogeshwarji* M 1921-1984 (GJ) "a self-realized saint, an accomplished yogi, an excellent orator and an above par spiritual poet and writer" (100+ books) succeeded by Maa Sarveshwari above Sri Yukteshwar Giri M 1855-1936, jnanavatar, Kriya yoga, Lahiri Mahasaya |
