Links to spiritual sites

Neem Karoli Baba or Neeb Karori Baba (नीम करोली बाबा) (died September 11, 1973, in Vrindavan, India), also known to followers as Maharaj-ji, was a devotee of Hanuman. He is known in the West as the spiritual teacher of Ram Dass and Bhagavan Das, and the musicians Krishna Das and Jai Uttal.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), Father of the Nation, was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He pioneered satyagraha - resistance to British tyranny through mass civil disobedience, based on principles of ahimsa, or total nonviolence.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, NE Tibet. At the age of 2, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has travelled to more than 67 countries spanning 6 continents and has received over 150 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. He has authored or co-authored more than 110 books.

Raychandbhai Ravajibhai Mehta (born November 9, 1867 in Vavania – April 9, 1901 in Rajkot), was a prominent Jain philosopher. He was a guide and one of Gandhiji's best friend. At the age of seven, he attained Jatismaran jnan (a recollection of several past lives).

Ramakrishna (February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886), was a famous mystic of 19th-century India. Born as Gadadhar Chattopadhyay in a poor Brahmin family, he became the priest of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Many believe him as an avatar or incarnation of God. Ramakrishna also experimented with other religions, notably Islam and Christianity. His chief disciple, Swami Vivekananda established Ramakrishna Mission.

Sri Ramana Maharshi (December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950), was born Venkataraman Iyer to a Tamil-speaking Brahmin family in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu. After having attained liberation at the age of 16, he left home for Arunachala mountain at Tiruvannamalai, and lived there for the rest of his life. He advocated self-enquiry "Who am I?" as the path to self-realization.

Sri Aurobindo or Aurobindo Ghose (15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950) was an Indian freedom fighter, major Indian English poet, philosopher, and yogi. He joined the Independence movement (1905–10) and became one of its most important leaders, before turning to spirituality. He advocated a philosophy of human progress and spiritual evolution. His notable works includes Savitri.

Author of more than hundred books, Mahatma Shri Yogeshwarji (15 August 1921- 18 March 1984) was a self-realized saint, an accomplished yogi, an excellent orator and an above par spiritual poet and writer. His literary work includes his autobiography in Gujarati (Prakash na Panthe), Gujarati translation of Bhagavad Gita, Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, Shivmahimna Stotra, Vishnu Sahasranama, and ten upanishadas; authoritative tratise on Bhagavad Gita, Yog Sutras of Patanjali, Ten Upanishadas and Brahma Sutra; Principle stories of Mahabharat and Srimad Bhagavat in Gujarati; besides collection of articles, letters, bhajans, novels and inspirational incidents.

Paramahansa Yogananda (January 5, 1893–March 7, 1952), born Mukunda Lal Ghosh, was an Indian yogi who introduced many westerners to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his book, "Autobiography of a Yogi". He established Self-realization Fellowship.

Swami Ramdas (1884-1963), born Vittal Rao in Kerala, India in was a philosopher, and spiritual master. He gave up worldly possessions at a young age, and became a wandering monk. Later, his devotees established Anandashram for him in Kanhangad, Kerala in 1931. The ashram continues to share his vision of Universal Love and Service.

Swami Vivekananda (January 12, 1863–July 4, 1902), born Narendranath Dutta was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the founder of Ramakrishna Mission. He is considered to be a major force in the revival of Hinduism in modern India. He is best known for his inspiring speech through which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions at Chicago in 1893.

Sri Anandamayi Maa or Anandamoyi Maa (30 April 1896 - 27 August 1982), born Nirmala Sundari, was a woman saint from Bengal. She was hailed as one of the prominent mystics of the 20th century. At the age of 13, she was married to Ramani Mohan Chakravarty, later known as Bholanath/Pitaji. She got self initiation and experienced state of Samadhi. She left her body at Kishenpur, Dehradun Ashram.

Pujya Shree Mota (September 4, 1898-July 23-1976), born Chunilal Asharam Bhavsar, was a spiritual leader who established Hari Om Ashram or maun mandir (temple of silence) in Nadiad, Surat and Kumbhkonam in India.

Swami Sivananda Saraswati (September 8, 1887—July 14, 1963), born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, was a well known proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. He studied medicine and served as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism. He is the founder of The Divine Life Society (1936), Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, vedanta etc. He established Sivananda Ashram, the location of the headquarters of The Divine Life Society (DLS), on the bank of the Ganges near Rishikesh

Shastri Nārayanswarupdas (7 December, 1921 - 13 August 2016), commonly known as Pramukh Swāmi Maharaj, was spiritual head and the fifth successor of the Bochanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS). He is credited as being the inspirer of the Swaminarayan Akshardham cultural complexes in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, Gujarat and numerous traditionally built stone temples across the world.

Sai Baba of Shirdi (1830s – October 15, 1918), also known as Shirdi Sai Baba, was a yogi and fakir who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim devotees as a saint. Sai Baba lived in a mosque called Dwarakamayi, practiced Hindu and Muslim rituals, and was buried in a Hindu temple in Shirdi. One of his well known epigrams include "Sabka Malik Ek" (One God governs all) and "Allah Malik" (God is Master).

Rang Avadhoot Maharaj, (Nov 21, 1898 - Nov 19, 1968) born Panduranga Vitthala Valame in Godhra, India. He served for a short period as a teacher. 1925 onwards, he began living at Nareshwar on the bank of the Holy River Narmada for penance and realized the ultimate truth. He stayed with his mother, Rukmamba, guided many on spiritual path, inspired social and religious activities, and removed miseries of people - mental and physical alike.

Swāmī Rāma (1925 – 1996), born Brij Kishore Kumar, to a Northern Indian Brahmin family in Toli, Garhwal. He was raised by his master Bengali Baba. He traveled extensively in Himalayas and studied from a variety of saints and sages. From 1949 to 1952 held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham. He was encouraged by his teacher to go to the West where he spent a considerable portion of his life teaching, specifically in the United States and Europe.

Morari Bapu (born Sept 25, 1946) is a well known kathakar and proponent of Ramcharitmanas. He is born in Talgajarda near Mahuva, Gujarat. His grandfather, Tribhovandasji was a great Ram Bhakta, who taught him Ramcharitmanas at an early age. Morari Bapu has started his career as a primary school teacher and worked for several years, side by side he was doing Ram Kathas.

Swami Muktananda (May 16, 1908-October 2, 1982), born Krishna near Mangalore in Karnataka State, was disciple of Bhagavan Nityananda. He wrote a number of books on the subjects of Kundalini Shakti, Vedanta, and Kashmir Shaivism, including an autobiography entitled The Play of Consciousness. In 1947 Muktananda went to Ganeshpuri to receive the darshan of Bhagavan Nityananda, where he received shaktipat initiation from him.

Santram Maharaj was a great Saint of the Avadhoot category. He came to Nadiad from Girnar, so he was also called Girnari Bava, Videhi Bava, or Sukha-Sagarji. He came here in Samvat 1872, lived for the spiritual good of People for the 15 years, and took Jivat-Samadhi on the full-moon-day of the month Magha of Samvat 1887. He established Santram Temple at Nadiad.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23, 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. He has established ashram at Prasanthi Nilayam. He has inspired numerous service projects, like free hospitals, free schools and colleges, free drinking water supply, free housing etc displaying His selfless love and compassion for the needy and less privileged.

Swami Sacchidanand is a karmayogi sant, an eminent thinker and a preacher of Universal truth. He is a social reformer, a humanitarian, a philosopher and a welfare activist. He has written many books and has been awarded by the Gujarat Sahitya Academy and Gujarat Sahitya Parishad for his autobiography "Mara Anubhavo". He has established Bhakti Niketan Ashram at Dantali in Gujarat.