Gurus and Saints of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Hinduism

Gurus and Saints

Following is the list of some of the most noteworthy Gurus and Saints of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Hinduism.

List of Vedic Sages

1. Maharshi Valmiki - Maharshi Valmiki was a great sage who wrote the epic Ramayana in Sanskrit which consists of 24k verses and 7 cantos including the Uttara canto.
2. Maharishi Dadhichi - Rishi Dadhichi is regarded as one of the most revered and significant sages described in the Hindu scriptures. For the welfare of the world, Rishi Dadhichi selflessly donated his own bones, which were later used to create the divine weapon Vajra to destroy the demon Vritrasura.
3. Maharishi Parashara - Rishi Parashara is known in Hindu tradition as the author of the Parashara Dharma Samhita and Vrikshayurveda. He was a renowned seer of sacred Mantras, an expert in scriptures and one of the principal composers of Smriti texts.

Prominent Gurus and Saints

Brief Information about some of the most noteworthy Gurus and Saints of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Hinduism is given below -

1. Shankaracharya - Adi Shankara (788-820 C.E.), along with Madhva and Ramanuja, was instrumental in the revival of Hinduism.
2. Ramanuja - Shri Ramanuja Acharya (1017-1137 C.E.) was great Hindu philosopher and thinker. He is the most venerated Acharya in the philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism.
3. Madhvacharya - Shri Madhvacharya (1238-1317 C.E.) was the proponent of Dvaita Vedanta which is also known as Tattvavada - the Philosophy of Reality.
4. Mahavir - Mahavir (599-527 B.C.), also known as Vardhamana, established core tenets of Jainism. Mahavir was the 24^th and the last Jain sage.
5. Gautama Buddha - Gautama Buddha (563-483 B.C.) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.
6. Vallabhacharya - Vallabhacharya (1479-1531 C.E.) was a devotional philosopher, who founded the Pushti sect in India.
7. Tulsidas - Tulsidas (1497-1623 C.E.) was a Hindu saint and the poet. Tulsidas is renowned for his great devotion towards Lord Rama.
8. Guru Ravidas - Guru Ravidas (1377-1527 C.E.) was a famous saint of the Bhakti Movement.
9. Sant Kabirdas - Sant Kabirdas (1440-1518 circa) was a famous poet, saint and social reformer of India.
10. Kavi Surdas - Surdas (1478-1581 C.E.) was a great poet and musician known for his devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna.
11. Meerabai - Meerabai (1498-1547 circa) was a great Hindu poet and ardent devotee of Lord Krishna.
12. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 C.E.) was a great spiritual teacher and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are known as Gaudiya Vaishnava(s).
13. Jhulelal - Jhulelal Jayanti day is celebrated as Cheti Chand by Sindhi people of Pakistan and India and it is celebrated one day after Ugadi.
14. Tailang Swami - Tailang Swami (1607-1887 C.E.) was a great Hindu Yogi who has divine powers.
15. Ramakrishna Paramhansa - Ramakrishna (1836-1886 C.E.) was a famous Saint in the 19^th century India.
16. Guru Nanak - Guru Nanak (1469-1539 C.E.) was the founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of the Sikh Gurus.
17. Guru Gobind Singh - Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708 C.E.) was the tenth Guru out of total eleven Sikh Gurus.