Great Monks of India

A monk is an individual who performs religious austerity by living ascetic lifestyle either on their own or in a group of several other monks. He decides to leave all the lavish lifestyle and accessories and dedicates themselves in the name of God.

India is a home to a large number of monks of diverse regions as it is a cultural country. In the following article, we have mentioned the well-known monks who were originated in India. Just have a glimpse of them:

Firstly, we have mentioned the 42 magnificent monks of ancient India through a single picture. All of these great monks were dated back to the era of 1950’s.

Front Row: Gautama Buddha | Shankaracharya | Guru Nanak Dev | Dhananjaydasji | Pranabanandaji Maharaj | Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati | Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa | Swami Vivekananda | Jalaram Bapa | Gambhiranathji | Balananda |

Second Row: Bhagwaan Mahaveer | Padmapadacharya | Bhakta Haridas | Sai Baba of Shirdi | Prabhu Nityananda | Kabir | Tulsidas | Ramanuja | Gorakshanath | Totapuri | Devraha Baba | Santadasji | 

Third Row: Madhusudana Saraswati | Vishuddhananda Paramhansa | Bijoy Krishna Goswami | Sri Aurobindo | Bishuddhananda Saraswati | Sri Ramana Maharshi | Sadhak Ramprasad | Sadhak Ramdev | Shyamacharan Lahiri | Ram Thakur | Prabhu Jagatbandhu | Bholagiri |

Fourth Row: Babaji Maharaj | Ramdas Kathia Baba | Trailanga Swami | Sri Bholanath | Baba Lokenath Brahmachari | Sri Ramakrishna |

Now we have mentioned the highlighted monks of India and these divine personalities are:

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), Mahavatar Babaji, Dayananda Saraswati (1930-2015), Satyananda Giri (1896-1971), Nigamananda Saraswati (1976-2011), Swami Anand (1887-1976), Vishwadeva Puri, Abhishiktananda (1910-1973), Yogi Adityanath, Bede Griffiths (1906-1993), Swami Ranganathananda (1908-2005), Kesi, Jambuvijaya (1923-2009), Prahlad Jani.

In another slot, we have compiled the name of all the religious people in Hinduism which comprises of gurus, saints, monks, yogis and spiritual masters.

Swami Abhedananda (2 October 1866 – 8 September 1939)

Abhinavagupta (c. 950 – 1020)

Khatkhate Baba (1859-1930)

Basava (1105 CE– 1167 CE)

Madhvacharya (b. 1238)

Rupa Goswami (1489–1564)

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1 September 1896 – 14 November 1977)

Adi Shankara (c. 788 – 820)

Advaita Acharya (1434–1539)

Anasuya Devī also known as Jillellamudi Amma (28 March 1923 – 12 June 1985)

Asaram Bapu (b. 1941)

Nityananda Prabhu (b. 1474)

Sanatana Goswami (1488–1558)

Jiva Goswami (c. 1513 – 1598)

Gopala Bhatta Goswami (1503–1578)

Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami (1505–1579)

Haridasa Thakur (b. 1451)

Krishnadasa Kaviraja (b. 1496)

Narottama Dasa (b. 1466)

Ayya Vaikundar (1809–1851)

Jagannatha Dasa Babaji (1776–1894)

Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji (1838–1915)

Bhaktivinoda Thakur (2 September 1838 – 23 June 1914)

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (6 February 1874 – 1 January 1937)

Akhandanand (25 July 1911 – 19 November 1987)

Akka Mahadevi (c.1130 – 1160), Kannada literature

Alvar Saints (700–1000)

Anandamayi Ma (30 April 1896 – 27 August 1982)

Andal (c.767), Tamil literature

Sri Aurobindo (15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950)

Avvaiyar (c. 1st and 2nd century AD), Tamil literature

Baba Hari Dass (b. 26 March 1923)

Bahinabai (1628–1700), Marathi literature

Bhadase Sagan Maraj (1920-1971), Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and politician, founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha

Bhagawan Nityananda (November or December 1897 – 8 August 1961)

Bhakti Tirtha Swami (25 February 1950 – 27 June 2005)

Bamakhepa, or Bamakhyapa/ Bamdev Bhairav (1837 – 1911)

Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha (b. 13 May 1933)

Bijoy Krishna Goswami (2 August 1841 – 1899)

Brahma Chaitanya, also known as Gondavalekar Maharaj (1845–22 December 1913)

Brahmanand Swami (1772–1832)

Brahmananda Saraswati (20 December 1868 – 20 May 1953)

Bhakti Charu Swami (b. 17 September 1945)

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534)

Sant Charandas (1703–1782)

Charan Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (12 December 1916 – 1 June 1990)

Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994)

Swami Chidbhavananda (11 March 1898 – 16 November 1985)

Chinmayananda Saraswati (8 May 1916 – 3 August 1993)

Sri Chinmoy (27 August 1931 – 11 October 2007)

Chokhamela (14th century)

Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj (12 February 1824 – 30 October 1883)

Dayananda Saraswati (Ärsha Vidya) (15 August 1930 – 24 September 2015)

Dnyaneshwar (1275 – 1296)

Gulabrao Maharaj (6 July 1881 – 20 September 1915 )

Drona (mythohistorical)

Eknath (1533–1599)

Gajanan Maharaj (c. mid 19th century)

Gagangiri Maharaj (1906 – 4 February 2008)

Gnanananda Giri (c. early 19th century)

Gopala Krishna Goswami (b. 14 August 1944)

Gopalanand Swami (1781–1852)

Gopi Krishna (yogi) (1903–1984)

Gorakshanath (c. 10th or 11th century)

Gora Kumbhar (c. 1267 to c.1317)

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (b. 15  August 1967)

Gunatitanand Swami (17 October 1785 – 11 October 1867)

Gurinder Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (b. 1 August 1954)

Gurumayi Chidvilasananda (b. 24 June 1955)

Sadguru Hambir Baba (1879 – 14 October 1970)

Hans Ji Maharaj (8 November 1900 – 18 July 1966)

Hariharananda Giri, (Paramahamsa Hariharananda) (27 May 1907 – 3 December 2002)

Haridasa Thakur (b. 1451 or 1450)

Isaignaniyar (c. 7th century), Tamil literature

Jaggi Vasudev (b. 3 September 1957)

Janabai (c. 13th century), Marathi literature

Jaimal Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (July 1839 – 29 December 1903)

Jiddu Krishnamurti (11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986)

Swami Janakananda (b. 13 June 1939)

Kabir (c. 15th century) Indian Saint and Mystic

Kālidāsa (c. 4th or 5th century)

Kanakadasa (1509 – 1609)

Kalyan Swami (1636–1714)

Kanhopatra (c. 15th century), Marathi literature

Karaikkal Ammaiyar (c. 6th century), Tamil literature

Krishnananda Saraswati (25 April 1922 – 23 November 2001)

Kripalu Maharaj (5 October 1922 – 15 November 2013)

Lahiri Mahasaya, (Shyamacharan Lahiri) (30 September 1828 – 26 September 1895)

Lakshmanananda Saraswati (1926 – 23 August 2008)

Lalleshwari (c.1320 – 1392), Kashmiri literature

Madhvacharya (c. 1238 – 1317)

Mahant Swami Maharaj (b. 13 September 1933)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (12 January 1918 – 5 February 2008)

Mahavatar Babaji (mid18th – mid 19th century)

Mangayarkkarasiyar (c. 7th century) Tamil literature

Manik Prabhu

Mata Amritanandamayi (b. 27 September 1953)

Matsyendranath (c. 10th century)

Meera (c. 1498 – c. 1547) Hindi literature

Mehi (28 April 1885 – 8 June 1986)

Mirra Alfassa (21 February 1878 – 17 November 1973)

Morari Bapu (b. 25 September 1946)

Muktananda (16 May 1908 – 2 October 1982)

Mother Meera (b. 26 December 1960)

Muktabai (c.1279 – 1297) Marathi literature

Muktanand Swami (1758–1830)

Namdev (c. 1270 – c. 1350)

Narasimha Saraswati (1378-1459)

Narayana Guru, writer of Daiva Dasakam (c. 1854 – 1928)

Nayakanahatti Thipperudra Swamy (c. 15th – c. 16th century) also known as Nayakanahatti Thippeswamy

Nayanmars Saints (700–1000)

Lokenath Brahmachari (31 August 1730 – 1 June 1890)

Narayan Maharaj (20 May 1885 – 3 September 1945)

Narsinh Mehta (1414–1481) also known as Narsi Mehta or Narsi Bhagat

Neem Karoli Baba (c. late 19th or early 20th century – 11 September 1973)

Nigamananda Paramahansa (18 August 1880 – 29 November 1935)

Nimbarka (c. 13th century or earlier)

Sant Nirmala (c. 14th century) Marathi literature

Nirmala Srivastava, also known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi (21 March 1923 – 23 February 2011)

Niranjanananda (c. 1862 – 9 May 1904)

Nishkulanand Swami (1766–1848)

Nisargadatta Maharaj (17 April 1897 – 8 September 1981)

Om Swami (b. 1979)

Swami Nithyananda (b. 1 January 1978 or 13 March 1977)

Paramahansa Yogananda (5 January 1893 – 7 March 1952)

Pavhari Baba (birth unknown – 1898)

Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami (c. 17th century)

Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (21 May 1921 – 21 October 1990)

Pramukh Swami Maharaj (b. 7 December 1921 - 13 August 2016)

Pranavanda Saraswati (28 August 1908 – 28 August 1982)

Pranavananda, also known as Yugacharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda Ji Maharaj (29 January 1896 – 8 February 1941)

Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, Guru Maharaj Ji, and Balyogeshwar (b. 10 December 1957)

Raghavendra Swami (1595 – 1671)

Rakeshprasad (b. 23 July 1966)

Radhanath Swami (b. 7 December 1950)

Rajneesh, also known as Osho (11 December 1931 – 19 January 1990)

Swami Rama (1925–1996)

Swami Ramdas (10 April 1884 – 25 July 1963)

Rama Tirtha (22 October 1873 – 27 October 1906)

Ramakrishna (18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886) See Disciples

Ramana Maharshi (30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950)

Swami Ramanand (c. 1738 – c. 1802)

Ramanuja (c. 1017 – c. 1137)

Ramprasad Sen (c. 1718 or c. 1723 – c. 1775)

Ram Thakur (2 February 1860 – 1 May 1949)

Sahadeo Tiwari (1892-1972), 

Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838–1918)

Samarth Ramdas (1608–1681)

Sankardev (c. 1449 – c. 1568)

Satchidananda Saraswati (22 December 1914 – 19 August 2002)

Sathya Sai Baba (23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011)

Sathyananda Saraswathi (22 September 1935 – 23 November 2006)

Satnarayan Maharaj (b. 1931) is an Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and son-in-law of Bhadase Sagan Maraj

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami (b. 6 December 1939)

Satya Narayan Goenka (30 January 1924 – 29 September 2013)

Satyananda Giri (17 November 1896 – 2 August 1971)

Satyananda Saraswati (25 December 1923 – 5 December 2009)

Sawan Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (27 July 1858 – 2 April 1948)

Seshadri Swamigal (22 January 1870 – 4 January 1929)

Shivabalayogi (24 January 1935 – 28 March 1994)

Shreedhar Swami (7 December 1908 – 19 April 1973)

Shripad Shri Vallabha

Shriram Sharma (20 September 1911 – 2 June 1990)

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (5 January 1927 – 12 November 2001)

Sitaramdas Omkarnath (17 February 1892 – 6 December 1982)

Soham Swami (birth unknown – 1918)

Sopan (c. 13th century)

Sivananda Saraswati (8 September 1887 – 14 July 1963)

Shiv Dayal Singh also known as "Soamiji Maharaj" (25 August 1818 – 15 June 1878)

Sant Soyarabai (c. 14th century) Marathi literature

Surdas (c. late 15th-century)

Swaminarayan (3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830)

Swami Samarth

Swarupanand (1 February 1884 – 9 April 1936) part of Advait Mat lineage

Swarupananda (8 July 1871 – 27 June 1906)

Tibbetibaba (birth unknown – 19 November 1930)

Totapuri (c. 1780 – c. 1866)

Trailanga (1607–1887)

Tukaram (c. 1608 – 1649)

Tulsidas (1532–1623) also known as Goswami Tulsidas

Udiya Baba (1875–1948)

Upasni Maharaj (15 May 1870 – 24 December 1941)

Vallabha Acharya (1479 – 1531)

Vethathiri Maharishi (14 August 1911 – 28 March 2006)

Vidyaranya (c. 1268 – c. 1386)

Vishuddhananda Paramahansa (14 March 1853 – 14 July 1937)

Swami Vivekananda (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902)

Yogaswami (1872 – March 1964)

Yogeshwar Ramlal Bhagwan (1888 – 1938)

Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1 December 1918 – 20 February 2001)

Yukteswar Giri (10 May 1855 – 9 March 1936)