NIGUNA SAINTS
DADU DAYAL (1544-1603 AD)
He was born in Ahmedabad to Muslim parents and was looked after by a Hindu. His teachings are collected in a book called Bani. His disciples were Sundara Dasa, Rajab, Beckham and Warid. He founded the Brahma Sampradaya or the Param Brahma Sampradaya.
KABIR (1440-1510 AD)
He was opposed to caste, creed and idol worship and propagated Hindu-Muslim unity. His works are Sabada Doha, Holi, Rental etc and Bijak is the greatest work of his amongst all, which is idea of the fundamental one. The verses of Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, Dhanna, Pipa etc were included in Adi Granth. His followers called Kabirpanthis meaning, “the travellers in the path of Kabir.”
SAGUNA SAINTS
RAMANANDA (14TH-5TH CENTURY AD)
Propagated Bhakti in North India. Organised a group of cadres called bairagis. Ramananda was a great devotee of Sri Rama and he believed in two great principles namely, perfect love for God and human brotherhood.
TWELVE DISCIPLES OF RAMANANDA
Twelve disciples (Avadhuts of Ramananda) are
- Kabir-Muslim Weaver
- Ravidas-Cobbler
- Dhanna-Jat Peasant
- Pipa -Rajput Prince
- Bhavananda
- Sukhananda
- Paramanand
- Mahananda
- Sena-Barber
- Surasurananda
- Sri Ananda 1
- Ananda
TULSIDAS (1544-1623 AD)
He was a Hindu poet saint belonged to Sangu saint-Ram Bhakti sect. He spent most of his life in the city of Varanasi. He was a contemporary of Akbar, his works include Ramcharitamanas, Kavitawali, Gitawali, Parvati Mangal, Janki Mangal, Vinaya Patrika etc.
NABHADAS (1570-1662 AD)
Wrote Bhaktmal a poem in the Braj language in which 200 bhaktas have been mentioned. He belonged to the tradition of Ramananda. He was born in 1570 AD in Gwalior and was blind since birth. He was raised by a saint name Agradas and his notable work in Ramashtakam in Braj language.
SURDAS (1478-1583 AD)
Disciple of Vallabhacharya, a blind poet from Agra. He sang the glory of Krishna in his Sursagar. He belonged to the Saguna saints-Krishna Bhakti sect.
MIRABAI (1498-1546 AD)
Rathor princess of Merta and daughter-in-law of Rana Sanga of Mewar, (husband-Bhoja Raja). She wrote the verse Padavali. She was devotee of Lord Krishna and she devoted her life to Lord Krishna.
CHAITANYA (1486-1533 AD)
He belonged to Nandvipa in Bengal and was known as Gaudiya Mahaprabhu. He was the founder of Gaurang or Bengal Vaishnavism and his teacher was Ishwapuri. He propounded the Philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda. His original name was Vishwambhar. He was given the title of Vidyasagar.
SHANKARA DEVA (1449-1568 AD)
Established Ek Sharan Sampradaya or Mahapurushiya Sampradaya. He was influential in Assam.