SAINTS OF INDIA

Saint Dnyaneshwar was a 13th century Marathi saint, poet, philosopher and a yogi of the Nath sect. His works Dnyaneshwari, which is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, and Amrutanubhav. Another compilation of compositions is considered to be milestones in Marathi literature. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Sakhu Bai, an ardent devotee of Vitthal, lives with her husband and a cruel mother-in-law. The mother thinks that her daughter-in-law will spoil her only son and then he will start neglecting his mother. Her husband also does not say anything to his mother because he thinks that since he is her only son, people will disrespect him and his wife if he takes his wife's side. So Sakhu has to bear all the ill-treatment silently. She worships Vitthala with all her heart and forgets her daily sufferings. A sad Sakhu sees a group of Vitthala devotees doing Naam-Kirtan. She joins the group and starts doing Naam-Kirtan. Her husband's sister finds her and tells her mother about that. The mother-in-law arrives and drags her to her home and ties her to a pole. Sakhu starts crying and worships Vitthala and after some time, things take a different turn. People get dumbfounded by seeing two Sakhus and start thinking that she is a ghost. Rest are divine. Listen to the podcast to know more. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Paramahansa Yogananda (born Mukunda Lal Ghosh; January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952) was an Indian Hindu monk, yogi and guru who introduced millions to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his organization Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsana Society (YSS) of India, and who lived his last 32 years in America. A chief disciple of the Bengali yoga guru Swami Yugtesar Giri, he was sent by his lineage to spread the teachings of yoga to the West, to prove the unity between Eastern and Western religions and to preach a balance between Western material growth and Indian spirituality. His long-standing influence in the American yoga movement, and especially the yoga culture of Los Angeles, led him to be considered by yoga experts as the "Father of Yoga in the West." If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Purandara Dasa (c. 1484 – c. 1565) was a Haridasa philosopher and a follower of Madhwacharya's Dwaitha philosophy -saint from present-day Karnataka India. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding-proponents of Carnatic Music (South Indian classical music). In honor of his significant contributions to Carnatic music, he is widely referred to as the Pitamaha (lit. "father" or "grandfather") of Carnatic music. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Sri Yukteswar Giri (also written Sriyuktesvara) is the monastic name of Priya Nath Karar (also spelled as Priya Nath Karada and Preonath Karar, an Indian monk and yogi, and the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Satyananda Giri. Born in Serampore, West Bengal, Sri Yukteswar was a Kriya yogi, a Jyotisha(Vedic astrologer), a scholar of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, an educator, author, and astronomer. He was a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya of Varanasi and a member of the Giri branch of the Swami order. As a guru, he had two ashrams, one in Serampore and another in Puri, Odisha, between which he alternated his residence throughout the year as he trained disciples. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Ganapati Muni was born in Kalavarayai near Bobbili in Andhra Pradesh on 17 November 1878. His parents, Narasimha Sastri and Narasamamba had three sons, Muni being the second. Ganapati, when 18 years old, set out and wandered from one place to another, residing in places like Bhuvaneshwar, where he performed his tapas. When Ganapati was staying in Varanasi he learned of an assembly of Sanskrit scholars in the city of Nabadwip in Bengal. He participated in it and on passing the tests in extempore Sanskrit prose and poetry, was conferred the title 'Kavyakantha'. He was then 22 years old. He returned home at the age of 25. From Kanchipuram he came to Arunachala (Tiruvannamalai) in 1903 to perform tapas. At that time he visited Ramana Maharshi, who was then known as Brahmanaswami, before he accepted a teaching post in Vellore in 1904. He wrote his devotional epic hymn "Uma Sahasram," One Thousand Verses on Uma (goddess Parvathi), after accepting Ramana Maharshi as his Guru on 18 November 1907. He also met Sri Aurobindo on 15 August 1928. Ganapati Muni died at Kharagpur on 25 July 1936. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Pamban Gurudasa Swamigal popularly known as Pamban Swamigal, was a Saivite saint and poet. He was a devotee of the Tamil god Murugan and composed and wrote poems in his praise. A visit to his Samadhi Mandir will change your perception. His samadhi is located at Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1 December 1918 – 20 February 2001) was an Indian saint and mystic. He was also referred to as "Visiri samiyar" and spent most of his post enlightenment period in Tiruvannamalai, a small town in Tamil Nadu which is famous for attracting spiritual seekers worldwide and has had a continuous lineage of enlightened souls. He acknowledges the contribution of three of the most well known saints of his time in his evolution to enlightenment. These individuals were Sri Aurobindo, the founder of Integral yoga, Ramana Maharishi Ramana Maharshi, one of the "spiritual supermen" of his time, and Swami Ramdas, Yogi's eventual guru. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

Sant Namdev (Namdeo, c. 1270-1350 CE) was a precursor of bhakti reformers like Kabir, Ekanath, Tukaram and others. An ardent devotee of Vitthal (also called Vithoba or Panduranga), a form of Vishnu or Sri Krishna, he helped in the growth and development of the Varkari sect, and created a culture of devotion in western India and in Punjab where he spent the latter part of his life. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

His Holiness, Acharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda ji Maharaj was born in 1896, in the village Bajitpur (Bangladesh) of undivided India. ‘BINOD', as was called in his childhood days, was often found to be immersed in serious thoughts that culminated into deep meditation, aimed at ‘Self Emancipation' and ‘Upliftment of Human Beings', through spiritual development and selfless Services. As a brahmachari, he spent countless hours in meditation, spiritual trances and Seva (service to people). More in the podcast. If you would like to support this cause, kindly contribute through www.patreon.com/SriramIyer. All proceeds will be utilised on hundreds of children who are learning the vedas to keep Sanatana Dharma up; in veda patashalas and tols. Namaste.

In the year 1449, a baby boy was born in the house of Hirumoni Kusumbar Bhuyan (father) and Satyasandhya Bhuyan (mother). Later, when the baby boy had grown up, he became a social influencer and a great human. He started leading the whole Assam, Assamese culture, and of course the spiritual mentality of its common people. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Shyama Charan Lahiri, best known as Lahiri Mahasaya, was an Indian yogi, guru and a disciple of the Kriya Yoga master Mahavatar Babaji. In 1861, he was chosen by his guru to revive the yogic science of Kriya Yoga to the public after centuries of its guarding by masters. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Anandamayi Ma (30 April 1896 – 27 August 1982) was an Indian saint, described by Swami Sivananda Saraswati as "the most perfect flower the Indian soil has produced." Precognition, faith healing and miracles were attributed to her by her followers. Paramahansa Yogananda translates the Sanskrit epithet Anandamayi as "Joy-permeated" in English. This name was given to her by her devotees in the 1920s to describe her perpetual state of divine joy.20 Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Samarth Ramdas (c. 1608 - c. 1681), also known as Sant (saint) Ramdas or Ramdas Swami or simply Ramdas was an Indian Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, writer and spiritual master. His earlier name was Narayan. He was a devotee of the Hindu deities Rama and Hanuman. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Gnanananda (Nia-na-nan-da) was an Indian guru, referred to by followers as Swami Sri Gnanananda Giri. He is believed to have been born in the early part of 19th century. He was the Chief Disciple of the Sri Sivaratna Giri Swamigal and one of the leaders (Peetathipathis) of the Jyotir Mutt , one of the four Mutts established by Adi Sankara. This lineage of Peetathipathis is also called the 'Giri' Paramparai, as seen from the Peetathipathis' name which ends with 'Giri'. Gnanananda is a Mahayogi, Siddha Purusha, Himalayan sage and Indian philosopher. He believed in Advaita Vedanta  because of his lineage. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast.  If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder  www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Kabir Das was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti Movement and his verses are found in Sikhism's scripture Guru Granth Sahib. His early life was in a Muslim family, but he was strongly influenced by his teacher, the Hindu bhakti leader Ramananda.. Kabir was born in the Indian city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

He is an Indian Hindu monk and a key figure in the introduction of Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world. He was one of the most influential philosophers and social reformers in his contemporary India and the most successful and influential missionaries of Vedanta to the Western world. This soul is blessed to share with you the Life of Swami Vivekananda in this podcast. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast.  If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder. www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Soordas, the blind bard of Brij, occupies a very eminent position in Hindi Literature. Being blind to the world, he was blessed with Divine Vision, with which he was able to see Lord Krishna. This soul is happy to share with you the Life of Sant Soordas in this episode. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder. www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Shri Guru Raghavendra Swami (1595–1671) is an influential 16th century Hindu saint who advocated Vaishnavism (worship of Vishnu as the supreme God) and Shri Madhvacharya's Dvaitaphilosophy. He ascended Brindavana at Mantralayam in present day Andhra Pradesh in 1671. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder. www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Namaste. This soul is blessed to share with you the Life of Shirdi Shri Sai Baba. A saint whose birth is still a mystery for many of his followers and biographers alike. The fact is that he leads his devotees lying in samadhi at Shirdi. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder. www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

This soul is blessed to share with you the Life of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The birth, the miracles, the debates of Mahaprabhu are summarised in this episode of Saints of India. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder. www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

In the podcast this soul is pleased to share the Life of Shri Guru Gobind Singhji, the tenth and the last Guru of the Sikhs. The birth of Khalsa and the presentation to the World of the Granth Sahib are discussed in brief in this podcast. Hope you enjoy listening to this podcast. If you would like to support this project of mine, you may contribute at patreon.com, the link for which is provided hereunder. www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Shri Adi Shankaracharya gave the world Advaita or non dualism, Shri Madhvacharya gave the world Dualism.  The Sant, who is believed to be the reincarnation of Sage Ved Vyasa contributed to the Sanatana Dharma which is unfathomable.   Hope you enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You! www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

The Saint from Virpur, Gujarats life is presented to you by this soul in a nutshell through this episode.  How a single person was able to feed all those who came to his doors is still a surprise to many considering the magnitude at which he served sadhus, sants and common man alike. Hope you enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You! www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

This soul is happy to share with you the life and works of Sant Eknath Maharaj as the eight episode in the series of Saints of India. Hope you enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You! www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Also know as Akkalkot Niwasi Shri Swami Samarth had been and continues to be  guiding, curing and leading people from his Samadhi.  This soul is happy to share in brief the life of Swami Samarth. Hope you will enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You! https://www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

The love, dedication of how Princess Mirabai, became Sant Mirabai is shared in the condensed version. Hope you will enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder.  Thank You!  https://www.patreon.com/SriramIyer Namaskarams

Be proud to have been born in the land of Sants and Mahaans.  In this episode of sharing with you the Life of Sant Tulsidas. Hope you enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You! https://www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

In the series Saints of India, sharing with you the life of Sri Seshadhri Swamigal.  Hope you find it informative. Hope you enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You! https://www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

The life of Chattambhi Swamikal is covered in this podcast.  The content has been generously provided by its author Shri. Hareendranathji. My sincere thanks to him.  This article was featured in Splendour Magazine few years back.

As a boy of sixteen in 1896, he challenged death by a penetrating enquiry into the source of his being. Later hailed as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi he revealed the direct path of practice of Self-enquiry and awakened mankind to the immense spiritual power of the holy Arunachala Hill, the spiritual heart of the world.  Hope you enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You!  https://www.patreon.com/SriramIyer

Starting the series of Saints of India with Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. Hope you enjoy listening to the podcast. If you would like to support this series, please consider contributing through the link that appears hereunder. Thank You! www.patreon.com/sriramiyer