Saints and sages are a blessing to the world at large. They are the custodians of superior divine wisdom, spiritual powers and inexhaustible spiritual wealth. Even kings bow their heads at their lotus feet. King Janaka said to Yajnavalkya, "O venerable sage! I am grateful to your exalted holiness for obtaining the ancient wisdom of the Upanishads through your lofty and sublime instructions. I offer my whole kingdom at thy feet. Further, I am thy servant. I will wait on thee like a servant".
Such is the magnanimous nature of saints and sages. Their very existence inspires others and goads them to become like them and attain the same state of bliss achieved by them. Had it not been for their existence, there would not have been spiritual uplift and salvation for you all. Their glory is indescribable. Their wisdom is unfathomable. They are deep like the ocean, steady like the Himalayas, pure like the Himalayan snow, effulgent like the sun. One crosses this terrible ocean of Samsara or births and deaths through their grace and Satsang. To be in their company is the highest education. To love them is the highest happiness. To be near them is real education.
Saints and sages only can become real advisers to the kings, because they are selfless and possess the highest wisdom. They only can improve the morality of the masses. They only can show the way to attain eternal bliss and immortality. Shivaji had Swami Ramdas as his adviser. King Dasaratha had Maharshi Vasishtha as his adviser.
There is no caste among saints and sages. Cobblers, weavers and untouchables had become saints. Saints, to whatever clime they may belong, have left their footprints on the sands of time, so that others, who are true and faithful, may follow their track in search of the Eternal Truth. Their lives have ever remained an inspiration to us. Their glory has ever been green in our memory. Their teachings have ever flowed with the tide of life.
Saints can have one or more titles attached to their name (and some have none). Some popular titles are Swami, Sant, Rishi, Muni, Goswami, Maharaj.
- Maharshi Vyasa
- Sage Yajnavalkya
- Yogi Bhusanda
- Dattatreya
- Yogi Jaigisavya
- Tirumala Nayanar
- Valmiki
- Adi Shankaracharya
- Later Advaitins
- Sri Ramanuja Acharya
- Madhvacharya
- Vallabha Acharya
- Nimbarka
- Ramananda
- Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
- Saint Arunagiri
- Sri Rupa Goswami
- Sri Sanatana Goswami
- Gopal Bhatta Goswami
- Ragunatha Bhatta Goswami
- Sri Jiva Goswami
- Raghunatha Dasa Goswami
- Samarth Ramdas
- Shri Krishna Saraswati Swami
- Sant Namdev
- Sant Eknath
- Sant Tukaram
- Sant Dnyaneshwar
- Shri Shankar Maharaj
- Goswami Tulsidas
- Sant Surdas
- Bhagwan Swaminarayan
- Purandara Dasa
- Shri Trailanga Swami
- Sant Meera Bai
- Sant Janabai
- Sant Bahinabai
- Akka Mahadevi
- Anandamayi Maa
- Shree Sarada Devi
- Sant Sakhubai
- Shri Kalavati Mata
- Sant Lalleshwari
13 Azhwars
The Azhwars came from diverse caste groups and lived between 5th and 9th Century in southern India. Being great devotees of Lord Vishnu, especially Ranghanatha, they composed beautiful devotional poetry in his praise. Their individual compositions were later compiled into a single scripture by the name "Divya Prabhandam".Sundaramurthi Nayanar
- Sant Andal
- Kula sekhara
- Poykai
- Bhutam
- Pey
- Tirumazhisai
- Nammalvar
- Periyalvar
- Madhurakavi
- Tondar-adi-podi
- Tiruppaan
- Tirumangai
- Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
- Paramahamsa Yogananda
- Shri Ramana Maharshi
- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
- Swami Vivekananda
- Swami Rama Tirtha
- Panini
- Sant Shreedhar Swami Maharaj
- Sant Gadge Maharaj
- Shri Sant Maniram Baba
- Sant Gulabrao Maharaj
- Tukdoji Maharaj
- Pujya Shree Rang Avadhoot Maharaj
- Narayana Guru
- Baba Lokenath Brahmachari
- Sri Yogaswami
- Sant Dariya Saheb
- Shri Swami Samarth
- Sant Chokha Mela
- Vidyaranya
- Shri Allama Prabhu
- Saint Mahatma Shri Basaveshwar
- Appayya Dikshitar
- Sant Dasganu
- Meher Baba
- Sri Narasimha Saraswati
- Sripaad Shri Vallabh
- Narayan Maharaj
- Shri Gondavalekar Maharaj
- Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj
- Shri Sadguru Shri Siddharudh Swamiji
- Saint Gora Kumbhar
- Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati
- Sri Guru Raghavendra
- Sri Parasara Bhattar
- Shirdi Sai Baba
- Shri Upasani Maharaj
- Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon
- Swami Vedanta Desikan
