Jnaneshwar Jnaneshwar was born in the village Apegaon, on the bank of the Godavari in the Deccan in 1271. His father’s name was Vitthalpantha and his mother’s name was Rukmini Devi. Vitthalpantha, after three years of marriage went to Varanasi and there Swami Ramananda initiated him into Sannyasa. Once Swami Ramananda came to the house of Sidhopantha, the father of Rukmini Devi and she prostrated before Him to receive His Blessings....

Andal An the history of Tamil literature, the period between 6th and 8th Centuries glows with the ecstasies of devotional poetry. During the 6th Century, there erupted in South India a widespread Bhakti movement. These devotional poets were either Vaishnavites or Saivites. The former group was spearheaded by three saints, Pogai Alwar, Bhutattalwar and Pey Alwar. Of the later Alwars, Vishnuchitta, known as Periya Alwar was born in Srivilliputtur in Tirunelveli...

Appar   In the development of Indian civilisation from 300 A.D.-750 A.D. in the history of Southern India, indicated that some of the Pallava kings took interest in the Alwars and Nayanmars, the religious teachers who preached a new form of Vaisnavism and Saivism based on the Bhakti Cult. Among the Saivas were “Appar” and Manikkavacakar. In Saivism, the character and position of the Vedic God Rudra — called Siva, the...

Nayanmars Nayanmars were the devotees of Siva. They were strong in their conviction that all living beings are the servants of the Lord and that every kind of object is His possession. They were clear in their minds that the `Truth’ could not be otherwise. The word Nayanmars means ‘Leaders’ or ‘Chieftains’. They were raised to this status because of their unswerving allegiance to the Lord. Themselves servants of the Lord...

Ramanujacharya Ramanuja was born at Sriperumbundur near Kancheepuram in Madras (now Chennai) in 1017 A.D. His father’s name was Asurikesava Somayaji and mother’s name was Kantimati, a grand-daughter of Yamunacharya. Owing to the influences of Buddhism and onslaughts of Muslim invaders, the old vedic religion was decaying. So, Ramanuja rejuvenated the old ancient religion in terms of Vaishnavism. He had his early education under his father. At the age of fifteen,...

Padmapadacharya Padmapadacharya was the first initiated disciple of Sankaracharya. His nick name was Sanandana and belonged to brahmin caste. His native place was in old Chola kingdom (near Tanjore) at Chennai. Since childhood he had been attracted to Sastra-Dharma ;  the Vedas and the Upanishads. He remained Brahmachari. On hearing the name of. Sankarcharya, one day he went to meet him and on first sight, Padmapada surrendered himself as a faithful...

Sankaracharya   Adi Sankaracharya was born in 507 B.C. in a Nambudri Brahmin family at Kalady, a village situated on the banks of the river Periyar in Kerala, in Suklapanchami of the month Baisakha. His father’s name was Sivaguru, a Sanskrit teacher and mother’s name was Aryamba, a pious woman. Soon after Sankara’s birth, his father died and he was brought up by his mother Aryamba. He had mastered the Vedic...

Tirthankar Mahavir     Tirthankar Mahavir was born in April, 599 B.C. at Vaishali (Bihar). His nick name was Vardhaman, as just after his birth there was increase in the crops production. His father’s name was Siddhartha and mother’s name was Trisala Devi. He was their second son. In Jain religion from Rishabhadeva to Parshanath — there were 23 Tirthankars and Mahavir was 24th Tirthankar. As per Jain religion, Non-violence (ahimsa),...