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{{Short description|Traditional list historical teachers of Advaita Vedanta}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{{Advaita}}
{{Hinduism}}
{{Hindu philosophy}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

The '''''Advaita Guru-Paramparā''''' ("Lineage of Gurus in Non-dualism") is the traditional list (''[[parampara]]'') of divine, Vedic and historical teachers of [[Advaita Vedanta]]. It begins with the ''Daiva-paramparā'', the gods; followed by the ''Ṛṣi-paramparā'', the Vedic seers; and then the ''Mānava-paramparā'', with the historical teachers Gaudapada and Shankara, and four of Shankara's pupils.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/advaita-parampara.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=14 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729062751/http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/advaita-parampara.html |archive-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Of the five contemporary ''acharyas'', the heads of the five Advaita mathas, four acharyas trace their lineage to those four pupils and one to Adi Shankara himself.

From mediaeval times, Advaita Vedanta influenced other Indian religions as well, and since the 19th century it came to be regarded as the central [[Hindu philosophy|philosophy]] of Indian religion. Several [[Neo-Vedanta]] movements and teachers, most notably the [[Ramakrishna Order]], trace their roots to Advaita Vedanta, while the [[Inchegeri Sampradaya]] ([[Nisargadatta Maharaj]]) and [[Ramana Maharshi]] are popularly considered as Advaita Vedanta, though rooted in respectively the [[Nath]] and Tamil folk Saivite religion.

==Advaita Vedanta and paramparā==
[[Advaita Vedanta]] is an Indian religious tradition of textual exegesis and yogic praxis, which states that the knowledge of the unity of ''Atman'' and ''Brahman'' is liberating. It is based on the textual exegesis of the [[Upanishads]], the [[Brahma Sutras]], and the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. It traces its roots back to Vedic times, as described in the ''Advaita Guru Paramparā'', the Advaita version of the [[Guru–shishya tradition]]. Historically, [[Adi Shankara]] is regarded as its most influential teacher. This influence goes back to medieval times, when Advaita Vedanta came to be regarded as the central philosophy of the post-Vedic religions, and its philosophy influenced several Indian religious traditions.

In several Indian religious and philosophical traditions, all knowledge is traced back to the Gods and to the [[Rishis]] who saw the [[Vedas]]. The successive ''rishis'' and teachers of various Indian traditions are honoured in ''Guru-[[paramparā]]s'', lists of teachers in the [[Guru–shishya tradition]]s.

==Deva, Rsi and Manav Paramparā==
The current Acharyas, the heads of the four maṭhas set up by Adi Shankara, trace their authority back to the four main disciples of Shankara.<ref name="parampara" /> Each of the heads of these four maṭhas takes the title of [[Shankaracharya]] ("the learned Shankara") after Adi Shankara.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

===Deva, Rsi and Manav Paramparā===

The Advaita guru-paramparā (''Lineage of Gurus in Non-dualism'') begins with the mythological time of the '''Daiva-paramparā''', followed by the vedic seers of the '''Ṛṣi-paramparā''', and the '''Mānava-paramparā''' of historical times and personalities:<ref name="parampara">{{cite web |url=http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/advaita-parampara.html |title=The Advaita Vedânta Home Page — Advaita Parampara |publisher=Advaita-vedanta.org |date=1999-05-05 |accessdate=2012-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729062751/http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/advaita-parampara.html |archive-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="vidya-ashramvidyaorder.org">http://www.vidya-ashramvidyaorder.org/index.V.html | Under Page: BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ABOUT SANKARA AND GAUDAPAD</ref><ref>Book: Shri Gowdapadacharya & Shri Kavale Math (A Commemoration volume). p. 38.</ref>{{refn|group=note|नारायणं पद्मभुवं वशिष्ठं शक्तिं च तत्पुत्रं पराशरं च व्यासं शुकं गौडपादं महान्तं गोविन्दयोगीन्द्रं अथास्य शिष्यम् । श्री शंकराचार्यं अथास्य पद्मपादं च हस्तामलकं च शिष्यम् तं तोटकं वार्त्तिककारमन्यान् अस्मद् गुरून् सन्ततमानतोऽस्मि ॥ ''[[Vishnu|nārāyanam]] padmabhuvam [[vasiṣtha]]m [[Shakti Maharishi|śakti]]m ca tat-putram [[Parashara|parāśaram]] ca'' ''[[Vyasa|vyāsam]] [[śuka]]m [[gauḍapāda]] mahāntam [[Govinda Bhagavatpada|govinda]] yogīndram athāsya śiṣyam '' ''[[Adi Shankara|śri śankarācārya]]m athāsya [[padmapāda]]m ca [[hastāmalaka]]m ca śiṣyam'' ''tam [[Totakacharya|totakam]] [[Suresvara|vārtikakāra]]manyān asmad gurūn santatamānato’smi ''<ref name="vidya-ashramvidyaorder.org"/>}}
;Daiva-paramparā
* [[Vishnu|Nārāyaṇa]]
* Padmabhuva ([[Brahma|Brahmā]])
;Ṛṣi-paramparā
* [[Vasistha|Vaśiṣṭha]]
* [[Śakti Maharṣi|Śakti]]
* [[Parāśara]]
* [[Vyāsa]]{{refn|group=note|the famous redactor of the vedas, he is also traditionally identified with [[Bādarāyaṇa]], the composer of the [[Brahma Sutra|Brahmasūtras]]}}
* [[Śuka]]
;'Mānava-paramparā
* [[Gauḍapāda]]
* [[Govinda bhagavatpāda]]
* [[Śankara bhagavatpāda]], and then Shankara's four disciples
:* [[Padmapāda]]
:* [[Hastāmalaka]]
:* [[Toṭaka]]
:* Vārtikakāra ([[Sureśvara]]) and others

Each [[Yuga]] has its own gurus or Acharyas:<ref>Book: Shri Gowdapadacharya & Shri Kavale Math (A Commemoration volume). p. 62.</ref>
* In the [[Satya Yuga|Satya or Krata Yuga]]: [[Vishnu|Lord Narayana]] and [[Brahma|Lord Brahma]].
* In the [[Treta Yuga]]: [[Vasishtha|Vasishta Maharishi]], [[Śakti Maharṣi]] and [[Parashara|Parashara Maharishi]].
* In the [[Dvapara Yuga]]: [[Vyasa|Veda Vyasa]] and [[Shuka|Sri Shuka Acharya]]
* In the [[Kali Yuga]]: [[Gaudapada|Sri Gaudapada Acharya]], [[Govinda Bhagavatpada]]<nowiki/>charya, [[Adi Shankara|Shri Shankarāchārya]], and the subsequent lineage.

Another famous sloka lists the essential ''Advaita Guru parampara'' as follows:
:Sada Shiva Samarambham
:Sankaracharya Madhyamam
:Asmat aacharya Paryantham
:Vande Guru Paramparaa

Which translates as :
:Beginning with lord Sadashiva,
:With Sankaracharya in the middle,
:And till my acharya,
:I bow to the tradition of teachers

===Jagadgurus of the four Advaita Mathas===
{{Main|Dashanami Sampradaya}}

According to tradition, Sankara organised a section of the ''Ēkadaṇḍisannyāsins'' into the [[Dashanami Sampradaya]], establishing four mathas in north, west, east, and south India, to facilitate the teaching of Advaita Vedanta, and maintain the dharma. He entrusted his four disciples to each of these four mathas. Some of the famous and current Mathadhipatis titled 'Sankaracharyas' are listed below:
* [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]]
**[[Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi|Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi Mahaswami]], Jagadguru of [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]] [http://www.sringeri.net] (1865–1912); initiated many into Adi Shankaracharya's philosophy including [[Sacchidanandendra Saraswati]]- founder of Adhyatma Prakashana Karyalaya; known as "Abhinava Shankara" because of his many tours around Bharatvarsha spreading the Advaita Vedanta philosophy and [[Hindu Dharma]]
**[[Chandrashekhara Bharati (III)|Sri Chandrashekhara Bharathi Mahaswami]], Jagadguru of [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]] (1912–1954).
**[[Abhinava Vidyatirtha|Sri Abhinavavidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji]], Jagadguru of [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]] (1954–1989); A great [[Yogi]] and master of scriptures. In His many tours of Bharatvarsha and also Nepal He established many maths, shrines and temples.
**[[Bharati Theertha Swamigal|Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswami]], Jagadguru of [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]] (1989- ); A sage and present Jagadguru of Shringeri Peetha, Sringeri, [[Karnataka]].
* [[Jyotir Math]]
** [[Swaroopanand Saraswati]]
* [[Govardhana matha|Govardhan Peetham]]
* [[Kalika Pitha]]

==Acharyas known from literary sources==

===Ancient Acharyas===
* [[Yajnavalkya]]: taught Brahmavidya to his wife [[Maitreyi]], which is recorded in [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad|Brhadaranyaka Upanishad]].
* [[Aruni|Uddalaka]]: taught Brahmavidya to his son [[Shvetaketu|Svetaketu]] in [[Chandogya Upanishad]].

===Pre-Badarayana Acharyas===
Works of these Advaita Acharyas are not available now, but were quoted by Badarayana:
* Badari (referred to in Br. Su. I.2.30, III.1.1, IV.3.7, IV.4.10)
* Audulomi (referred to in Br. Su. I.3.21, III.4.45, IV.4.6)
* Kasakrtsna (referred to in Br. Su. I.4.220
* Asmarathya (referred to in Br. Su. I.2.29, I.4.20)
* Atreya (referred to in Br. Su. III.4.4)
* Karsajini (referred to in Br. Su. III.1.9)
* [[Badarayana]], author of Brahmasutra, containing 555 sutras, that reconciles the apparent ambiguity of the Upanishads.

===Post-Badrayana Acharyas===
Works of the following Acharyas are available and are still being taught and studied:
* Bodhayana (pre-Sankara) (''Bodhayana-vrtti'')
* Brahmanandin (Vakyakara) (Commentary on ''Chandogyopanishad'')
* Dravidacharya (Commentary on ''Brhadaranyakopanishad'')
* Sundarapandya (Vartikakara) (Vartika on ''Sariraka-Mimamsa'')
* Bhartrprapanca
* [[Gaudapada]] (700–780 approx.) (Karika on ''Mandukyopanishad'')
* [[Govinda bhagavatpāda]] (750–850 approx.) (''Brahmasiddhi'')
* [[Śankara bhagavatpāda]] (Adi Shankara) (788–820) (Commentary on the Prasthana-traya and ''Upadesha-Sahasri'')

===Post-Sankara Acharyas===
* Sureswara (8th century), also known as Vartikakara. (Vartika on Sankara's ''Taittiriyopanishad''-Bhashya, ''Brhadaranyakopanishad''-Bhashyam, ''Naishkarmyasiddhi'', ''Manasollasa'')
* Padmapada (8th century) (''Pancapadika'')
* Hastamalaka (8th century) (''Hastamalakiyam'')
* Vacaspati Mishra (841–900) (''Bhamati'', a Tika on Brahmasutra-Sankara-Bhashyam))
* Sarvajnatma Muni (850–950) (''Sankshepa-Sariraka'')
* [[Sriharsha]] (1169–1225) (''Khandana-khanda-khadya'')
* Prakasatma Yati (AD 1200) (''Pancapadika-Vivarana'')
* Citsukha (AD 1220) (''Citsukhi'')
* Ananda Giri - also known as the Tikakara. (Tikas on almost all the Bhashyas of Sankara. It is said nobody knows the mind of Sankara, better than Ananda Giri.)
* Vimuktatma (AD 1200) (''Ishtasiddhi'')
* [[Amalananda]] (AD 1247) (''Vedanta-Kalpataru'', a commentary on ''Bhamati'' of Vacaspati Misra)
* Bĥaratī Tīrtha (1328-1380),{{sfn|Nikhalananda|1931|p=xiv}} the teacher of Vidyaranya{{sfn|Nikhalananda|1931|p=xiv}} (''[[Dŗg-Dŗśya-Viveka]]''){{sfn|Nikhalananda|1931|p=xiv}}
* [[Vidyaranya]] (1350–1386) (''Pancadasi'')
* Sadananda Yogindra (mid 15th century) (''Vedantasara'', the most popular introductory text in Advaita Vedanta)
* Dharmaraja Adhvarindra (1550–1650) (''Vedanta-Paribhasha'', an epistemological work on Advaita Vedanta)
* Nrsimha Ashrama (1500–1600)
* Madhusudana Saraswati (1565–1650) (''Advaita-siddhi'')
* Appaya Dikshita (AD 1603) (''Parimala'', ''Siddhanta-lesa-sangraha'')
* Lakshmidhara Kavi (''Advaita-Makaranda'')

==Neo-Vedanta==
{{Main|Neo-Vedanta}}

While strictly speaking only members of the [[Dashanami Sampradaya]] belong to the Advaita Guru Paramparā, Advaita Vedanta has attracted popular recognition since the 19th century, and [[Neo-Vedanta]] movements have developed with roots in, of similarities with, the Advaita tradition.

===Ramakrishna Order===
* [[Ramakrishna Paramahamsa|Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]]
:* [[Vivekananda|Swami Vivekananda]] (1863–1902), disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, wrote books on four Hindu [[Yoga]]s: [[Bhakti Yoga]], [[Jnana Yoga]], [[Karma Yoga]] and [[Raja Yoga]]. The ''Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'' contains a complete collection of transcribed lectures. He spoke at the [[Parliament of the World's Religions]] in [[Chicago]] in 1893.
:*[[Disciples of Ramakrishna]]

===Mata Amritanandamayi Math===
[[Mata Amritanandamayi Math]], founded by [[Mata Amritanandamayi|Sri Mata Amritanandamayi devi]] follows Advaita philosophy and traditions. The sanyasis are initiated in the Puri order of [[Dashanami Sampradaya]]. According to the tradition set forth by Adi Shankaracharya, the Puri Sannyasa tradition is characterised by the following – formal allegiance to the Shringeri Math

* First Acharya (teacher) - [[Sureśvara]]charya
* Sampradaya (customs) - Bhurivara Sampradaya
* Kshetra (Temple) – [[Ramanathaswamy Temple|Rameswaram]]
* Deva (God) – [[Varaha|Adi Varaha Swamy]] (The incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a boar)
* Devi (Goddess) – [[Kamakshi Amman Temple|Kamakshi]]
* Veda – [[Yajurveda]]
* Upanishad – [[Katha Upanishad|Kaṭhopaniṣad]]
* Mahavakya (statement revealing the nature of Absolute Reality ) – [[Ahaṁ Brahmāsmi]]
* Tirtha (Holy River) – [[Tungabhadra River]]
* Gotra (descent or lineage) – Bhaveshavar Rishi<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amritapuri.org/14530/sampradaya.aum|title = Shankaracharya's four Sannyasa orders|date = 15 June 2000}}</ref>

[[Mata Amritanandamayi Math|Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri]] was the first to be initiated as Sanyasin by [[Mata Amritanandamayi|Sri Mata Amritanandamayi devi]] in this order.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amritapuri.org/14524/sannyasi.aum|title=Even Sannyasi's breath should be for the good of others|date=15 June 2000}}</ref> Swami Amritatmananda Puri, Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, Swami Pranavamritananda Puri, Swamini Krishnamrita Prana and Swami Poornamritananda Puri are other few notable sanyasis initiated in this order.

===Divine Life Society, Chinmaya Mission, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam===
{{Main|Divine Life Society|Chinmaya Mission|Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|}}

* [[Tapovan Maharaj|Swami Tapovan Maharaj]] (1889–1957): A ''Virakta [[mahatma]]'', Guru of [[Chinmayananda|Swami Chinmayananda]] post the latter's Sanyas Deeksha by [[Swami Sivananda]]
* [[Swami Sivananda]] (1887–1963): Hindu Saint who founded the [[Divine Life Society]] in Rishikesh, India. Author of more than 300 works of theology and philosophy. According to his disciples, achieved [[Moksha]] upon death.<ref name=home>[http://www.dlshq.org Divine Life Society] Official Website</ref> Bestowed [[sanyasa]] upon
:*[[Swami Krishnananda]] (1922–2001), Hindu saint who was the General Secretary of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, India from 1958 to 2001. Foremost disciple of Swami Sivananda. Author of more than 200 works of theology and philosophy. According to disciples, achieved Moksha upon death.<ref name=home/><ref name=krishorg>[http://swami-Krishnananda.org Swami-Krishnananda.org] Official Website</ref>
:* [[Chinmayananda|Swami Chinmayananda]] (1916–1993), (1916–1993), ''[[Sannyas]] [[diksha]]'' bestowed by [[Swami Sivananda]] in [[Rishikesh]]. Disciples founded the [[Chinmaya Mission]]; 'Chinmaya' means "pure consciousness.".
::*[[Dayananda Saraswati (Chinmaya Mission)|Swami Dayananda Saraswati]], (1930–2015) Founder of 'Arsha Vidya' tradition. He has set up [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|Gurukulams]] in Rishikesh, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Saylorsburg (USA), has taught ten long-term courses in Advaita Vedanta, and has initiated more than 200 disciples into Sannyasa, among them being; Swami Paramarthananda and Swami Tattvavidananda. The advaita teacher and author Sri Vasudevacharya is also a disciple.
:* [[Swami Chidananda]] (1916–2008)
:* [[Shantananda Saraswati|Swami Shantananda Saraswati]] (1934-2005)

===Other teachers===
* [[Mannargudi Raju Sastri]] (1815–1903), Formed 'The Advaita Sabha' for propagating the tenets of the Advaita faith.
* [[Narayana Guru|Sri Narayana Guru]] (1856–1928)- Vedic scholar, mystic philosopher, prolific poet and social reformer, from the present-day [[Kerala]].
* [[Sri Aurobindo]] (1872–1950) Bengali philosopher-sage who synthesized Advaita thought with Western philosophical theories of [[evolution]].
* [[Tibbetibaba]] (-d.1930) - Hindu [[Bengali people|Bengali]] Saint whose life was based on both Advaita Vedanta and Mahayana principles.
* [[Swami Atmananda]] (1883–1959) lived in [[Kerala]].
* [[Prajnanapada]] (1891–1974), disciple of Niralamba Swami and a great exponent of Advaita philosophy. He was in charge of Channa Ashram in West Bengal, India.
* [[Bhagawan Nityananda]] (1897?–1961) was an Indian guru. His teachings are published in the "Chidakash Gita". Nityananda was born in Koyilandy (Pandalayini), Kerala, South India. His teachings are simple and on the nonduality.
* [[Swami Karpatri]] (1905–1980), a well-known ''[[sannyasi]]'' of [[Varanasi]]
* [[Swami Parthasarathy]] (1927- ), Popularly referred to as 'Swamiji', Parthasarathy is known as the modern exponent of Vedanta. He has written 10 books in all, including commentaries on [[Bhagavad Gita]], Atmabodha, [[Bhaja Govindam]] and many other books. His ashram is situated around 100 km from [[Mumbai]] in the hills of Malavli, near [[Lonavla]].
* [[G. Balakrishnan Nair]] Vedanta scholar, Sanskrit academician, philosopher, author and interpreter of the scriptures and Vedanta.
* [[Vagbhatananda|Vagbhatananda Kunjikkannan]] (1885-1939). intellectual figure, Social Reformer and Advaitin.

==Advaita Vedanta interpreted==

===Inchegeri Sampradaya===
{{Main|Inchegeri Sampradaya}}

The Inchegeri Sampradaya is rooted in the [[Nath]]-tradition, but is popularly regarded as Advaita Vedanta.

*[[Siddharameshwar Maharaj]]
:*[[Nisargadatta Maharaj|Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj]] (1897–1981) - A 20th-century master of [[Advaita]] from [[Mumbai]], ''[[I Am That]]'' (1973, collected talks)
::* [[Ramesh Balsekar]] (1917–2009)

===Ramana Maharshi===
Ramana Maharshi underwent a profound [[religious experience]] when he was 16, whereafter he left home to become a sanyassin. While his own (spare) writings reveal his Tamil Saivite background, devotees with a Brahmon and/or Neo-Vedanta background have interpreted him in an Advaita Vedanta framework. His popularisation in the west was initially aided by a Theosophical framework, while his devotee Poonja spawned the [[Neo-Advaita]] movement, which was also influenced by [[Rajneesh|Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh]].

* [[Ramana Maharshi|Shri Ramana Maharshi]] (1879–1950) the silent sage of [[Tamil Nadu]] who had a profound realization of nonduality.
:* [[Sri H.W.L. Poonja]] (1910–1997), or Papaji. Devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi, he denied being part of any formal tradition, and remained always available, welcoming newcomers to his home and satsangs.

==See also ==

* [[List of teachers of Vedanta]]
* [[List of Hindus]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|35em}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin|}}
* {{Citation | last =Nikhalananda | first =Swami |pages=| year =1931 | title =Drg-Drsya-Viveka. An inquiry into the nature of the 'seer' and the 'seen.' | publisher =Sri Ramakrishna Asrama | url =https://archive.org/details/drgdrsyaviveka030903mbp|volume=}}
{{refend}}

{{Hindudharma}}
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[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Advaitin philosophers]]
[[Category:Movements in ancient Indian philosophy]]
[[Category:Lists of Hindu religious leaders]]
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