Hindu Traditions
Rishi · Acharya · Bhakti · Alvar · Nayanar · Yogi-Siddha · Tantric · Lingayat · Modern Guru
Rishi / Maharishi
Vedic seers — composers and revealers of the Vedas (Vasishtha, Vishvamitra, Atri, Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Agastya, Bharadvaja).
Acharya
Philosopher-founders and head teachers of Vedanta schools.
Advaita AcharyaVishishtadvaita AcharyaDvaita AcharyaShuddhadvaita AcharyaDvaitadvaita AcharyaAchintya-Bheda-Abheda AcharyaBhakti Saint
Devotional poet-saints of medieval India (Mirabai, Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabir, Tukaram, Namdev, Eknath).
Alvar
Twelve Vaishnava poet-saints of Tamil Nadu (Nammalvar, Andal, Periyalvar, ...).
Nayanar
Sixty-three Shaiva poet-saints of Tamil Nadu (Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar, Manikkavasagar).
Yogi / Siddha
Nath yogis, 18 Tamil Siddhars, Hatha and Kriya lineages (Gorakhnath, Matsyendranath, Agastyar, Tirumular).
Tantric Saint
Saiva, Shakta, and Kashmiri tantric masters (Abhinavagupta, Lalleshwari).
Lingayat / Veerashaiva
Sharana tradition founded by Basavanna in 12th-century Karnataka.
Modern Guru
19th–21st century spiritual masters (Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Ramana Maharshi, Aurobindo, Yogananda, Chinmayananda).
Sant Mat / Nirguna
Nirguna Bhakti tradition — formless devotion (Kabir, Nanak, Dadu, Ravidas).