Mira Alfassa “The Mother”
Born: 1878, France Born:
Died: 1973
Her mother was Egyptian and her father was Turkish. She had divine visions in her childhood. She had travelled and met her collaborator and guru Sri Aurobindo in 1904. After spending some years in Japan and China she settled in Pondicherry and created and managed the Aurobindo Ashram. Together with Aurobindo they outlined a form of yoga called 'Consciousness Evolution' and 'Spiritual Supramental Transformation'. This idea revolves around an advanced stage of human evolution which is seen as a transformation into a higher 'Supramental' state of existence. The community striving for this goal is located in Auroville.

Sri Sri Ravishankar
Sri Sri Ravishankar
Born: 1956

Celebrity guru who lives life by example. “You believe what you don't know; I don't believe in God. God is the very core of your being, it is like peeling an onion and reaching that central nothingness, which is God. The whole is God.” Said to be born a Divine Child. Has attracted a growing interest world-wide through his Art of Living courses based on his Sudarshan Kriya method of meditation that also brings many practical benefits in everyday living. His innovative programs have been acknowledged by the United Nations and his work has brought actual improvements in areas such as prison reform and education.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Born: 1836, near Calcutta
Died: 1886

Seer and sage of 19th century. Experienced extreme God-consciousness. Believed that the revelation of God is continuous and everywhere. He warned that diminishing God-consciousness results in dogma and materialism leading to oppression. Ramakrishna's radiant personality drew people from all over the world from all faiths and races. His personal radiance generated a sense of connection between the religions promoting harmony and tolerance. He held that religions are not contradictory but complementary and all of them lead to the same goal. He said: “As many faiths, so many paths.”

Sri Aurobindo
Born: 1872
Died: 1950
Educated in England. Turned from militant
nationalist into a mystic while in the Alipur jai. Wrote over 60 brilliantly erudite books in four years. It is said that these books were channelled to him and none required revision. After that he never wrote again and rarely spoke. Gandhi offered Aurobindo the leadership of the Congress party but Aurobindo refused to meet Gandhi. His texts on the Vedas are considered unsurpassed. Declaring French born Mira Alfassa (The Mother) his equal partner was a provocation to conservative India as was opening his ashram to women. His ideas are kept alive in Auroville, a community dedicated to Human Unity.

Anandamayi Ma
Born: 1896, East Bengal
Died: 1982, Hardwar

As a child Anandamayi Ma showed early signs of divinity that were observed by her parents and friends. Some believed that she is the god Shiva in human form and that her mission is to serve humanity and to illuminate and enrich the lives of human beings. She married at an early age and her husband remained devoted to her all through her life. As her reputation grew, she travelled extensively all over India encouraging her devotees to serve others without complaining. She believed that all religions joined into the same path: the realisation of the Supreme. She influenced the spirituality of many thousands of people.