Advaita Vedānta Lineage

A drop in the ocean: an analogy for Ātman merging into Brahman. Photo: Mikkel Houmøller, Wikipedia.The Advaita guru-paramparā (Lineage of Gurus in Non-dualism) begins with the mythological time of the Daiva-paramparā (Nārāyaṇa; Brahmā), followed by the vedic seers of the Ṛṣi-paramparā (Vaśiṣṭha; Śakti; Parāśara; Vyāsa; Śuka), and the Mānava-paramparā of historical times and personalities.

Titles of Gurus in Parampara

In paramparā, not only is the immediate guru revered, the three preceding gurus are also worshipped or revered. These are known variously as the "four gurus" and are designated as follows:
• Guru: the immediate guru;
• Parama-Guru: the Grand Guru of the paramparā or specific tradition (e.g. Gauḍapādācharya is the Parama-Guru of Adi Śaṅkarācārya);
• Parātpara-Guru: the Guru who is the source of knowledge for many traditions (e.g. Vyāsa is the Parātpara-Guru for Adi Śaṅkarācārya and his followers);
• Parameṣṭhi-Guru: the supreme Guru which has the power to bestow mokṣa (usually Śiva, being the highest Guru).

Advaita Vedānta Mānava Paramparā

Gauḍapāda (700–780CE approx.)

Writings: Māṇḍukya Kārikā (Gauḍapāda Kārikā); Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Bhashya; Nrisimha Tapaniya Upanishad Bhashya; Anugita Bhashya; Durga Saptashati Tika; Sri Vidyaratna Sutra Bhashya; Subhagodaya on Shri Vidya; Uttara Gita Bhashya.
Disciples: Govinda Bhagavatpāda (750–850 approx.)
Monasteries: Śrī Sansthāna Gauḍapadācārya Maṭha¹ (Kavaḷē maṭha), founded around 740 AD, at Kushasthali near Keloshi (Quelshim) in Goa.

Govinda Bhagavatpāda (750–850 approx.)

Disciples: Śaṅkarācārya (788–820)

Śaṅkarācārya (788–820)

Writings:
• Commentaries (Bhāṣya) on: Brahmasūtra; Aitareya Upaniṣad (Rigveda); Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (Śukla Yajurveda); Īśa Upaniṣad (Śukla Yajurveda); Taittirīya Upaniṣad (Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda); Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda); Kaṭha Upaniṣad (Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda); Kena Upaniṣad (samaveda); Chāndogya Upaniṣad (samaveda); Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad (Atharvaveda) and Gauḍapāda Kārika; Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (Atharvaveda); Praśna Upaniṣad(Atharvaveda); Bhagavadgītā (Mahābhārata ); Vishnu Sahasranāma (Mahābhārata); Sānatsujātiya (Mahābhārata); Gāyatrī Mantraṃ.
• Treatises (Prakaraṇa grantha): Vivekacūḍāmaṇi (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom); Upadeśasāhasri (A thousand teachings); Śataśloki; Daśaśloki; Ekaśloki; Pañcīkaraṇa; Ātma bodha; Aparokṣānubhūti; Sādhana Pañcakaṃ; Nirvāṇa Ṣaṭkam; Manīśa Pañcakaṃ; Yati Pañcakaṃ; Vākyasudha (Dṛg-Dṛśya-Viveka); Tattva bodha; Vākya vṛtti; Siddhānta Tattva Vindu; Nirguṇa Mānasa Pūja; Prasnottara Ratna Malika (The Gem-Garland of Questions and Answers) Śataśloki; Prabodhasudhakara; Svatma Prakasika
• Hymns (Stotra): Gaṇeśa Pancharatnam; Annapurnashtakam; Kalabhairavashtakam; Dakshinamurthy Stotram; Krishnashtakam; Bhaja Govindaṃ, also known as Mohamuḍgara; Śivānandalahari; Saundaryalahari; Jeevanmuktanandalahari; Śrī Lakṣmīnṛsiṃha Karāvalamba; Śāradā Bhujangaṃ; Kanakadhāra; Bhavāni Aṣṭakaṃ; Śiva Mānasa Pūja; Pandurangashtakam; Subramanya Bhujangam; Kashi Panchakam; Suvarnamala; Mahishasura Mardini; Meenakshi Pancha Ratnam; Nirvāṇaṣaṭkam also known as Ātmaṣaṭkam; Sabarigiri Aṣṭakam.
Disciples: Padmapāda; Sureśvara; Hastāmalakācārya; Toṭakācārya;
Monasteries: Puri Govardhanmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ; Sringeri Śārada Pīṭhaṃ; Dvāraka Śārada Pīṭhaṃ; Badari Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ.
Traditions: Śaṅkarācārya is regarded as the greatest teacher and reformer of the Smarta tradition.

Padmapāda

Writings: Pañcapādikā; Ātma-bodha-vyākhyāna (Vedānta-sarā)
Monasteries: Puri Govardhanmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ

Sureśvara

Writings: Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad-bhāṣya-vārttika (commentary on Śankara's works on the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad); Naiṣkarmya-siddhi (non-commentary); Sambandha-vārttika (commentary on Śankāra's introduction to the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad); Taittirīya-vārttika (commentary on Śankāra's work on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad); Manasollasa (commentary on Dakṣiṇamūrti-Stotra); Pañcī-karaṇa-vārttika (commentary on Śankara's Pañcī-karaṇam).
Monasteries: Sringeri Śārada Pīṭhaṃ

Hastāmalakācārya

Writings: Hastāmalaka Stotra
Monasteries: Dvāraka Śārada Pīṭhaṃ

Toṭakācārya

Writings: Śrutisārasamuddharaņa; Toṭākāṣṭakam
Monasteries: Badari Jyotirmaṭha Pīṭhaṃ

Sri Rāmakrishna Paramahamsa

Writings: Śrī-Śrī-Rāmakṛṣṇa-Kathāmṛta (The Nectar of Sri Ramakrishna's Words) is a work by Mahendranath Gupta (1854–1932) which recounts conversations with Rāmakṛṣṇa.
Disciples: Swami Vivekananda; Swami Brahmananda; Swami Premananda; Swami Yogananda; Swami Niranjanananda; Swami Saradananda; Swami Shivananda; Swami Ramakrishnananda; Swami Turiyananda; Swami Abhedananda; Swami Adbhutananda; Swami Advaitananda; Swami Nirmalananda; Swami Akhandananda; Swami Trigunatitananda; Swami Subodhananda; Swami Vijnanananda. He also had many household disciples, including his wife, Sarada Devi.
Monasteries: Rāmakṛṣṇa Math
Traditions: Rāmakṛṣṇa Order

Ramana Maharshi

Writings: Gambhiram Sheshayya, Vichāra Sangraham, "Self-Enquiry"; Sivaprakasam Pillai, Nān Yār?, "Who am I?"; Five Hymns to Arunachala (kshara Mana Malai, "The Marital Garland of Letters"; Navamani Mālai, "The Necklet of Nine Gems"; Arunāchala Patikam, "Eleven Verses to Sri Arunachala"; Arunāchala Ashtakam, "Eight Stanzas to Sri Arunachala"; Arunāchala Pañcharatna, "Five Stanzas to Sri Arunachala"); Upadesha Sāra (Upadesha Undiyar), "The Essence of Instruction" (written with Sri Muruganar); Ulladu narpadu, "Forty Verses on Reality"; Ullada Nārpadu Anubandham, "Reality in Forty Verses: Supplement"; Ramana Puranam (written with Sri Muruganar); Ekātma Pañchakam, "Five Verses on the Self".
Disciples: Ramana Maharshi never claimed to have disciples, nor appointed any successors.
Monasteries: Sri Ramana Ashram, also known as Sri Ramanasramam.
Traditions: Neo-Advaita, although not authorised by Ramana Maharshi.

Swami Dayananda Saraswati

Writings: Action and Reaction; Bhagavad Geeta Home Study; Biography - Contributions and Writings by Smt. Sheela Balaji; Biography - Teacher of Teachers by Smt. Padma Narasimhan; Can We? (Essays: 6); Compositions; Conversion Is Violence; Crisis Management; Danam (Essays: 4); Dialogues With Swami Dayananda; Discourses on Important Topics; Discovering Love; Do all Religions have the same goal? (Essays: 1); Eight Significant Verses of Bhagavad Gita; Exploring Vedanta; Freedom; Freedom from Fear; Freedom from Helplessness; Freedom from Sadness; Freedom from Stress; Freedom in Relationship; Friendship (The Essence of Vedic Marriage); The Fundamental Problem; Gurupurnima (Essays: 3); In the Vision of Vedanta; Insights; Introduction to Vedanta – Understanding The Fundamental Problem; Japa; Kenopanishad; Knowledge and Action – The Two Fold Commitment; Living Intelligently; Living Versus Getting On; Mahavakya Vichara; Mandukya Upanishad; Moments with Krishna (Essays: 7); Morning Meditation Prayers; Mundakopanishad – Bhasya and Tika unfolded; Need for Cognitive Change; Need for Personal Reorganisation; Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya; Personal Re-engineering in Management; Personnel Management; Prayer Guide; The Problem Is You, The Solution Is You; Public Talks-2: Discovering Love & Successful Living; Purnamadah Purnamidam; The Purpose of Prayer; Ramayana; The Sadhana and the Sadhya; Sadhana Pancakam; Satyam and Mithya; Self-Knowledge; Shri Rudra; Stressfree Living; Successful Living; Surrender and Freedom; Talks and Essays; Talks on "Who Am I ?"; Talks on Meditation; Talks on Shri Rudra; Tattvabodha; The Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita; Teaching Tradition of Advaita Vedanta; Ten Essential Verses of Bhagavad Gita; Understanding Between Parents and Children; The Value of Values; Vedanta 24 x 7; Vedic View and Way of Life; Vishnusahasranama; Vision of Gita; Vivekachudamani (Talks on 108 Selected Verses); Wedding Ceremony Based on Hindu Concepts; What is Meditation; What You Love Is The Pleased Self; Yoga of Objectivity; You Are the Whole.
Disciples: Narendra Modi; Anantanand Rambachan; Vasudevacharya (Dr. Michael Comans); Ira Schepetin; Swami Suddhananda Saraswati; Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati;; Swami Nijananda; Swami Tadrupananda; Swami Tadatmananda; Swami Paramarthananda; Swami Tattvavidananda; Swami Suddhabodhananda; Swami Pratyagbodhananda; Swami Brahmatmananda; Swami Paramatmananda; Swami Sakshatkrtananda; Swamini Brahmapraksananda; Swamiini Brahmalinananda; Swamini Svatmavidyananda; Swami Sadatmanada; Swami Shankarananda; Swami Santatmananda.
Monasteries: Arsha Vidya Gurukulam

Swami Śivānanda Saraswati

Writings: Yogic Home Exercises. Easy Course of Physical Culture for Men & Women, Bombay, Taraporevala Sons & Co.; Siva-Gita: an epistolary autobiography. The Sivananda Publication League. 1946; Principal Upanishads: with text, meaning notes and commentary. Yoga Vedanta Forest University, Divine Life Society. 1950; Raja Yoga: theory and practice. Yoga Vedanta Forest University, Divine Life Society. 1950; Inspiring songs and kirtans. Yoga-Vedanta Forest University. 1953; Music as yoga. The Yoga-Vedanta Forest University for the Sivananda Mahasamsthanam. 1956; Yoga of synthesis. Yoga-Vedanta Forest University. 1956; Story of my tour. Yoga-Vedanta Forest University. 1957; Sivananda-Kumudini Devi (1960). Sivananda's letters to Sivananda-Kumudini Devi. Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy; India (1962). Lord Siva and his worship. Yoga-Vedanta forest academy, Divine life Society; Yoga practice, for developing and increasing physical, mental and spiritual powers. D.B. Taraporevala Sons. 1966; Fourteen lessons in raja yoga. Divine Life Society. 1970; Inspiring songs and sayings. The Divine Life Society. 1970; Yoga Vedanta dictionary. Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. 1970; Kundalini yoga. Divine Life Society. 1971; The science of pranayama. Divine Life Society. 1971; Ten upanishads: with notes and commentary 8th ed. Divine Life Society. 1973; Sivananda vani: the cream of Sri Swami Sivananda's immortal, practical instructions on the yoga of synthesis in his own handwriting. Divine Life Society. 1978; Practice of yoga. The Divine Life Society. 1979; Autobiography of Swami Sivananda. Divine Life Society. 1980; Japa Yoga: a comprehensive treatise on mantra-sastra. Divine Life Society. 1981; Science of Yoga: Raja yoga, Jnana yoga - Concentration and meditation. Divine Life Society. 1981; Moksha Gita. Divine Life Society. 1982; Samadhi yoga. The Divine Life Society. 1983; Yoga samhita. Divine Life Society. 1984; The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: Sanskrit text, English translation, and commentary. Divine Life Society. 1985; Karma yoga. Divine Life Society. 1985; Bhakti yoga. Divine Life Society, Fremantle Branch. 1 January 1987; Lord Shanmukha and his worship. Divine Life Society. 1996; Raja Yoga. Kessinger Publishing. December 2005.
Disciples: Chinmayānanda Saraswati; Sahajānanda Saraswati; Satchidānanda Saraswati; Satyānanda Saraswati; Shantānanda Saraswati; Śivānanda Radha Saraswati; Venkatesānanda Saraswati; Vishnudevānanda Saraswati.
Monasteries: Divine Life Society (foundation / ashram)

Swami Satyānanda Saraswati

Writings: Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha; Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha; A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya; Yoga From Shore To Shore; A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga & Kriya; Kundalini Tantra; Mere Aradhya; Rikhia, The vision of a Sage; Meditations from the Tantras; Sure Ways to Self Realisation.
Disciples: Swami Nirañjanānanda Saraswati; Swami Satyasangananda
Monasteries: Bihar School of Yoga
Traditions: Yoga Fellowship Movement

Swami Vivekananda

Writings: Sangeet Kalpataru; Karma Yoga; Raja Yoga; Vedanta Philosophy: An address before the Graduate Philosophical Society; Lectures from Colombo to Almora; Bartaman Bharat (in Bengali); My Master; Vedānta philosophy: lectures on Jnāna Yoga; Jnana yoga; Addresses on Bhakti Yoga; Bhakti Yoga; The East and the West; Inspired Talks; Narada Bhakti Sutras; Para Bhakti or Supreme Devotion; Practical Vedanta; Brahmavadin (periodical).
Disciples: Swami Ashokananda; Swami Virajananda; Swami Paramananda; Alasinga Perumal; Swami Abhayananda; Sister Nivedita; Swami Sadananda.
Monasteries: Ramakrishna Math; Ramakrishna Mission; Vedanta Societies in San Francisco and New York; Shanti Ashrama in California; Mayavati Advaita Ashrama (near Almora);
Traditions: Neo-Vedanta

Lahiri Mahasaya

Disciples: Panchanan Bhattacharya; Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri; Swami Pranabananda; Swami Keshavananda Brahmachari; Bhupendranath Sanyal; Gyan Prabha Ghosh, mother of Paramahansa Yogananda; Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, father of Paramahansa Yogananda; Bhaskarananda Saraswati; Balananda Brahmachari; Maharaja Iswari Narayan Sinha Bahadur of Benares and his son.

Swami Śri Yukteśwar Giri

Writings: Kaivalya Darsanam (The Holy Science).
Disciples: Paramahansa Yogananda; Swami Satyananda Giri; Swami Hariharananda Giri; Swami Bhabananda Giri; Motilal Mukhopadyay; Sri Sailendra Bejoy Dasgupta; Sri Amulya Charan Santra.
Monasteries: Priyadham Ashram; Karar Ashram
Traditions: Sadhu Sabha

Swami Paramahansa Yogananda

Writings: Autobiography of a Yogi; Man’s Eternal Quest; The Divine Romance; Journey to Self-realization; God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita; The Second Coming of Christ; Songs of the Soul; Whispers from Eternity; Scientific Healing Affirmations; In the Sanctuary of the Soul: A Guide to Effective Prayer; The Science of Religion; Metaphysical Meditations; Where There Is Light: Insight and Inspiration for Meeting Life’s Challenges; Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda; Inner Peace: How to Be Calmly Active and Actively Calm; The Law of Success; How You Can Talk With God.
Disciples: Minott Lewis; Mildred Lewis; Sister Yogmata; Tara Mata; Gyanamata; Mildred (Mother) Hamilton; Kamala Silva; Swami Premananda; Durga Mata; Ananda Mata; Daya Mata; Oliver Black; Rajarsi Janakananda; Sradha Mata; Sailasuta Mata; Bhaktananda; Mrinalini Mata; Mukti Mata; Bimalananda; Uma Mata; Norman Paulsen; Swami Kriyananda; Anandamoy; Roy Eugene Davis; Bob Raymer; Brother Mokshananda.
Traditions: Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Self-Realization Fellowship
Monasteries: Self-Realization Fellowship has over 500 temples, retreats, ashrams, centers, and meditation circles around the world.