Saints & Sages

Varanasi has been the ultimate crucible for spiritual thought in India. Great reformers, poets, and mystics have walked its ghats, challenging social norms and preaching the path of devotion. The city is the birthplace of the Bhakti movement and a center for both Hindu and Buddhist philosophies.

The Legacy of Kabir and Tulsi

The verses of Kabir still echo in the lanes of Kabir Chaura, while the temple city resonates with the Ramcharitmanas, written here by the poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas.

Spiritual Pillars of Kashi

• Kabir Das: The 15th-century mystic poet who promoted social equality and unity through his couplets (Dohe).
• Tulsidas: High priest of the RAM devotion movement, who lived at Tulsi Ghat and translated the Ramayana into the common tongue (Awadhi).
• Sant Ravidas: A social reformer and saint whose followers still maintain a massive spiritual presence in the city.
• Adi Shankaracharya: The great philosopher who arrived in Kashi to debate and establish Advaita Vedanta.
• Lahiri Mahasaya: The 19th-century yogi who popularized Kriya Yoga and lived as a householder-saint in the city.