From the Ekatmata Stotra

Great Lives of Bharatभारत के विशिष्ट व्यक्तित्व

The Ekatmata Stotra names 134 exemplars, from Arundhati to Dr. Hedgewar: rishis and queens, Bhakti saints, scientists, poets, warriors and reformers from every region and tradition of Bharat. Each one has a short biography here: who they were, what they did, and how they are remembered.

  • Lives named134
  • Stanzas21 (10–30)
  • Biographies ready134
Browse the livesRead the Ekatmata Stotra
AnasuyaSavitriSita (Janaki)SatiDraupadiKannagiGargi VachaknaviMirabai
Stanza 10 · Women · Ancient

Ten women of itihāsa and purāṇa

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अ Vedic age Arundhati अरुन्धती Wife of Vasishtha, the star Alcor beside the Saptarishi Read biography → Anasuya Puranic Anasuya अनसूया Wife of Atri, whose devotion humbled the Trimurti Read biography → Savitri Mahabharata Savitri सावित्री Won back her husband Satyavan from Yama Read biography → Sita (Janaki) Ramayana Sita (Janaki) सीता / जानकी Daughter of Janaka, consort of Shri Rama Read biography → Sati Puranic Sati सती Consort of Shiva, who gave up her body at Daksha's yajna Read biography → Draupadi Mahabharata Draupadi द्रौपदी Yajnaseni, queen of the Pandavas Read biography → Kannagi Silappatikaram Kannagi कण्णगी Tamil heroine who demanded justice from the Pandya king Read biography → Gargi Vachaknavi Upanishadic age Gargi Vachaknavi गार्गी वाचक्नवी Questioned Yajnavalkya in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Read biography → Mirabai c. 1498–1547 Mirabai मीराबाई Rajput princess and Krishna-bhakta poet-saint Read biography → Rani Durgavati 1524–1564 Rani Durgavati रानी दुर्गावती Gond queen who fell fighting the Mughal army Read biography →
Stanza 11 · Women · Modern

Six women of the last four centuries

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Rani Lakshmibai c. 1828–1858 Rani Lakshmibai रानी लक्ष्मीबाई Queen of Jhansi, warrior of 1857 Read biography → Ahalyabai Holkar 1725–1795 Ahalyabai Holkar अहल्याबाई होल्कर Queen of Malwa who rebuilt temples and ghats across India Read biography → Rani Chennamma 1778–1829 Rani Chennamma रानी चेन्नम्मा Queen of Kittur who rose against the East India Company in 1824 Read biography → Rudrama Devi reigned c. 1263–1289 Rudrama Devi रुद्रमा देवी Kakatiya warrior-queen of Warangal Read biography → Sister Nivedita 1867–1911 Sister Nivedita भगिनी निवेदिता Disciple of Vivekananda, educator and nationalist Read biography → Sharada Devi 1853–1920 Sharada Devi शारदा देवी The Holy Mother, consort of Shri Ramakrishna Read biography →
Stanza 12 · Male Exemplars · I

Ten figures from the great epics

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Shri Rama Ramayana Shri Rama श्री राम Maryada Purushottama, the ideal king Read biography → Bharata Ramayana Bharata भरत Ruled in Rama's name with his padukas on the throne Read biography → Shri Krishna Mahabharata Shri Krishna श्री कृष्ण Teacher of the Bhagavad Gita Read biography → Bhishma Mahabharata Bhishma भीष्म Grandsire of the Kurus, bound by his vow Read biography → Yudhishthira Mahabharata Yudhishthira युधिष्ठिर Dharmaraja, eldest of the Pandavas Read biography → Arjuna Mahabharata Arjuna अर्जुन The archer to whom Krishna taught the Gita Read biography → Markandeya Puranic Markandeya मार्कण्डेय The sage whom Shiva saved from Yama Read biography → Harishchandra Puranic Harishchandra हरिश्चन्द्र The king who gave up everything for truth Read biography → प Puranic Prahlada प्रह्लाद Child-devotee of Vishnu, saved by Narasimha Read biography → Narada Puranic Narada नारद Wandering devarshi and teacher of bhakti Read biography →
Stanza 13 · Male Exemplars · II

Eleven devotees, sages and seers

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Hanuman Ramayana Hanuman हनुमान Devoted servant of Shri Rama, embodiment of strength Read biography → Janaka Upanishadic age Janaka जनक Philosopher-king of Mithila, father of Sita Read biography → Veda Vyasa Mahabharata Veda Vyasa वेदव्यास Arranged the Vedas, composed the Mahabharata Read biography → Vasishtha Vedic age Vasishtha वसिष्ठ Guru of the Ikshvaku line and of Shri Rama Read biography → Shukadeva Puranic Shukadeva शुकदेव Son of Vyasa, narrator of the Bhagavata Read biography → Bali Puranic Bali बलि Generous asura king who gave three steps to Vamana Read biography → द Puranic Dadhichi दधीचि Gave his bones to forge Indra's vajra Read biography → व Vedic age Vishwakarma विश्वकर्मा Divine architect, patron of craftsmen Read biography → Prithu Puranic Prithu पृथु First consecrated king, after whom the earth is called Prithvi Read biography → Valmiki Ramayana Valmiki वाल्मीकि Adi-kavi, composer of the Ramayana Read biography → Parashurama Puranic Parashurama परशुराम Warrior-sage, sixth avatar of Vishnu Read biography →
Stanza 14 · Puranic Exemplars

Six figures of sacrifice and dharma

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Bhagiratha Puranic Bhagiratha भगीरथ Brought the Ganga down to earth by tapas Read biography → Ekalavya Mahabharata Ekalavya एकलव्य Self-taught archer who gave his thumb as guru-dakshina Read biography → Manu Puranic Manu मनु Progenitor of humankind and first lawgiver in tradition Read biography → Dhanvantari Puranic Dhanvantari धन्वन्तरि Physician of the gods, patron of Ayurveda Read biography → श Puranic Shibi शिबि King who offered his own flesh to save a dove Read biography → र Puranic Rantideva रन्तिदेव King who gave away his last meal to the hungry Read biography →
Stanza 15 · Cross-Tradition Teachers

From Buddha and Mahāvīra to Basaveśvara

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Gautama Buddha c. 6th–5th century BCE Gautama Buddha गौतम बुद्ध The Enlightened One, teacher of the Middle Way Read biography → Mahavira c. 6th–5th century BCE Mahavira महावीर Twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the Jain tradition Read biography → Gorakshanath c. 11th–12th century Gorakshanath गोरक्षनाथ Nath yogi, master of Hatha Yoga Read biography → Tiruvalluvar date debated Tiruvalluvar तिरुवल्लुवर Tamil poet of the Tirukkural Read biography → The Nayanmars c. 6th–9th century The Nayanmars नायन्मार Sixty-three Shaiva poet-saints of Tamil Nadu Read biography → The Alvars c. 6th–9th century The Alvars आळ्वार Twelve Vaishnava poet-saints of Tamil Nadu Read biography → Kamban 12th century Kamban कम्बन Author of the Tamil Ramayana, Ramavataram Read biography → Basaveshwara 12th century Basaveshwara बसवेश्वर Kannada vachana poet and social reformer Read biography →
Stanza 16 · Medieval Saints · I

The bhakti revolution — Ravidas to Guru Gobind Singh

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द Early medieval Devala देवल Smriti author whose code welcomed the forcibly converted back to dharma Read biography → Sant Ravidas c. 15th–16th century Sant Ravidas संत रविदास Cobbler-saint of the Bhakti movement Read biography → Kabir c. 15th century Kabir कबीर Weaver-saint of the dohas Read biography → Guru Nanak Dev 1469–1539 Guru Nanak Dev गुरु नानक देव First Guru of the Sikh tradition Read biography → Narsinh Mehta c. 15th century Narsinh Mehta नरसिंह मेहता Gujarati Krishna-bhakta, author of Vaishnava Jana To Read biography → Goswami Tulsidas c. 1532–1623 Goswami Tulsidas गोस्वामी तुलसीदास Author of the Ramcharitmanas Read biography → Guru Gobind Singh 1666–1708 Guru Gobind Singh गुरु गोबिन्द सिंह Tenth Sikh Guru, founder of the Khalsa Read biography →
Stanza 17 · Regional Saints

Saints who gave their regional language a bhakti canon

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श 15th–16th century Srimanta Sankardev श्रीमन्त शङ्करदेव Assamese saint, founder of Ekasarana Dharma Read biography → स d. 1387 Sayanacharya सायणाचार्य Commentator on all four Vedas Read biography → म 14th century Madhava Vidyaranya माधव विद्यारण्य Sage who guided the founding of Vijayanagara Read biography → Sant Jnaneshwar 1275–1296 Sant Jnaneshwar संत ज्ञानेश्वर Author of the Jnaneshwari, the Marathi Gita Read biography → Sant Tukaram c. 1608–1650 Sant Tukaram संत तुकाराम Warkari saint, composer of abhangas Read biography → Samarth Ramdas 1608–1681 Samarth Ramdas समर्थ रामदास Author of the Dasbodh Read biography → Purandara Dasa 1484–1564 Purandara Dasa पुरन्दरदास Pitamaha of Carnatic music Read biography →
Stanza 18 · Later Saints

Nineteenth-century acharyas and reformers

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व 1778–1868 Swami Virajananda स्वामी विरजानन्द Blind Sanskrit scholar, guru of Dayananda Saraswati Read biography → Sahajanand Swami 1781–1830 Sahajanand Swami सहजानन्द स्वामी Founder of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya Read biography → र c. 14th–15th century Ramananda रामानन्द Opened Rama-bhakti to all; teacher of the Bhakti saints Read biography →
Stanza 19 · Poets & Musicians

From Kālidāsa to Tyāgarāja

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भ c. 2nd century BCE–2nd century CE Bharata Muni भरत मुनि Author of the Natya Shastra Read biography → Kalidasa c. 4th–5th century Kalidasa कालिदास Poet-dramatist of Shakuntala and Meghaduta Read biography → Raja Bhoja reigned c. 1010–1055 Raja Bhoja राजा भोज Paramara king, scholar and patron Read biography → ज 12th century (tradition) Jakanachari जक्कणाचारी Legendary master-sculptor of Karnataka Read biography → स c. 15th–16th century Surdas सूरदास Poet of the Sursagar, songs of child Krishna Read biography → Tyagaraja 1767–1847 Tyagaraja त्यागराज Composer of the Carnatic Trinity Read biography → Raskhan 16th–17th century Raskhan रसखान Krishna-bhakta poet of Braj Read biography →
Stanza 20 · Artists

The painters who made the gods visible

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Raja Ravi Varma 1848–1906 Raja Ravi Varma राजा रवि वर्मा Painter who gave the gods their modern faces Read biography → भ 18th century Rajarshi Bhagyachandra राजर्षि भाग्यचन्द्र Manipur king who shaped the Ras Lila dance Read biography →
Stanza 21 · Ancient Rulers

Early sages and empire-builders

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Agastya Vedic age Agastya अगस्त्य Sage who carried Vedic learning south of the Vindhyas Read biography → क Legendary Kambu Swayambhuva कम्बु स्वायम्भुव Legendary founder of Kambuja (Cambodia) Read biography → Kaundinya c. 1st century CE Kaundinya कौण्डिन्य Founder of Funan in Southeast Asia, in tradition Read biography → र reigned 1014–1044 Rajendra Chola I राजेन्द्र चोल Chola emperor whose navy reached Southeast Asia Read biography → Samrat Ashoka reigned c. 268–232 BCE Samrat Ashoka सम्राट अशोक Mauryan emperor who turned to dhamma after Kalinga Read biography → प c. 2nd century BCE Pushyamitra Shunga पुष्यमित्र शुङ्ग Founder of the Shunga dynasty Read biography → Kharavela c. 1st century BCE Kharavela खारवेल Emperor of Kalinga, of the Hathigumpha inscription Read biography →
Stanza 22 · Great Statesmen

The architects of empire — Chanakya to Bappa Rawal

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Chanakya 4th century BCE Chanakya चाणक्य Author of the Arthashastra, guide of Chandragupta Read biography → Chandragupta Maurya reigned c. 321–297 BCE Chandragupta Maurya चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य Founder of the Mauryan Empire Read biography → Vikramaditya Legendary Vikramaditya विक्रमादित्य Just king of Ujjain, of the Vikram Samvat Read biography → श Legendary Shalivahana शालिवाहन Satavahana king of the Shaka era Read biography → Samudragupta reigned c. 335–375 Samudragupta समुद्रगुप्त Gupta emperor, conqueror and patron of the arts Read biography → Harshavardhana reigned 606–647 Harshavardhana हर्षवर्धन Emperor of North India, poet-king Read biography → The Shailendras 8th–9th century The Shailendras शैलेन्द्र वंश Javanese dynasty that built Borobudur Read biography → Bappa Rawal 8th century Bappa Rawal बप्पा रावल Founder of the Mewar line Read biography →
Stanza 23 · Defenders

Those who held the line against invasion

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Lachit Borphukan 1622–1672 Lachit Borphukan लाचित बरफुकन Ahom general, victor of Saraighat Read biography → Bhaskaravarman reigned c. 600–650 Bhaskaravarman भास्करवर्मा King of Kamarupa (Assam) Read biography → Yashodharman 6th century Yashodharman यशोधर्मा King of Malwa who defeated the Hunas Read biography → Krishnadevaraya reigned 1509–1529 Krishnadevaraya कृष्णदेवराय Vijayanagara emperor and Telugu poet Read biography → ल 8th century Lalitaditya Muktapida ललितादित्य मुक्तापीड Kashmiri emperor, builder of Martand Read biography →
Stanza 24 · Warriors

The warriors of resistance

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म 14th century The Musunuri Nayakas मुसुनूरि नायक Freed Andhra from the Delhi Sultanate Read biography → Maharana Pratap 1540–1597 Maharana Pratap महाराणा प्रताप Mewar king who never accepted Mughal rule Read biography → Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 1630–1680 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज Founder of Hindavi Swarajya Read biography → Maharaja Ranjit Singh 1780–1839 Maharaja Ranjit Singh महाराजा रणजीत सिंह Sikh emperor of Punjab Read biography →
Stanza 25 · Ancient Scientists

The six foundational minds

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क Ancient Kapila कपिल Founder of Samkhya philosophy Read biography → क Ancient Kanada कणाद Founder of the Vaisheshika theory of atoms Read biography → Sushruta Ancient Sushruta सुश्रुत Author of the Sushruta Samhita, classic of surgery Read biography → Charaka Ancient Charaka चरक Author of the Charaka Samhita of Ayurveda Read biography → भ 1114–c. 1185 Bhaskaracharya भास्कराचार्य Author of Lilavati and Siddhanta Shiromani Read biography → Varahamihira 6th century Varahamihira वराहमिहिर Astronomer, author of the Brihat Samhita Read biography →
Stanza 26 · Scientists II

Bridging the ancient and the modern

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न dates debated Nagarjuna नागार्जुन Master of Rasa Shastra, Indian chemistry Read biography → Bharadvaja Vedic age Bharadvaja भरद्वाज Rishi of the sixth mandala of the Rigveda Read biography → Aryabhata 476–c. 550 Aryabhata आर्यभट Mathematician-astronomer, author of the Aryabhatiya Read biography → Jagadish Chandra Bose (Vasu) 1858–1937 Jagadish Chandra Bose (Vasu) जगदीशचन्द्र वसु Pioneer of radio science and plant physiology Read biography → C. V. Raman 1888–1970 C. V. Raman चन्द्रशेखर वेङ्कटरामन् Nobel laureate, discoverer of the Raman effect Read biography → Srinivasa Ramanujan 1887–1920 Srinivasa Ramanujan श्रीनिवास रामानुजन् Self-taught mathematical genius Read biography →
Stanza 27 · Renaissance

Those who woke the sleeping civilisation

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Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa 1836–1886 Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa श्री रामकृष्ण परमहंस Mystic of Dakshineswar Read biography → Swami Dayananda Saraswati 1824–1883 Swami Dayananda Saraswati स्वामी दयानन्द सरस्वती Founder of the Arya Samaj Read biography → Rabindranath Tagore 1861–1941 Rabindranath Tagore रवीन्द्रनाथ ठाकुर Poet, Nobel laureate, composer of Jana Gana Mana Read biography → Raja Ram Mohan Roy 1772–1833 Raja Ram Mohan Roy राजा राममोहन राय Founder of the Brahmo Samaj Read biography → Swami Rama Tirtha 1873–1906 Swami Rama Tirtha स्वामी रामतीर्थ Vedanta teacher and mathematician Read biography → Swami Vivekananda 1863–1902 Swami Vivekananda स्वामी विवेकानन्द Carried Vedanta to the world from Chicago, 1893 Read biography →
Stanza 28 · Freedom Era I

The Grand Old Men and the gentle revolutionaries

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Dadabhai Naoroji 1825–1917 Dadabhai Naoroji दादाभाई नौरोजी Grand Old Man of India, author of the drain theory Read biography → ग 1877–1928 Gopabandhu Das गोपबन्धु दास Utkalmani, educator and reformer of Odisha Read biography → Lokmanya Tilak 1856–1920 Lokmanya Tilak लोकमान्य तिलक "Swaraj is my birthright" Read biography → Mahatma Gandhi 1869–1948 Mahatma Gandhi महात्मा गान्धी Leader of the satyagraha for independence Read biography → Ramana Maharshi 1879–1950 Ramana Maharshi रमण महर्षि Sage of Arunachala, teacher of self-enquiry Read biography → Madan Mohan Malaviya 1861–1946 Madan Mohan Malaviya मदन मोहन मालवीय Founder of Banaras Hindu University Read biography → Subramania Bharati 1882–1921 Subramania Bharati सुब्रह्मण्य भारती Tamil poet of freedom Read biography →
Stanza 29 · Freedom & Reform

The fierce voices — Netaji to Ambedkar

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Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose 1897–1945 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose नेताजी सुभाषचन्द्र बोस Led the Azad Hind Fauj Read biography → Swami Pranavananda 1896–1941 Swami Pranavananda स्वामी प्रणवानन्द Founder of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha Read biography → Vinayak Damodar Savarkar 1883–1966 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar विनायक दामोदर सावरकर Revolutionary and writer, author of Hindutva Read biography → Thakkar Bapa 1869–1951 Thakkar Bapa ठक्कर बापा Servant of tribal and Harijan welfare Read biography → Dr. B. R. Ambedkar 1891–1956 Dr. B. R. Ambedkar डॉ. भीमराव आम्बेडकर Chief architect of the Constitution of India Read biography → Sree Narayana Guru 1856–1928 Sree Narayana Guru श्री नारायण गुरु Saint and social reformer of Kerala Read biography →
Stanza 30 · Organisational Founders

The architects of the modern Sangh

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Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar 1889–1940 Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar डॉ. केशव बलिराम हेडगेवार Founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, 1925 Read biography → Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar 1906–1973 Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar माधव सदाशिव गोलवलकर Shri Guruji, second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS Read biography →

Why these lives?

The Ekatmata Stotra is recited in shakhas and homes across the country as a daily act of remembrance. Its stanzas move from the land, rivers, mountains and scriptures to the people who gave Bharat its character. They name Buddha with Shankaracharya, Guru Nanak with Tulsidas, and Charaka with C. V. Raman. New biographies are added in batches; 134 of 134 are ready now.

Ekatmata Stotra with meaning →Amrit VachanSwayamsevak Sadhana