1. Adiyogi (Shiva) – The First Yogi

• Era: Pre-Vedic / Mythical (Timeless)
• Contribution: Considered the origin of Yoga
  • Taught the science of Yoga to the Saptarishis (seven sages)

 2. Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages)

• Era: Pre-Vedic
• Names: Atri, Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Vasistha, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Vishwamitra
• Contribution: Spread yogic and Vedic knowledge around the world
• Direct disciples of Adiyogi

 3. Rishi Agastya

• Era: Vedic period
• Contribution:
  • Brought Yogic and Vedic wisdom to Southern India
  • Composed many Agama texts, crucial to Shaiva Siddhanta
  • Master of Siddha medicine and internal alchemy

 4. Rishi Vasistha

• Era: Vedic
• Contribution:
  • Guru of Lord Rama
  • Author of Yoga Vasistha – a philosophical and yogic text
  • Taught Jnana Yoga and Self-realization

 5. Rishi Vishwamitra

• Era: Vedic
• Contribution:
  • Creator of Gayatri Mantra
  • Guided King Harishchandra and others on dharma
  • Elevated from king to Brahma Rishi through intense Tapas (austerity)

 6. Rishi Patanjali (Not in Krishna’s time, but noted)

• Era: ~200 BCE (Post-Krishna)
• Note: Though not within Krishna's timeline, Patanjali formalized the Yoga Sutras later

 7. Rishi Kapila

• Era: Possibly early Vedic or pre-Mahabharata
• Contribution:
  • Founder of Sankhya Philosophy – dualistic system of Purusha & Prakriti
  • His system influenced Yoga Darshana

 8. Rishi Narada

• Era: Timeless; appears across ages
• Contribution:
  • Teacher of Bhakti Yoga
  • Composer of the Narada Bhakti Sutras
  • A divine sage known for awakening devotion in others

 9. Sri Krishna (Avatar of Vishnu)

• Era: ~3100 BCE (end of Dvapara Yuga)
• Contribution:
  • Revealed Bhagavad Gita, a timeless spiritual manual on Yoga:
    • Karma Yoga (action)
    • Jnana Yoga (knowledge)
    • Bhakti Yoga (devotion)
    • Dhyana Yoga (meditation)
  • Guru to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra

  • 1. Sri Krishna

  • Era: ~3100 BCE (end of Dvapara Yuga)
  • Contribution:
    • Revealed the Bhagavad Gita – synthesis of Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, and Dhyana Yoga
    • Avatar of Vishnu and teacher of universal dharma
    • Guru to Arjuna
  •  

     2. Vedavyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa)

  • Era: ~3000 BCE
  • Contribution:
    • Compiler of the Vedas, author of the Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita
    • Wrote Brahma Sutras and 18 Puranas
    • Considered one of the greatest Rishis in Hindu tradition
  •  

     3. Patanjali

  • Era: ~200 BCE
  • Contribution:
    • Composed the Yoga Sutras, foundational text on Ashtanga Yoga (8-limbed path)
    • Systematized the practice of Yoga as a discipline of the mind

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     4. Nagarjuna

  • Era: ~2nd Century CE
  • Contribution:
    • Great philosopher of Mahayana Buddhism
    • Founder of Madhyamaka school – teaching the Middle Path and emptiness
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     5. Adi Shankaracharya

  • Era: ~788–820 CE
  • Contribution:
    • Revived Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism)
    • Established four mathas (monastic centers) in India
    • Emphasized Jnana Yoga and realization of the Self

  •  6. Ramanujacharya

  • Era: 1017–1137 CE
  • Contribution:
    • Founded Vishishtadvaita Vedanta (qualified non-dualism)
    • Emphasized devotion (Bhakti) to Vishnu

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     7. Madhvacharya

  • Era: 1238–1317 CE
  • Contribution:
    • Founded Dvaita Vedanta (dualism)
    • Advocated personal devotion to God as distinct from the soul
  •  

     8. Sant Kabir, Guru Nanak, and Bhakti Saints

  • Era: 15th–17th Century CE
  • Contribution:
    • Spread Bhakti Yoga – path of love and devotion to the Divine
    • Focused on unity of all religions, inner realization over ritual

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     9. Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

  • Era: 1836–1886
  • Contribution:
    • Mystic saint, embodiment of Bhakti and spiritual ecstasy
    • Master to Swami Vivekananda
    • Experienced all major religions as paths to the Divine

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     10. Swami Vivekananda

  • Era: 1863–1902
  • Contribution:
    • Brought Yoga and Vedanta to the West (Chicago, 1893)
    • Taught Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and universal harmony

    •  11. Sri Aurobindo

    • Era: 1872–1950
    • Contribution:
      • Developed Integral Yoga – synthesis of all paths
      • Visionary thinker, spoke of evolution of consciousness
    •  

       12. ParamahansaYogananda

    • Era: 1893–1952
    • Contribution:
      • Brought Kriya Yoga to the West
      • Author of Autobiography of a Yogi
      • Founded Self-Realization Fellowship

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       13. Swami Sivananda

    • Era: 1887–1963
    • Contribution:
      • Founded Divine Life Society

    • 14. T. Krishnamacharya

    • Era: 1888–1989
    • Contribution:
      • Father of Modern Yoga
      • Taught asana, pranayama, and personalized yoga
      • Disciples include: B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, Indra Devi

      • Timeline Summary

        Guru/Sage	Era	Key Contribution
        Adiyogi (Shiva)	Pre-Vedic	First teacher of Yoga
        Saptarishis	Pre-Vedic	Spread Yoga and Vedas worldwide
        Rishi Agastya	Vedic	Brought Yoga to South India
        Vasistha	Vedic	Guru of Rama, Yoga Vasistha
        Vishwamitra	Vedic	Gayatri Mantra, spiritual transformation
        Kapila Muni	Early Vedic	Founder of Sankhya Philosophy
        Narada Muni	Timeless	Devotional path (Bhakti Yoga)
        Sri Krishna	~3100 BCE	Teacher of the Bhagavad Gita

      •  15. Modern and Contemporary Gurus (20th–21st Century)

        Guru	Born	Contribution
        B.K.S. Iyengar	1918–2014	Founder of Iyengar Yoga – precision & props
        Pattabhi Jois	1915–2009	Developed Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
        T.K.V. Desikachar	1938–2016	Founded Viniyoga, therapeutic Yoga
        Swami Vishnudevananda	1927–1993	Spread Sivananda Yoga globally
        Sri Sri Ravi Shankar	1956	Founded Art of Living, Sudarshan Kriya
        Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev)	1957	Founded Isha Foundation, Inner Engineering
        Baba Ramdev	1965	Popularized Yoga in India via mass media

      • Taught Sivananda Yoga – a holistic path of spiritual practice