Hindu Female Gurus and Living Saints

Gurus in Hindu religion, women or men have a distinct and revered role as philosopher and guide to help their disciples attain the goal of a Hindu life- moksha or salvation-through maintaining contact with the nonrelational, nondual, supreme consciousness that is both self and God. Globalization has made access to gurus simpler than it was in olden times, and the circle of their influence has become much more extensive.

The tradition of Hindu women in the role of guru is not new and can be traced to the presence of women as sages in ancient India, such as Devi Leilama, the first to establish guilds in India in the 5th century; Dhanwantari, a woman who was knowledgeable about the Ayurvedic system of medicine; Karraikal Ammeiyar in ...