Born from a Gaur Brahmin family, Sri Ramanandacharya spent the majority of his life in the holy city of Varanasi. His birthdate is December 30, but it is unknown when he died. However, historical evidence suggests that he was one of the first saints and a leading figure in the Bhakti movement as it spread quickly in North India between the 14th and the middle of the 15th century, during the time of Islamic rule. Tradition holds that the south Indian Vedanta philosopher Ramanuja served as an inspiration for Ramananda’s philosophy and themes of devotion, although evidence also points to Ramananda’s influence from the Nathpanthi ascetics of the Yoga school of Hindu philosophy.
