Ramananda
Ramananda is one of the chief figures in North India. Born in Prayaga in 1400, he was a follower of Ramanuja's shrivaishnava sect and the vishista-advaita philosophy when he resided in South India. However, on his return to North India, he settled down in Kashi and established the sampradaya called the shrisampradaya. His twelve disciples founded subsects, known as the dvaras. His sect is more popularly known as 'Ramanandi' and is one of the largest sampradayas in India. Distinct from other vedantic sects, Ramananda accepted women and members of all castes, education levels and made exclusive use of the vernacular in preference to sanskrit. Ramanada attained mahasamadhi in 1470, after establishing a sect with revels in the love of Rama-Sita.