# The twelve Mahājanas > [!summary] > *The twelve Mahājanas are the great authorities on devotional service whose example and teachings are to be followed. They are mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as the foremost knowers of the science of God. Each Mahājana exemplifies a particular aspect of devotion, and together they represent the complete standard of dharma.* ## Who Are the Mahājanas? The twelve Mahājanas are listed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: ![[sb/6/3/20-21]] They are: 1. **Brahmā** — The creator 2. **Nārada** — The wandering sage 3. **Śiva** — The great devotee 4. **The four Kumāras** — Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana, Sanat-kumāra 5. **Kapila** — The philosopher 6. **Manu** — The lawgiver 7. **Prahlāda** — The devotee son 8. **Janaka** — The royal sage 9. **Bhīṣma** — The grandfather 10. **Bali** — The surrendered demon king 11. **Śukadeva** — The speaker of Bhāgavatam 12. **Yamarāja** — The lord of death ## Their Authority **The Mahajanas set the standard of dharma: ![[cc/madhya/17/186]] ## How They Relate ### The Original Teachers **Brahmā** received knowledge directly from Kṛṣṇa in the heart and passed it to **Nārada**, who in turn taught many others. This forms the Brahma-sampradāya: ![[sb/2/9/30]] ![[sb/1/6/15]] ### The Philosopher Sons of Brahma **Lord Kapila** and **the four Kumāras** are all sons of Brahmā. Kapila taught Sāṅkhya philosophy to His mother Devahūti, while the Kumāras were initially impersonalists who later became devotees: ![[sb/3/25/6#translation]] ![[sb/3/15/43]] ### The Exemplary Devotees **Prahlāda** demonstrated devotion despite persecution, while **Bali Mahārāja** showed complete surrender by giving everything to Lord Vāmana: ![[sb/7/9/43]] ![[sb/8/22/2]] ### The Royal Authorities **Bhīṣma** and **Janaka** show that householders and warriors can be great authorities on dharma: ![[sb/1/9/41]] ### The Administrator of Justice **Yamarāja** himself follows the Mahājanas and administers cosmic justice according to their principles: ![[sb/6/3/19]] ## The Network of Transmission ``` KRISHNA │ Brahma │ ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐ │ │ │ Nārada Kapila Kumaras │ │ │ ┌──────┼──────┐ │ │ │ │ │ Devahuti Converted to Prahlada Vyasa many devotion │ ┌──────┼──────┐ │ │ │ Sukadeva Manu Bali (via Vamana) ``` ## Their Unified Teaching All twelve Mahajanas, though appearing in different times and circumstances, teach the same conclusion — surrender to the Supreme Lord: ![[sb/6/3/22]] ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/lord-brahma|Lord Brahmā]] — The first Mahājana - [[wiki/articles/narada-muni|Nārada Muni]] — The traveling preacher - [[wiki/articles/lord-siva|Lord Śiva]] — The greatest Vaiṣṇava - [[wiki/articles/the-four-kumaras|The four Kumāras]] — The eternal children - [[wiki/articles/lord-kapila|Lord Kapila]] — Teacher of Sāṅkhya - [[wiki/articles/prahlada-maharaja|Prahlāda Mahārāja]] — The boy saint - [[wiki/articles/janaka-maharaja|Janaka Mahārāja]] — The royal sage - [[wiki/articles/dhruva-maharaja|Dhruva Mahārāja]] — The determined devotee - [[wiki/articles/bali-maharaja|Bali Mahārāja]] — The surrendered king - [[wiki/articles/bhismadeva|Bhīṣmadeva]] — The grand patriarch - [[wiki/articles/sukadeva-goswami|Śukadeva Gosvāmī]] — The narrator of Bhāgavatam ## From the Index - [[index/entries/mahajanas|Mahajanas]] — The great authorities - [[index/entries/disciplic-succession|Disciplic Succession]] — How knowledge descends - [[index/entries/dharma|Dharma]] — Religious principles