Sri Ramakrishna (1836–1886) was a 19th-century Indian mystic and spiritual leader, born Gadadhar Chattopadhyay, known for his teachings on the harmony of religions and the essential unity of all faiths as paths to the same spiritual goal. Through intense meditation and spiritual practices, he sought union with God, experiencing visions of deities like Kali and even practicing Christian and Islamic paths to confirm his belief in the universality of religious truth. His devoted disciples, especially Swami Vivekananda, helped spread his teachings, leading to the establishment of the Ramakrishna Mission (a humanitarian and educational organization) and the Ramakrishna Math (a monastic order).