Krishnamurti, Jiddu

Krishnamurti, Jiddu, 1895-1986, Indian religious figure whose message centered on the need for maximum self-awareness. In 1909, Annie Besant met him and proclaimed him an incarnation of Maitreya, the messianic Buddha. Krishnamurti repudiated these claims in 1929, following a two-year tour of England and America with Annie Besant, and dissolved the World Order of the Star, a religious organization he had founded in 1911. He retained some connection with the theosophical movement, however, and continued an active career of lecturing and writing. He finally settled in Ojai, Calif., where from 1969 he headed the Krishnamurti Foundation. His writings include Commentaries on Living (1956-60), Freedom from the Known (1969), The First and Last Freedom (1975), Life in Freedom (1986), and Think on These Things (1989).

Krishnamurti (also spelled Krishnamurthy, Krishnamoorthi, Krishnamoorthy, Krishnamurthi, or Krishnamurti) is a South Indian name. It refers to the idol form of Krishna (murthy meaning "idol" in Sanskrit).

The following individuals have this name:

• Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
• Soorya Krishnamoorthy
• Jana Krishnamurthi
• Krishnamurthy Perumal
• Kalki Krishnamurthy
• Nedunuri Krishnamurthy
• Pochiah Krishnamurthy
• T S Krishnamurthy
• Yamini Krishnamurthy
• Bhadriraju Krishnamurti, eminent Dravidian linguist
• Jiddu Krishnamurti (often written J. Krishnamurti)
• U. G. Krishnamurti, famous philosopher (1918-2007)
• Krishnamurthi Muniandy
• Kavita Subramaniam (born Sharada Krishnamurthy)

These people may be confused due to their similar names and backgrounds. The name Krishnamurti has been westernized into a surname in all the three cases, originally being a given name in their native India. Jiddu Krishnamurti and U. G. Krishnamurti were once connected with the Theosophical Society Adyar, Jiddu Krishnamurti having been groomed to be the World Teacher for this age (a position he later renounced as incompatible with the personal search for truth), and U. G. Krishnamurti having been a one-time international lecturer with the organization a few decades later. Both men engaged in dialogue, and both are widely known for their interest in speaking on the fundamental issues of existence.