Satguru Shri Wamanrao Pai is a learned philosopher and the founder of the innovative philosophy of Jeevanvidya. Born in Mumbai, India, on October 21, 1923, in a middle class family, he did his graduation from Mumbai University, Maharashtra, India, in 1944, majoring in Economics. He enjoys a happy married life and has a son and a daughter who are well-settled. He was employed in the Maharashtra State Government from where he retired as a Deputy Secretary, Finance in the year 1981.

At the very young age of around 25 years, he was initiated into spiritualism by his guru Shri Nana Maharaj Srigondekar. He attained the highest goals of spiritual sadhana (self realisation) by his devoted and relentless efforts. The bliss and satisfaction that he experienced expelled him to impart the spiritual knowledge to others. With the blessings of his Satguru, Shri Wamanrao Pai started delivering discourses on spiritualism from the year 1952 at Spiritual Centre and Vivekananda Centre in Bombay. Satguru Shri Wamanrao Pai and his followers felt that a trust should be set up for the spiritual upliftment and empowerment of the people and, accordingly, a trust call Nam Sampraday Mandal (now known as Jeevanvidya Mission) was set on Dassera day in 1955. Nam Sampraday Mandal was officially registered with the Charitable Commissioner, Mumbai, in 1979.

Satguru Shri Wamanrao Pai does not charge fees for lectures & discourses he delivers.

He has also inspired his disciples (Namdharaks) to work selflessly for the work of Jeevanvidya. He has authored more than 25 Books in last 50 years for sole purpose of making Jeevanvidya philosophy easily accessible to masses. He does not accept any royalties, fees or any remuneration for all the books he has written.

He has delivered more than ten thousand discourses and lectures on "Jeevanvidya" throughout India in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Belgaum (Karnataka) and in 1998 for the first time also in U.S.A. Again all these lectures are always delivered free of cost to attendees.