The Cloud of Witnesses

Third of the Pandava brothers, son of Kunti, archer beyond compare, friend of Krishna. The dialogue between him and Krishna on the field of Kurukshetra — when his bow Gandiva slipped from his hand and he refused to fight — is the Bhagavad Gita.

Founder of the Advaita Vedanta lineage as the Hindu world received it. Walked the subcontinent four times. Established mathas at Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri, and Jyotirmath. Wrote commentaries on the Brahma Sutras, the principal Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. Lived perhaps thirty-two years.

Rajput princess of Merta, devotee of Giridhar Gopal — Krishna of Vrindavan. Took an image of him as her bridegroom in childhood. Survived poisoned milk, a basket of cobras, and a bed of nails sent by her in-laws after her husband's death. Walked out of the palace and sang her way across India. Her bhajans are still sung.

Born Narendranath Datta. Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar. Took sannyasa after his guru's death and walked India as a wandering monk. Stood at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago and addressed it: "Sisters and brothers of America." Founded the Vedanta societies and the Ramakrishna Mission. Died at thirty-nine.