India's Own Pilgrimage

Here are some of the Hindus who have made religious history:

? B.C.	Vyasa, who compiled and arranged the Vedas. Probably there was more than one person of this name, for tradition says he also wrote the Brahma-Sutras, the Mahabharata and all the Puranas. That would make him the greatest writer of all time.
? B.C.	Manu, patriarch and first king of the Hindu race, who fixed the rules of dharma for social and religious life. The Codes of Manu influence all Hindu law, even today. "What Manu says is medicine," say the ancient books.
about 600 B.C.	Mahavir, a leader of the Jains, an ascetic sect famous for adhering to non-violence.
566 B.C.	Gotama who became the Buddha. Born a prince he renounced everything to find the secret of suffering. Getting Enlightenment, he preached the teachings which became the religion of Buddhism. He organized monasticism.
788 A.C.	Shankara, a brilliant young monk who wrote commentaries on the important scriptures, founded ten orders of monks, and made all philosophers think more carefully.
500-800 A.C.	The Alvars, a succession of Tamil saints remarkable for their holy lives and exquisite devotional songs and poems.
1017-1137 A.C.	Ramanuja, brilliant in mind and great in heart, interpreted the ancient Vedic wisdom in terms of the love of God, and surrender to Him. He championed Hindu doctrine against Jain and Buddhist opponents. His followers, worshippers of Vishnu, form a sect which is wide-spread in his native South India.
1469 A.C.	Nanak, saintly prophet of the Panjab, who wished to harmonize Hinduism and Islam, but became the first of the ten Gurus of Sikhism, a new sect.
1485 A.C.	Shri Chaitanya, an outstanding exemplar of devotion, ecstatically dancing and singing God's name. It is from his spiritual line that the Hare-Krishna movement is descended.
1627 A.C.	Shivaji, an inspired king who fought to preserve Hindu institutions from destruction by the Mogul conquerors.
1774-1833 A.C.	Ram Mohun Roy. It can be said that India's Modern Age was pioneered by this remarkable aristocrat, who knew eight languages and all the Hindu traditions. With all his heart he worked to bring in modern education, to raise the condition of women, and to purify religious customs and beliefs. His tomb is in England, at Bristol.
1836 A.C.	Shri Ramakrishna, who wept for God until he had His vision. Following one faith after another he found the same God at the end of each, and taught that everyone who practises any religion sincerely will attain Truth.
1865 A.C.	Swami Vivekananda, his disciple, who revived the spirit of social service, and taught Hindus to have faith in them- selves. He was the first to bring Hindu religion to the West.
1869-1948 A.C.	Mahatma Gandhi, "Father of the Nation," who was the chief force in ending British rule over India. He used his spiritual power in solving social and political problems and worked tirelessly for the "untouchables". He made famous the method of non-violence.