Guru Nanak (April 15, 1469 – September 22, 1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of ten Sikh Gurus. Born in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan) to a Hindu family, he rejected religious orthodoxy, advocating equality, devotion, and unity with one God. His extensive travels, teachings, and composition of hymns (later compiled in the Guru Granth Sahib) shaped a new spiritual tradition.
Swamy Vidyaranya (c. 1296–1391 CE), also identified as Madhavacharya, was a pivotal figure in Indian philosophy and history, serving as the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham (c. 1380–1386 CE).
Born in Ekasila Nagari (modern Warangal), Andhra Pradesh, to a learned Brahmin family, he authored works like Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha and Pañcadaśī, advancing Advaita Vedanta. Traditionally credited with aiding the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire, his life blends spiritual and political influence.
Omar Khayyam (May 18, 1048 – December 4, 1131) was a Persian polymath, renowned as a poet, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. Born in Nishapur, Persia (modern-day Iran), he is best known for his Rubaiyat, a collection of quatrains reflecting on life, love, and mortality, translated into English by Edward FitzGerald. His mathematical work included solving cubic equations, and he reformed the Persian calendar.
Prophet Muhammad (c. 570 / 571 CE – June 8, 632 CE) was the founder of Islam, regarded by Muslims as the last messenger of God (Allah). Born in Mecca to the Quraysh tribe, he received revelations from Allah via the angel Gabriel, compiling them into the Quran. His life, marked by prophethood, migration (Hijra), and leadership, unified Arabia under Islam, leaving a legacy that shapes over a billion lives today.
