Valarie Kaur
Valarie Kaur is an American activist, documentary filmmaker, lawyer, and Sikh faith leader dedicated to building multifaith coalitions against systemic injustice. A graduate of Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School, she began her career documenting hate violence against Sikh, Muslim, and other communities in the aftermath of 9/11 through her documentary Divided […]
Rajan Zed
Rajan Zed is a Hindu priest and interfaith leader. In 2007, he became the first Hindu to deliver the opening prayer before the United States Senate, marking a milestone in the public recognition of Hinduism within American civic life. Through his advocacy for interfaith dialogue and religious inclusion, he has worked to increase awareness of […]
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an American physician, author, and wellness advocate. Beginning in the late twentieth century, he popularized Ayurveda, meditation, and mind-body medicine for mainstream American audiences through bestselling books, lectures, and television appearances. His 1993 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show introduced millions of Americans to holistic approaches to health and spirituality. Chopra has […]
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was a Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual teacher who founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York City in 1966. He introduced the devotional traditions of Krishna bhakti to American audiences through public chanting, temple communities, and translations of sacred Hindu texts. Under his leadership, ISKCON grew into a global […]
B.K.S. Iyengar
B.K.S. Iyengar was a yoga teacher whose method transformed the practice of yoga in the United States and around the world. Emphasizing precision, alignment, and the therapeutic benefits of postures, he introduced millions of Americans to yoga as a discipline for physical and mental wellbeing. His influential book Light on Yoga became a foundational text […]
Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda was a Hindu spiritual teacher who established one of the first enduring yoga and meditation movements in the United States. Arriving in 1920, he founded the Self-Realization Fellowship to teach Kriya Yoga and meditation to American audiences. His influence reached the White House when President Calvin Coolidge received him in 1927, and expanded […]
Eboo Patel
Eboo Patel is an American author, educator, and interfaith leader. In 2002, he founded Interfaith America (formerly the Interfaith Youth Core), creating one of the nation’s leading organizations dedicated to religious pluralism and civic cooperation. Through partnerships with colleges, universities, and public institutions, he has helped transform how Americans engage across religious differences. Patel’s work […]
Mufti Muhammad Sadiq
Mufti Muhammad Sadiq was an Ahmadi Muslim missionary who established one of the earliest organized Muslim missions in the United States. Arriving in 1920, he founded The Moslem Sunrise, the country’s first enduring Muslim periodical, and preached widely from Chicago to racially diverse audiences. His outreach attracted hundreds of converts, particularly African Americans, and helped […]
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and philosopher who introduced Vedanta and Yoga to mainstream American audiences. His address at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago established him as one of the first global ambassadors of Hindu thought. In 1894, he founded the Vedanta Society of New York, the first permanent Hindu organization […]