Life introduction of Swami Dayananda Saraswati-Dayananda Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj, was born in a Brahmin family in Tankara near Morbi in Gujrat in 1824 CE. His childhood name was Mulshanker. His father Ambashanker was a scholar of the Vedas. Right from childhood, Dayananda was a thoughtful person. In 1860, he met with Swami Virjanand in Mathura.
Influenced with Virjanand, Swami Dayananda became his disciple. In the form of a religious and social reformer, Swami Dayananda travelled to various places in the country and performed debates with the scholars with the advice of Keshav Chandrasen who was a social reformer of Bengal. Now started to express his thoughts in Hindi instead of Sanskrit language.
Dayananda Saraswati expressed his thoughts in Satyartha Prakash’, a book written in Hindi language.
Establishment of Arya Samaj-Dayananda Saraswati established the Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875 CE and formed its principles and rules. The principles of Arya Samaj were reedited in Lahore in 1877 CE. The Arya Samaj movement emerged in the form of reaction towards the effects of British empire and western beliefs.
Arya Samaj was different from the contemporary social reform movements. It mainly performed the work of reform in the religion and society. Its major objective was to eridicate the social evils which had emerged with lapse of time and re – establish the Vedic religion in a refined form.. Principles of Arya Samaj.
1. Truth is the main reason for God’s wisdom.
2. God is shapeless, omnipotent and ubiquitous.
3. The Vedas are the storehouse of truth and knowledge.
4. Every task should be considered by making the right decision.
5. The purpose of Arya Samaj is to do good to the world by physical, spiritual and social reforms.
6. Destruction of ignorance and propagation of knowledge.
7. Every person should take interest in the advancement of the General public.
8. There should be personal freedom but not at the cost of loss to society.
Social reforms: While working for the cause of social reform, Arya Samaj talked about social equality and harmony. In place of birth, the Arya Samaj regarded actions to be the basis of caste system. It opposed caste system and untouchability. It made efforts to improve the condition of women. Efforts were made to eradicate social evils such as child marriage, veil system, dowry system, polygamy etc. It tried to improve the conditions of widows.
Various ashrams were established for the widows. It advocated for equality among men and women. On the basis of the Vedas, Dayanand Saraswati told that women are not disallowed from studying the Vedas and adopt yagyopaveet. He told that all those Hindu customs, traditions and beliefs that were are not allowed by the Vedas should be renounced.
Religious beliefs and works: In religious field, Dayananda Saraswati not only made efforts to reform the faults which had got imbibed in Hindu religion along with lapse of time, but he also exposed evils prevalent in Christianity and Islam. Dayanand Saraswati regarded the Vedas to be the actual basis of Hinduism.
While believing in pure Vedic traditions, he gave the slogan ‘Back to the Vedas’. He believed the Vedas to be inspired by God. Alongwith regarding the Vedas to be divine knowledge, he said that the interpretation of Vedic mantras should be done rationally on the basis of factual evidence. He argued that the language of the Vedas is very ancient.
Dayanad Saraswati and Arya Samaj did not believe in polytheism, anthropomorphism, idol worship, animal sacrifice etc. He opposed religious rituals and superstitions. He regarded God as shapeless, omnipotent and ubiquitous. Through ‘Shudhi movement’. Arya Samaj purified the converted Hindus and reunited them in their native religion.
Political thoughts: Talking about self rule, Dayanand Saraswati said that any foreign rule, howsoever it may be good, can never be beneficial. He preached that it is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was the first person to use the word ‘Swaraj. He advocated for Swedeshi , Swabhasha and Swaabhiman (dignity).
Work in educational sphere: Arya Samaj performed commondable work in field of education. After the death of Dayanand Saraswati, Dayanand Anglo Vedic School was established in Lahore in 1886, which came into existence as Dayanand Anglo Vedic College on 1889 CE. Dayanand Anglo Vedic institutions spread in various parts of the country. Conflicts arose in Arya Samaj on the issue of imparting knowledge on the basis of western education system.
In order to provide education through Vedic education system. Gurukul was established in Kangri near Haridwar. Both Dayanand Anglo Vedic institutions and Gurkul Kangri propagated the achievement of Indian culture and sprouted the feelings of dignity in the minds of Indians. Through these educational instituions, efforts was made to eliminate superptisitons and social evils. Dayanand Saraswati also made effort to establish Hindi as the national language.
