Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the International Arya Mahasammelan, praised Arya Samaj for promoting Indianness and Vedic values on its 150th anniversary and Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati’s 200th birth anniversary.

About the Arya Samaj

• Formation: It was founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in Bombay, 1875.
  • Later headquarters were established at Lahore.
  • Aimed at reforming Hinduism and reviving Vedic values.
• Core Principles (Ten Principles): These principles reflect monotheism, rationality, and universal humanism, forming the ethical foundation of the Samaj’s activities. Such as 
  • God is the source of all true knowledge.
  • Vedas are the books of true knowledge.
  • Dharma (righteous conduct) should guide actions.
  • Promote the world’s welfare — material, spiritual, social.
  • Collective good above individual interest.
• Social and Educational Work:
  • Promoted universal education, women’s uplift, and equality.
  • Founded Dayananda Anglo-Vedic (DAV) College, Lahore (1886).
  • Established Gurukul Kangri (1902) near Haridwar and Kanya Mahavidyalaya (1896) at Jalandhar.
  • Ideological Split (1890s):
    • College Party: Lala Hansraj, Lala Lajpat Rai, supported English-based modern education.
    • Mahatma/Gurukul Party: Swami Shraddhanand, emphasised traditional Vedic education.
  • Shuddhi Movement: Aimed at reconversion of Hindus who had embraced other religions, to strengthen Hindu unity.

Relevance of Arya Samaj in Contemporary India

• Social Reform and Equality: Arya Samaj’s emphasis on abolishing caste discrimination, untouchability, and social evils continues to inspire movements for social justice and inclusivity in modern India.
• Promotion of Education and Gender Empowerment: Through its vast network of DAV schools, colleges, and Gurukuls, Arya Samaj promotes value-based, scientific education and women’s empowerment, helping bridge educational and gender gaps.
• Revival of Vedic Ethos and Rational Thought: The organisation’s call to return to Vedic principles of truth, reason, and moral living remains relevant in countering superstition, religious intolerance, and materialism in society.

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About Dayananda Saraswati

• Early Life:
  • Born: 1824 as Mulshankar in Morvi (Gujarat) in a Brahmin family.
  • He became an ascetic (1845–60) in search of truth; later studied under Swami Virajananda in Mathura.
• Philosophy & Ideology: 
  • He propounded the slogan “Back to the Vedas” — revival of Vedic learning and purity, not Vedic age.
  • He considered Vedas as infallible and the true foundation of Hinduism.
  • He advocated a rational, ethical, and monotheistic religion.
    • Also advocated classless, casteless, united India, free from foreign rule.
  • Rejected idol worship, polytheism, priestly dominance, and superstition.
    • Also rejected Puranas, idolatry, superstitions, and priestly orthodoxy.
• Major work: Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth), outlining his social and religious ideas.
• Social Reform Ideas:
  • Condemned caste rigidity, untouchability, idolatry, child marriage, and animal sacrifice.
  • Advocated equality of sexes, widow remarriage, and inter-caste marriages.
  • Upheld chaturvarna based on merit and occupation, not birth.
  • Emphasized education, morality, and national regeneration.

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