PM paid tributes to Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary.
About Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (1824 – 1883)
Early Life
- Birth: Born on February 12, 1824, in Tankara, Gujarat.
- Original Name: Mool Shankar Tiwari (later named Dayaram and finally Dayanand Saraswati after renunciation).
- Family Background: Belonged to an Audichya Samavedi Brahmin family, traditionally responsible for temple duties and religious obligations.
- Turning Point: During Maha Shivaratri at age 14, he questioned idol worship after witnessing mice nibbling on offerings to a Shiva idol.
- This led him to seek true knowledge and spiritual purity.
Spiritual Journey
- Renunciation: Left home at 22 in search of moksha (liberation) and true knowledge.
- Guru: Studied under Swami Virjanand, a blind sage, who profoundly influenced his philosophy.
Founding of Arya Samaj
- Establishment: Founded on April 7, 1875, in Mumbai; later headquartered in Lahore.
- Objective: To reform Hinduism by returning to Vedic principles and countering social evils.
- Core Principles:
- Monotheism: Belief in one supreme God.
- Rejection of Idolatry: Opposed idol worship and ritualistic practices.
- Vedic Authority: Considered the Vedas as the ultimate source of truth and knowledge.
- Social Equality: Advocated for the abolition of the caste system and untouchability.
- Women’s Empowerment: Supported women’s education and opposed child marriage.
- Suddhi Movement: Aimed to reconvert individuals to Hinduism.
- Paropkarini Sabha: It was founded by the Swami himself to publish and preach his works and Vedic texts at Ajmer in 1882.
Literary Contributions
- Satyarth Prakash (1875): A seminal work promoting Vedic teachings and critiquing other religions.
- Emphasized analytical thinking and rejection of falsehood.
- Rigvedadi Bhashya Bhumika: Introduction to Vedic commentary.
- Sanskar Vidhi: A guide to Vedic rituals and ceremonies.
- Panchmahayajya Vidhi (1874): His first major work on Vedic rituals.
Social Reforms
- Education: Established Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) schools and gurukulas to promote modern education alongside Vedic values.
- Advocated for girls’ education through Girls’ Gurukulas.
- Cow Protection: Founded the Gaurakshini Sabha in 1882 to protect cows.
- Caste System: Denounced the caste system and untouchability, advocating for a Vedic chaturvarna system based on occupation rather than birth.
- Women’s Rights: Supported women’s education and opposed child marriage and sati.
- Suddhi Movement: Aimed to reconvert individuals who had converted to other religions back to Hinduism.
Philosophy and Vision
- Back to Vedas: Advocated a return to Vedic principles for the regeneration of Indian society.
- He gave the slogan “Back to the Vedas”.
- Rationalism: Emphasized logical reasoning and scientific temper in understanding religious texts.
- Nationalism: Coined the term “Swaraj” (self-rule), inspiring the Indian independence movement.
- Advocated for political independence and national awakening.
Legacy
- Arya Samaj: Played a pivotal role in social reform and religious revival in India.
- DAV Institutions: Established a network of schools and colleges promoting modern education and Vedic values.
- Influence on Indian Society: Inspired movements for social equality, women’s rights, and religious reform.
- Global Impact: His teachings influenced Indian diaspora communities worldwide.
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