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.