Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati: Ideology Contributions & Reform |
Maharishi Dayanand’s Search for Truth
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati or Mulshankar (1824-1883) was born in the old Morvi state in Gujarat in a brahmin family. He wandered as an ascetic for fifteen years (1845-60) in search of truth. Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati had received education on Vedanta from a blind teacher named Swami Virajananda in Mathura.
Ideals and Reforms in Hindu Society
Vedic Renaissance: Dayanand’s Unified India Vision
- Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati’s vision for India included a society without classes and castes, a unified India in religious, social, and national aspects.
- He aimed for an India free from foreign rule, with Aryan religion as the common faith.
- Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati drew inspiration from the Vedas, considering them as India’s unwavering foundation, the infallible source of Hinduism.
- He introduced the slogan “Back to the Vedas.”
- His slogan called for a revival of Vedic knowledge and the purity of Vedic religion, not a return to Vedic times.
- He embraced modernity and displayed a patriotic stance toward national issues.
- Alongside his emphasis on Vedic authority, he emphasized the importance of individual interpretation of scriptures and asserted every person’s right to access God.
- He criticized later Hindu texts like the Puranas and criticized ignorant priests for distorting Hinduism.
Spiritual Individualism: Dayanand’s Hindu Paradigm Shift
- He strongly criticized the Hindu belief in maya (illusion) as the overarching theme of all physical existence, where the goal of human life is to attain moksha (salvation) by escaping from this world to unite with God.
- Instead, he advocated that God, the soul, and matter (prakriti) were separate and eternal entities. Each individual had to work towards their salvation guided by eternal principles governing human behavior.
- He challenged the popular belief that individuals contributed to and received from society based on niyati (destiny).
- Dayanand Saraswati believed in the theory of karma and reincarnation.
- He also emphasized that good deeds should primarily benefit others, not oneself.
Dayanand’s Hindu Reform: Challenging Traditions
- He attacked Hindu orthodoxy, caste rigidities, untouchability, idolatry, polytheism, belief in magic, charms and animal sacrifices, taboo on sea voyages, feeding the dead through shraddhas, etc.
- He subscribed to the Vedic notion of chaturvarna system in which a person was identified as a brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya or shudra not by birth but according to the occupation and merit of the person.
- Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati once lamented the Hindu race as “the children of children”.
Arya Samaj: Dayanand’s Vision in Satyarth Prakash
- He founded Arya Samaj as a revivalist movement in form but not in its content; it was founded as a reaction to Western influences.
- Dayanand Saraswati’s views were published in his famous work, Satyarth Prakash (The True Exposition).
Conclusion
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati’s strong commitment to revive Vedic knowledge, change society, and promote logical thinking has made an eternal impact on Indian society and Hindu philosophy. He created a platform for dissemination Vedic ideas, ensuring fairness in society, and enabling education through the Arya Samaj he founded and his tireless work. Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s influence continues to motivate millions by encouraging critical thinking, fairness, and spiritual growth.
Also Read: Swami Vivekananda Biography: Life History, Teachings, Facts & Death
