Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti commemorates the birth anniversary of the revered Indian philosopher, social leader, and founder of Arya Samaj, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati.
Born on 12th February 1824 in Tankara, Gujarat, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, originally named Mool Shankar Tiwari, embarked on a spiritual quest for truth, spending fifteen years as an ascetic. His seminal work, Satyarth Prakash, encapsulates his philosophical insights.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati’s contributions to society are profound. He founded Arya Samaj, advocating for Vedic principles and social reform, promoting a classless, casteless society and Swaraj. His vision encompassed a united India, rooted in Vedic ideals, and he championed the slogan “Back to the Vedas”.
He revolutionized education, establishing DAV schools in 1886, aiming to modernize India’s educational landscape. Arya Samaj, under his guidance, focused on Vedic teachings, rejecting later accretions, and promoting social welfare initiatives.
Arya Samaj’s principles emphasize Vedic authenticity, oppose caste-based discrimination, and advocate for social upliftment, education, and humanitarian endeavours. It has a significant following in western and northern India, advocating for reforms and promoting a harmonious society based on Vedic ideals.
Arya Samaj emerged as a reform movement of Vedic principles, pioneering the call for Swaraj, or “India for Indians,” in 1876. Its founder, a self-taught leader, left a lasting impact on Indian society, garnering recognition from both elites and the public.
Formally established in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1875, Arya Samaj later set up its headquarters in Lahore. Its vision encompassed a classless, casteless society, advocating for a united India free from foreign rule, with the Aryan religion as a unifying force.
Drawing inspiration from the Vedas, Arya Samaj championed the slogan “Back to the Vedas,” considering them the bedrock of Hinduism. It embraced the Vedic concept of the chaturvarna system, wherein a person’s caste was determined by their occupation rather than birth.
Contribution to Education:
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati spearheaded a significant transformation in the education system, earning recognition as a visionary of modern India. In 1886, he laid the foundation for DAV (Dayanand Anglo Vedic) schools, aiming to actualize his educational vision. The inaugural DAV School, led by Mahatma Hansarj as headmaster, was established in Lahore.
About Arya Samaj:
Arya Samaj is dedicated to reinstating the Vedas, the earliest Hindu scriptures, as the ultimate truth. Rejecting subsequent additions to the Vedas, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati emphasized their purity while incorporating elements of post-Vedic thought into his interpretation.
During the 1920s and early 1930s, tensions escalated due to various issues. Muslims were particularly incensed by practices such as “music-before-mosque,” the cow protection movement, and Arya Samaj’s efforts to reintegrate recent converts to Islam back into Hinduism through shuddhi.
Arya Samaj has historically had its strongest following in western and northern regions of India. The organization opposes idol worship, animal sacrifice, rituals for ancestors (shraddha), caste discrimination based on birth, untouchability, child marriage, pilgrimages, priestly privileges, and temple offerings.
Embracing the infallibility of the Vedas, Arya Samaj promotes the doctrines of karma and samsara, upholds the sanctity of the cow, emphasizes the significance of individual sacraments (samskaras), and advocates for Vedic fire oblations. Additionally, the organization actively engages in social reform initiatives, including promoting female education, advocating for intercaste marriages, establishing missions, orphanages, and homes for widows, creating a network of schools and colleges, and providing famine relief and medical assistance.
