Swami Dayananda Saraswati ... ascetic, philosopher and teacher.
Background
Natarajan was born in Manjakudi -Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu on August 15, 1930. He became interested in Vedanta after listening to the public talks of Swami Chinmayananda. He became involved with the Chinmaya Mission in various roles.
He was given sanyas by Swami Chinmayananda in 1962.
Teaching
Swami Dayananda has been teaching Vedanta in India for more than four decades, and around the world since 1976. His depth of understanding and nuanced appreciation of Western culture makes him a rare teacher who can communicate the vision of non-duality to modern listeners.
Swami Dayananda designed and taught six resident in-depth Vedanta courses, each spanning 30 to 36 months. Four were conducted in India, and two in the United States. Each course graduated about 60 qualified acharyas, teachers, who are now teaching around the world. More than one hundred are now swamis and are highly respected as scholars and teachers throughout India and abroad.
Institutions
Under Swami Dayananda’s guidance, numerous centers for Vedic teaching have been founded around the world. The two main centers in India are the Arsha Vidya Ashram in Rishikesh and the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Coimbatore.
In the United States., the main center is the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. At present there are at least sixty centers in India and abroad that carry on the same tradition of Vedantic teaching.
In 1986, Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, a Gurukula that has branches in India and the United States. Arsha Vidya Gurukulam is an institute for the traditional study of Advaita Vedanta, Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotish, Sanskrit and other classicalHindu studies. The word Arsha means that which is from the Rishis - the great seers of ancient India. The word Vidya means knowledge. Thus, Arsha Vidya means the knowledge flowing from the Rishis. The word Gurukulam, means "family of the teacher", referring to a residential center for learning with the Teacher. Arsha Vidya Gurukulam offers Indians and non-Indians, Hindus and non-Hindus alike an opportunity to study the profound spiritual knowledge of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma sutras, and other classical Vedanta texts.
Other Organizations
In addition to teaching, Swami Dayananda has initiated and supported various philanthropic efforts. The All India Movement [AIM] for Seva, inaugurated in November, 2000, brings medical, educational, nutritional and infrastructure assistance to villagers in the remote areas of India. This movement enjoys the blessing of all traditional Hindu spiritual leaders who have united as a single body, the Acarya Sabha, through the coordinating efforts of Swami Dayananda. In November 2001, Swami Dayananda convened the first World Congress for the Preservation of Religious Diversity in Delhi, inaugurated by the Dalai Lama and the then Prime Minister Mr.A.B.Vajpayee. An important outcome of the Congress is the formation of a Global Commission for the Preservation of Religious Diversity, spearheaded by Swami Dayananda. The Commission had its inaugural meeting in Bangkok in June, 2002. Swami Dayananda was active in forming and participating in the Women’s Global Peace Initiative, which convened at the United Nations in Geneva in October 2002. He has also participated in the Millennium Peace Summit organized by the United Nations
Excerpts from one of Swamiji's interviews - He talks about God, religion, rituals and spirituality:
Is the concept of God just one of faith?
Well, if you say that everything here is God then He is not one of faith but one to be understood. He is both the maker and material. Viewed from this angle, for us God is not a mere belief. He is a reality. Every thinking individual at one time or the other ponders on the question — Who am I? This is only a different way of asking — Who or what is God? To understand God is to understand the atma (the self). What is your position in the world? To understand your place in the scheme of things you first need to understand the scheme.
Can you comment on the practicality of religion?
If you realise that all that is here is God there is no question of impracticality. There is a hidden variable in every effort and this includes even mundane activities like making bread. Now, in life, one has to constantly reckon with this hidden factor. You cannot control it because it is hidden. Practical people try to deal with this factor through prayer.
The very word `prayer' means a religious appeal to control the hidden variable. In fact, I would describe prayer as the effort of a practical person.
Are ethics and morality inter-related to religion?
An ethical life need not necessarily be a religious one. Bertrand Russell championed the cause of various issues like nuclear non-proliferation and so on.
But he was not a religious person. In fact, he wrote a book — `Why I am not a Christian?' it is one that has to be read by everybody. I would stress that everybody has to be ethical.
What is the significance of rituals?
One should not undermine the importance of rituals. It is an individual's attempt to relate to the Lord. Rituals are emotions given a physical form. It is a form of prayer. Prayer can be classified into three types [a] kaayikam — by physical actions [b] vaachikam — of the form of words [c] maanasam — of the mind. Each form has its significance. Prayer is karma [action] and karma produces results. By that logic different forms of prayer give rise to different results. They [the elders] may not be able to explain the reasons behind the rituals but they are all relevant.
Is a study of philosophical books necessary for spiritual evolution?
We need to study and study properly. And then you realise there is so much to know. Every human being has the basic problem of being dissatisfied with what he/she is i.e. self-non-acceptance. We are the only species of life that is given the prerogative to evolve. We have to move from erroneous knowledge to knowledge. To that end, study of right books and sat-sangh [good company] help.
While on the one hand there does seem to be a revival of religion and spirituality — a case in point is the massive attendance at your lectures — on the other hand society continues to be strife ridden.
People who come to discourses are all those who are struggling to understand [the riddle of life]. If you look at the past, you realise that it has always been a struggle to conform to Dharma. We are passing through a phase where I perceive a condition that needs to change and at the same time a trend towards change. In a boiling pot some grains get cooked early and some later. But they are all in the process.
What is the goal of human life?
Discovery of the Self. In fact no self-judging human being will rest content unless he or she discovers the self. That is 100 per cent acceptance of oneself.
What is the value of Vedic education and the Sanskrit language?
Vedic heritage is a legacy we have inherited. A heritage is something you imbibe over generations down. Research has proven that it is important for a human child to be aware of its roots. We must be proud of our heritage, our ancestry and if that has meaning too then it is actually a privilege. Define a typical Hindu home and you have explained Vedic heritage.
The UNESCO has declared that Vedic recitation is the most ancient and they have also declared it human heritage. We are preserving monuments, fossils, old skeletons and so on. We say with pride — here is a million year old bone.
Shouldn't we preserve something that is profound, ancient and alive? The UNESCO has also declared Sanskrit as the most ancient of languages. It is a highly analysed language. It is the language of the Vedas. It is the key to a whole treasure-house of knowledge.
You have been quite vociferous against conversion...
Even political boundaries of countries are accepted as they are. The world is engaged in preserving cultures. When there is such an acceptance, I want acceptance of religious traditions too. Today there is a blatant destruction of ancient cultures with increasing money power. I feel it is humanity's duty to stop this crime.
What is your message for today's youth?
The youth of India should discover India. India is not to be taken for granted. Youngsters should discover India not by travelling but by understanding [its culture].
Why does one have a puja room? Why should one not step on a book or currency note? Why does a woman wear gold? In several respects we are unique — our temples, sculptures, inscriptions, our Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. The youth need to discover their roots, trunks, branches, flowers et al.
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Books
Many of Swami Dayananda Saraswati's lectures, talks and discourses have been published in the form of books. These books deal with Vedantic teachings and its applicability to various situations in life.
A non-exhaustive list of his books include:
- The Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita
- Dialogues with Swami Dayananda
- Vivekacudamani [Talks on 108 Selected Verses]
- Visnusahasranama with translation & commentary
- Talks on Sri Rudram
- Taittiriya Upanishad As Taught by Swami Dayananda Saraswati
To get the books from Chennai contact:
Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust
32/4 Srinidhi Apts
Desika Road, Mylpaore, Chennai 600 004
Tel: 044-2499 7131/ 2499 7023
To get the books from Coimbatore contact:
Address: Arsha Vidya Gurukulam,
Anaikatti Post,
Coimbatore - 641 108
Ph: 0422 265 7001
Mobile: 94422 42600.
