Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati - The founder of the Arya Samaj

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati [February 12, 1824 – October 31, 1883] was an important Hindu religious scholar, reformer and the founder of the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement, founded in 1875. He was the first man who gave the call for Swarajya - "India for Indians" in 1876 which was later furthered by Lokmanya Tilak. Denouncing idolatry and ritualistic worship prevalent inHinduism at the time, he worked towards reviving Vedic ideologies, subsequently philosopher and President of India, S. Radhakrishnan, later called him one of "makers of Modern India" as did Sri Aurobindo.

One of his notable disciples was Shyamji Krishna Varma who founded India House in London and guided other revolutionaries. Others Who were influenced and fallowed him were Madam Cama, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Lala Hardyal Madan Lal Dhingra, Bhagat Singh and others. His other disciples were Swami Shraddhanand, Lala Lajpat Rai. His book Satyarth Prakash contributed to the Indian independence movementis one of his great contributions. He was a sanyasi (ascetic) from his boyhood, and a scholar, who believed in the infallible authorityof the Vedas.



Dayananda advocated the doctrine of karma, skepticism in dogma, and emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya [celibacy and devotion to God]. The Theosophical Society and the Arya Samaj were united from 1878 to 1882, when the former adopted the name Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj.


Among Maharishi Dayananda's contributions are his promoting of the equal rights of women - such as the right to education and reading of Indian scriptures - and his translation of the Vedasfrom Sanskrit to Hindi so that the common person may be able to read the Vedas.

Early life

Dayananda was born on February 12 in 1824, in the village of Tankara near Morvi [Morbi] in theKathiawar region [present Rajkot district] of the princely state of Gujarat, into a affluent and devout Brahmin family of Krishna Lal Tiwari and Yashodabai. Since he was born under Mul Nakshatra, he was named Dayananda Mulshankar and led a very comfortable early life, studying Sanskrit, the Vedas and other religious books so as to prepare himself for a future as a Hindu priest.

A number of incidents resulted in Dayananda's life questioning traditional beliefs of Hinduism and inquiring about God [ Bhagwan] in early childhood. Still a young child on the night of Shivratri(literally: the night for God Shiva) when his family went to a temple for overnight worship, he stayed up waiting for God to appear to accept the offerings made to idol of God Shiva. While his family slept, Dayananda saw a mouse eating the offerings kept for the God. He was utterly surprised and wondered how a God, who cannot even protect his own "offerings," would protect humanity. He argued with his father that they should not be worshiping such a helpless God.

The deaths of his younger sister and his uncle from cholera caused Dayananda to ponder the meaning of life and death and he started asking questions, which worried his parents. He was to be married in his early teens [common in 19th century India], but he decided marriage was not for him and ran away from home in 1846.

Search for knowledge

Dayananda was disillusioned with classical Hinduism and became a wandering monk. He learned Panini's Grammar to understand Sanskrit texts, and learnt from them that GOD can be found. After wandering in search of GOD for over 2 decades, he found Swami Virjananda near Mathura who became his guru (gu: darkness; ru:light- i.e. one who makes you reach towards light from darkness]. Swami Virjananda told him to throw away all his books, as he wanted Dayananda to start from a clean slate and learn directly from the Vedas, the oldest and foundational books. Dayananda stayed under Swami Virjananda's tutelage for two and a half years. After finishing his education, Virjananda asked him to spread the knowledge of the Vedas in society as his gurudakshina [tuition-dues]. It is during his mission, Dayanand Saraswati gave the call.


Maharishi Dayanand's Mission

Dayananda set about the difficult task with dedication despite attempts on his life. He traveled the country challenging religious scholars and priests of the day to discussions and won repeatedly on the strength of his arguments. He believed that Hinduism had been corrupted by divergence from the founding principles of the Vedas and misled by the priesthood for the priests' self-aggrandisement. Hindu priests discouraged common folk from reading Vedic rituals (such as bathing in the Ganges and feeding of priests on anniversaries) which Dayananda pronounced as superstitions or self-serving.

Far from borrowing concepts from other religions, as Raja Ram Mohan Roy had done, Swami Dayananda was quite critical of Islam and Christianity and also of the other Indian faiths like Jainism, Buddhism and Idol Worshiping in Hinduism- as may be seen in his book Satyartha Prakash He was against what he considered to be the corruption of the pure faith in his own country. Unlike many other reform movements within Hinduism, the Arya Samaj's appeal was addressed not only to the educated few in India, but to the world as a whole as evidenced in the 6th principle of the Arya Samaj.

Arya Samaj allows and encourages converts to Hinduism.


Dayananda’s concept of Dharma is succinctly set forth in his Beliefs and Disbeliefs.

He said,


"I accept as Dharma whatever is in full conformity with impartial justice, truthfulness and the like; that which is not opposed to the teachings of God as Vedas. Whatever is not free from partiality and is unjust, partaking of untruth and the like, and opposed to the teachings of God as embodied in the Vedas - that I hold as adharma"- Satyarth Prakash


He had also said


He, who after careful thinking, is ever ready to accept truth and reject falsehood; who counts the happiness of others as he does that of his own self, him I call just.-Satyarth Prakash


[*The Satyarth Prakash (English title: The Light of Truth) is a 1875 book written by Swami Dayanand, the founder of Arya Samaj, and is considered its central text.]

Dayananda's Vedic message was to emphasize respect and reverence for other human beings, supported by the Vedic notion of the divine nature of the individual - divine because the body was the temple where the human essence [soul or "Atma"] could possibly interface with the creator ["ParamAtma"]. In the 10 principles of the Arya Samaj, he enshrined the idea that "All actions should be performed with the prime objective of benefitting mankind" as opposed to following dogmatic rituals or revering idols and symbols. In his own life, he interpreted Mokshato be a lower calling [due to its benefit to one individual] than the calling to emancipate others.

Dayananda's "back to the Vedas" message influenced many thinkers. Taking the cue from him, Sri Aurobindo decided to look for hidden psychological meanings in the Vedas. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. 1972.

Arya Samaj


Main article: Arya Samaj

Swami Dayananda's creation, the Arya Samaj, is a unique contribution in Hinduism. The Arya Samaj unequivocally condemns idol worship,animal sacrifice, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priest craft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability, child marriages and discrimination against women on the grounds that all these lacked Vedic sanction. The Arya Samaj discourages dogma and symbolism and encourages skepticism in beliefs that run contrary to common sense and logic. To many people, the Arya Samaj aims to be a "universal society" based on the authority of the Vedas.

Death

According to Indian History, in 1883 Dayananda was invited by the Maharaja of Jodhpur, to stay at his palace. The Maharaja was eager to become his disciple and learn his teachings. One day Dayananda went to the Maharaja's rest room and saw him with a dance girl. Maharaja loved this nautch girl. Dayananda boldly asked the Maharaja to forsake the girl & all unethical acts and follow Dharma like a true Aryan. Dayananda's suggestion offended the dance girl and she decided to take revenge. She bribed Dayananda's cook to poison him. At bedtime, the cook brought him a glass of milk containing poison & powdered glass. Dayananda drank the milk and went to sleep only to wake up later with a burning sensation. He immediately realized that he had been poisoned and attempted to purge his digestive system of the poisonous substance, but it was too late. The poison had already entered his blood stream. Dayananda was bedridden and suffered excruciating pain. Many doctors came to treat him but all was in vain. His body was covered all over with large bleeding sores. On seeing Dayananda's suffering the cook was overcome with unbearable guilt and remorse. He confessed his crime to Dayananda. On deathbed, Dayananda forgave him and gave him a bag of money and told him to flee the kingdom lest he be found out and executed by the Maharaja's men.


"A man of spirit has passed away from India. Pandit Dayananda Saraswati is gone, the irrepressible, energetic reformer, whose mighty voice and passionate eloquence foe the last few years raised thousands of people in India from, lethargic, indifference and stupor Into active patriotism is no more." - Col Henry Steel Olcott

"Swami Dayananda Saraswati is certainly one of the most powerful personalities who has shaped modem India and is responsible for its moral regeneration and religious revival". - Subhas Chandra Bose.


Works

Dayananda Saraswati wrote more than 60 works in all, including a 14 volume explanation of the six Vedangas, an incomplete commentary on the Ashtadhyayi [Panini's grammar], several small tracts on ethics and morality, Vedic rituals and sacraments and on criticism of rival doctrines [such as Advaita Vedanta, Islam and Christianity]. Some of his major works are Bhratnivaran, Sanskarvidhi, Ratnamala, Vedabhasya. The Paropakarini Sabha located in the Indian city of Ajmer was founded by the Swami himself to publish and preach his works and Vedic texts.

• Satyarth Prakash [1875] [Light of Truth] - first English translation.[1908]
• Glorious Thoughts of Swami Dayananda. ed. New Book Society of India, 1966.
• An introduction to the commentary on the Vedas. Jan Gyan-Prakashan, 1973

Swami Dayananda Saraswati - Founder of "Arsha Vidya Gurukalam"

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.