Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati

The President of India recently addressed the “200th Janmotsav- Gyan Jyoti Parv Smaranotsav Samaroh” in Gujarat, commemorating Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati’s birth anniversary, highlighting his profound influence on Indian society.

About the Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati:

• The Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati was an Indian philosopher, saint, social reformer, and the founder of the Arya Samaj.
• He was born as Mool Shankar in Tankara, Gujarat, on February 12, 1824.
• He was rechristened as Rishi Dayanand by Swami Virajananda, who guided him to study the Vedas and spread Vedic knowledge.
• His teachings had influenced notable personalities like Lokmanya Tilak, Lala Hansraj, Swami Shraddhanand, and Lala Lajpat Rai.
• He authored significant works such as Satyarth Prakash and Rig-Vedaadi.
• He passed away on October 30, 1883.

Philosophy and social reforms:

• He emphasized a return to the original teachings of the Vedas, and advocated against idol worship, caste discrimination, and ritualism.
• He promoted women’s education, widow remarriage, and opposing child marriage and polygamy.
• He was a pioneer in advocating “Swarajya” as ‘India for Indians’ in 1876, emphasizing a nation free from foreign influence and supporting the right to self-determination.
• He had established Gurukuls and the Arya Samaj in 1875 in Bombay, aiming to reform Hindu religion and initiated the “Shuddhi Movement” for reconverting people back to Hinduism.
• Through the establishment of the Paropkarini Sabha in Ajmer, Rajasthan, in 1882, he aimed to publish and preach his works and Vedic texts.
• After his death, his teachings inspired the creation of the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) educational system, blending Vedic and contemporary knowledge, with the first DAV High School established in Lahore on June 1, 1886.

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