Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Arya Samaj:
- The 148th Foundation Day of Arya Samaj was celebrated.
- The Arya Samaj Movement was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
- It was the result of a reaction to Western influences.
- The Arya Samaj was set up formally by him in Bombay in 1875.
- Later, the headquarters of the Samaj were established in Lahore.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati:
- He was born in Tankara, Gujarat, on February 12, 1824.
- Name: Moolshankar
- wandered as an ascetic for many years.
- Views are published in “Satyarth Prakash.”
- gave the slogan ‘Back to the Vedas,” a call for the revival of Vedic learning.
- He received his education from Swami Virajananda in Mathura.
- He condemned caste rigidities, untouchability, idol worship, animal sacrifices, and other superstitious ideas.
- His vision of India included a classless and casteless society, a united India, and an India free of foreign rule, with Aryan religion serving as the universal religion.
- He believed in the Vedic concept of chaturvarna, according to which a person was born without a caste but was recognized as a brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, or shudra based on their occupation.
- The 10 guiding principles of Arya Samaj are:
- God is the primary source of true knowledge.
- God alone is worthy of worship.
- The Vedas are the books of true knowledge.
- to accept the truth.
- The due principle of right and wrong (dharma) should be the guiding principle of all actions.
- The main aim is to promote material, spiritual, and social well-being in the world.
- to treat everyone with love and justice.
- Dispel ignorance.
- One’s own progress should depend on the upliftment of all others.
- The social well-being of mankind is to be placed above an individual’s well-being.
- It ushered in a revolution in the field of education.