Swami Dayanand Saraswati
A devout Hindu scholar and reformer, Swami Dayanand Saraswati was the founder of ‘Arya Samaj’. He was born on 12th February 1824 and visualised a society that stood on the foundation principles of Vedic spirituality and Hindu religious philosophies. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was first named as Mool Shankar Tiwari at the time of his birth. His teacher and life mentor Swami Vrijananda renamed him as Dayanand Saraswati.
Early Days
Swami Dayanand Saraswati was born in the Kathiawar region to a distinguished Hindu family. His family was notable throughout the village of Kathiawar. His parents were Karshanji Lalji Tiwari and Yashodabai. His father served the village as a noble tax collector and was considered one of the most affluent families of those times. His father was a big devotee of Lord Shiva and transferred his religious wisdom to young Dayanand Saraswati. Soon, he was seen inspired by his father’s words and ways to impress Lord Shiva.
Resistance against Idol Worship
Once into his adulthood, Dayanand Saraswati followed in his father’s footsteps and began religiously committing himself in the service of Lord Shiva. He had earned a great impact from his father’s noble teachings about Hindu religion. On one such auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, it is noted that he sat in penance for the whole night observing fast and meditation with devotion. It is at this instance when he saw a mouse running all over Lord Shiva’s idol and putting the lord’s offerings into his mouth that he began questioning the culture of idol worship. This was the beginning of his many steps taken for social reforms in our country.
Inner transformation
Swami Dayanand Saraswati began questioning about the essence of birth and death, soon after he lost his uncle and sister to a cholera attack. Without thinking twice, he ran away from his house in 1846 when he was forced into matrimonial ties. He spent the next twenty five years without settling anywhere and roamed around with austere and self-denying beliefs. He renounced any kind of materialistic inflictions and led a humble life looking for spiritual attainment. He took shelter in pilgrimage centres and Himalayan forests, looking for solitary inner realisations.
Mission
Swami Dayanand Saraswati led a simple life and preached the doctrines of universal harmony, peace and self exploration through the path of Vedas. He strongly believed that a person can attain fulfilment in life only when he walked on the path of Vedic learning. He strongly protested against the religious priests who were complacent with idol worship. All these ideologies and philosophical tenets compelled him to spread his word to the whole country through a mission that we better know today as ‘Arya Samaj’.
Driving Principles of Arya Samaj
On 7th April 1875, Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in then Bombay Province. The official inauguration can however be traced to the movement instigated in Lahore on 24th June 1877. The founding values of the Samaj were bestowed in spreading teachings of Vedic chants, hymns, values from Sanatan Dharma apart from Hindu religious principles. They also fought against child marriages, animal slaughters and supported women empowerment.
Life works of Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Swami Dayanand Saraswati authored the book ‘Satyartha Prakash’ which is a renowned literature work which transformed many lives and offered insights on independence during the freedom struggle. The Maharishi believed in leading a life of principles, backed by conviction to lead the path of Dharma and righteousness in one’s duties and responsibilities. He had a strong belief in the philosophy of rebirth and reincarnation. Some of the world famous devotee followers of the Maharishi are Madam Cama, Lala Lajpat Rai and Pandit Lekh Ram amongst others.
