Ishaan Mahajan
Dayanand Saraswati or referred to as Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati or Mool Shankar Tiwari was an exceptional scholar, social reformer, philosopher, political thinker and most importantly the founding father of Arya Samaj. He was born on 12th February 1824 in Tankara, Gujarat in a conservative Brahmin family. Because of Dayanand’s logical, scientific and critical analysis of religious faiths and for bringing a revolution in the notion of divinity, he is considered one of the Makers of Modern India.
Dayanand’s Vision: Dayanand’s vision of India included a classless and casteless society, a united India (religiously, socially and nationally), and an India free from foreign rule, with Aryan religion being the common religion of all. He took inspiration from the Vedas and considered them “India’s Rock of Ages”, the infallible and the true original seed of Hinduism. He gave the slogan “Back to the Vedas”. Dayanand launched a frontal attack on Hindu orthodoxy, caste rigidities, untouchability, idolatry, polytheism, belief in magic, charms and animal sacrifices, the taboo on sea voyages, feeding the dead through Shraddha’s, etc. Dayanand subscribed to the Vedic notion of the Chaturvarna system in which a person was not born in any caste but was identified as a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra according to the occupation the person followed. Swami Dayanand also lamented the Hindu race as “the children of children”. Inter-caste marriages and widow remarriages were also encouraged. Equal status for women was the demand of the Samaj, both in letter and in spirit. Therefore, Swami Dayanand was in favour and demanded the equal rights of women in society. It was a revolutionary step in increasing women’s status and ensuring they receive equality and equal opportunities. He strongly criticised the escapist Hindu belief in Maya (illusion) as the running theme of all physical existence and the aim of human life as a struggle to attain moksha (salvation) through escape from this evil world to seek union with God. Instead, he advocated that God, soul and matter (Prakriti) were distinct and eternal entities and every individual had to work out his salvation in the light of the eternal principles governing human conduct. Thus, he attacked the prevalent popular belief that every individual contributed and got back from society according to the principles of Niyati (destiny) and Karma (deeds). He held the world to be a battlefield where every individual has to work out his salvation by right deeds, and that human beings are not puppets controlled by fate. Hence, Dayanand’s slogan of ‘Back to the Vedas’ was a call for a revival of Vedic learning and Vedic purity of religion and not a revival of Vedic times. He accepted modernity and displayed a patriotic attitude to national problems.
Dayanand’s Mission: He believed that Hinduism had been corrupted by divergence from the founding principles of the Vedas and that Hindus had been misled by the priesthood for the priest’s self-aggrandizement. For this mission, he founded the Arya Samaj, enunciating the Ten Universal Principles as a code for Universalism. With these principles, he intended the whole world to be an abode for Aryas (Nobles). In addition, Arya Samaj is consider Aum or Om to be the highest and proper name of God. He was also into reforming Hinduism with a new dedication to God. He travelled the country challenging religious scholars and priests to discussions, repeatedly winning through the strength of his arguments and knowledge of Sanskrit and Vedas. Hindu priests discouraged the laity from reading Vedic scriptures and encouraged rituals, such as bathing in the Ganges River and feeding priests on anniversaries, which Dayanand pronounced as superstitions. By exhorting the nation to reject such superstitious notions, he aimed to educate the nation to return to the teachings of the Vedas and to follow the Vedic way of life. He also exhorted the Hindu nation to accept social reforms, including the importance of Cows for national prosperity as well as the adoption of Hindi as the national language for national integration. Through his daily life and practice of yoga and asanas, teachings, preaching, sermons and writings, he inspired the Hindu nation to aspire to Swaraj (self-governance), nationalism, and spiritualism. He advocated equal rights and respect for women and advocated for the education of all children, regardless of gender. Dayanand also made critical analyses of faiths including Christianity & Islam, as well as of other Indian faiths like Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. In addition to encouraging idolatry in Hinduism, he was also against what he considered to be the corruption of the faithful and pure faith in his own country. 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 sixth principle of the Arya Samaj. As a result, his teachings professed universalism for all living beings and not for any particular sect, faith, community or nation.
Dayananda’s Vedic message emphasized respect and reverence for other human beings, supported by the Vedic notion of the divine nature of the individual. In the ten principles of the Arya Samaj, he enshrined the idea that “All actions should be performed with the prime objective of benefiting mankind”, as opposed to following dogmatic rituals or revering idols and symbols. The first five principles speak of Truth, while the last five speak of a society with nobility, civics, co-living, and disciplined life. In his own life, he interpreted moksha to be a lower calling, as it argued for benefits to the individual, rather than calling to emancipate others.
Dayanand’s Educative Reforms: Swami Dayanand Saraswati brought about a complete overhaul of the education system of India by introducing Anglo-Vedic schools to offer students an updated curriculum hence, imparting both the knowledge of the Vedas and contemporary English education. He was so impactful that you will be happy to know that his work was carried by his followers. One such person was Lala Hansraj who set up the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School at Lahore. Soon, this school developed into a famous college. Children were taught in English and Hindi by modern methods hence impacting and changing the lives of people. Some disciples founded the Gurukul at Hardwar. Several DAV educational institutions were established to provide modern education. Thus, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries AD, the Arya Samaj became an important organization for religious and social reforms.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati was more than just a religious leader of India who left a deep impact on Indian society and brought about changes in the religious perception of Indians. From voicing his opinions against empty ritualism, and man-made dictates to denouncing the caste system. From bringing about a complete overhaul of the education system by introducing Anglo-Vedic schools to offer Indian students contemporary English education to his political observations which were a source of inspiration for many political leaders during India’s struggle for independence, he was an inspiration to many people not only in India but all over the world. That is why he’s considered one of the Makers of Modern India and we must “Try not become a man of success but become a man of value.” by following his path humanity can surely overcome the pain and suffering and enjoy the divine bliss and happiness in life.
