News Excerpt:

Recently, the Prime Minister of India addressed a programme on the 200th birth anniversary of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

About Dayanand Saraswati (1824-1883):

• Moola Shankar was Dayanand's original name; he was also called Dayaram. 
• He acquired the name "Dayanand" when he entered Sannyas. 
• He was born in 1824 in a small town called Tankara, Gujarat.
• He believed in the supreme authority of the Vedas; he established the Arya Samaj in 1875, leading a reform movement within orthodox Hinduism. 

Swami Dayanand's contribution to society:

• Swami Dayanand founded the Hindu reform organisation called Arya Samaj on April 7, 1875, in Mumbai, and also created the 10 principles, which are quite distinct from Hinduism, yet based on the Vedas. 
• These principles aim at advancing the individual and society through physical, spiritual and social betterment of the human race. 
• His aim was not to find a new religion but to re-establish the teachings of the ancient Vedas. 
• He wanted the true development of humankind by the acceptance of the Supreme truth and rejection of falsehood through analytical thinking.

• The philosophy of Dayananda Saraswati can be known from his three famous contributions namely “Satyartha Prakash”, “Veda Bhashya Bhumika” and “Veda Bhashya”. 
• The journal “Arya Patrika’ edited by him, also reflects his thoughts. 
• Besides establishing his reputation as a prolific writer, above works indicate his role as a religious reformer. 

• To him Vedas are the rock-bed of Hindu culture and thus infallible.

• He tried to purge Hinduism from its vices and to provide it a rational basis. 
• He gave the clarion call “Go Back to Vedas”. 
• As a social reformer, he was not influenced by Western culture but was a true symbol of Hinduism. 
• His approach was reformative to strengthen the fighting spirit of Hinduism.

• He was against idol worship, caste system, ritualism, fatalism, infanticide.

• He also stood for the liberation of women and upliftment of the depressed class. 
• Keeping in mind the supremacy of Vedas and Hindus, he opposed Islam and Christianity and advocated for the Shuddhi movement to reconvert the other sects to Hindu order. 
• He believed that through the spread of Vedic education the urge of regeneration of Indian society could be met.

• The gurukulas, Girl’s Gurukulas and DAV colleges were the most significant contribution of Dayananda. 
• Dayananda Saraswati also contributed to the growth of democracy and national awakening. 
  • It is said that political independence was one of the first objectives of Dayananda. 
  • He was the first to use the term “Swaraj.”