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About Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati

Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati was born on 12 February 1824 in Tankara, Gujarat. He was an Indian Philosopher, Social Leader and Founder of the Arya Samaj that brought down the changes in the religious perception of Indians. He was the first one to give the call for Swaraj as "India for Indians" in 1876, a call was later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak.

Early life and Education

Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati’s original name was Mul Shankar because he was born in Dhanu Rashi and Mul Nakshatra. His father and mother’s name were Karshanji Lalji Kapadi, Yashodabai respectively. Their family were deeply religious, Mool Shankar was taught religious rituals, piety and purity, from a very early age.

Karshanji Lalji was the follower of Shiva and taught Mul the ways to worship Shiva. Mool Shankar was attracted towards the spiritual realm after the passing of his sister when he was 14-year-old.

He started questioning about life, death and the afterlife to his parents to which they had no answers. Finally, he arrived at Mathura where he met Swami Virajananda.

Mool Shankar became his devotee and Swami Virajananda taught him to learn directly from the Vedas. during his study he found all his questions regarding life, death and afterlife answered.

Spiritual Beliefs

Maharishi Dayanand was an adherent in Hinduism. Saving the purity of the faith was of utmost significance to him. He strongly advocated the idea of Dharma which he believed to be liberated from any partiality and as an embodiment of honesty. He was against social evils like superstitions and caste segregation. He commends the concept of Swarajya, meaning a country free of foreign influence.

Works

Maharishi Dayananda wrote more than 60 books in all, including a 16 volume explanation of the six Vedangas Some of his important works include the Satyarth Bhumika, Satyarth Prakash, Sanskarvidhi, Rigvedadi Bhashya Bhumika, Rig Veda Bhashyam and Yajurved Bhashyam.

Dayananda's contributions were high towards promoting the equal rights for women, for example, the right to education and reading of Indian scriptures, and his commentary on the Vedas from Vedic Sanskrit in Sanskrit as well as in Hindi.

Foundation Of Arya Samaj

On 7th April 1875, Dayanand Saraswati formed the Arya Samaj at Bombay. Dayananda Saraswati's creations, the Arya Samaj, condemns practices of several unique religions and communities, including such practices as animal sacrifice, pilgrimages, idol worship, priestcraft, offerings made in temples, child marriages, meat-eating and discrimination against women.

The Arya Samaj discourages doctrine and indication and encourages distrust in beliefs that run contrary to common sense and logic.

Educational Reforms

Maharishi Dayanand was completely convinced that the lack of knowledge was the main culprit behind the adulteration of Hinduism. He set up various number of Gurukuls to teach his devotees the knowledge of the Vedas and for them to spread the knowledge further.

Motivated by his beliefs, teachings and ideas, his adherent built up the Dayanand Anglo Vedic College Trust and Management Society, after his death in 1883. On June 1, 1886, the first DAV High School was built at Lahore with Lala Hans Raj as its headmaster.

Death

In 1883 the maharaja of Jodhpur, Jaswant Singh II, invited Dayananda to remain at his palace. The Maharaja was anxious to become Dayananda's follower and to learn his teachings. During his stay, Dayananda went to the Maharaja's restroom and saw him with a dancing girl named Nanhi Jaan.

Dayananda requested the Maharaja to leave the girl and all unethical acts and to follow the dharma like a genuine Arya. Dayananda's suggestion annoyed Nanhi, who decided to take revenge. On 29 September 1883, She conspired with the cook who mixed pieces of glass in the Maharishi’s milk.

The Maharishi suffered arduous pain but forgave the cook involved before he succumbed to death on October 30, 1883, at Ajmer, on the day of Diwali.

1) Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati images