Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s 201st Birth Anniversary
Context:
Every year, 12 February 2025, is observed as the birth anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati (1824–1883). This year is the 201st birth anniversary.
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a visionary thinker, a strong nationalist, and the founder of the Arya Samaj, dedicated to religious and social reforms.
Key Highlights of Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Early Life & Spiritual Journey:
- He was born as Mool Shankar Tiwari on 12th February 1824 in Tankara, Gujarat, to an orthodox Brahmin family.
- He questioned idol worship and rituals from a young age and renounced worldly life at 19. He even wandered for 15 years in search of truth.
- He was trained under Swami Virjanand in Mathura, who guided him to restore Vedic principles.
Philosophy & Social Reforms:
- Advocated “Back to the Vedas,” emphasising rationality, equality, and Vedic knowledge.
- Opposed idol worship, untouchability, caste-based discrimination, child marriage, polygamy, and gender inequality.
- Supported widow remarriage, women’s education, and upliftment of the oppressed classes.
- Led the Shuddhi Movement for the reconversion of Hindus.
- Wrote Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth), criticising social evils and advocating Vedic teachings.
Educational & Nationalist Contributions:
- Inspired Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools and colleges (first DAV school in Lahore, 1886).
- Called for “Swaraj” (self-rule) in 1876, influencing freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Mahatma Gandhi.
- Promoted Swadeshi (economic self-reliance), Hindi as a national language, and cow protection.
Legacy:
- Faced opposition from orthodox groups but left a lasting impact through Arya Samaj and DAV institutions.
- His principles continue to shape modern education and socio-religious reforms.
Arya Samaj: A Reformist Hindu Movement
- Arya Samaj was founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
- It advocates Vedic knowledge as the ultimate truth.
- Principles of the samaj:
- Rejects idol worship, priestly rituals, animal sacrifice, and social evils.
- Emphasises karma (law of deeds), samsara (cycle of rebirth), and Vedic fire rituals (havan/yajna).
- Social Contributions:
- Promoted women’s education, widow remarriage, and inter-caste marriage.
- Established schools, orphanages, and widow homes.
- Led the Shuddhi Movement to bring back Hindus who had converted to other religions.
- Provided famine relief and medical aid.
- Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s vision through Arya Samaj continues to influence Hindu social and educational reforms in India.
