Bharat Bhushan Arya
What Is Arya Samaj? Arya means ‘SHRESHTH ‘ i.e. excellent and Samaj means a Group of People . So Arya Samaj is a group of excellent people . Arya Samaj is a worldwide revolutionary movement, whose main aim is to fight and eradicate prevailing social evils in the society . Yug Purush , Vedic Scholar ,S ocial Reformer and first of all to lead Indian freedom struggle , Maharishi Dayanad Sarswati ,established first Arya Samaj at Girgaon (Kakadwadi) Mumbai on 7th April 1875 AD,now celebrating 150 years of its establishment.
Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati (childhood name -Mool Shanker )was born on 12th February 1824 AD in a small village of Tankara in Morvi District of (then Kathiawad) Gujrat State. At a small age of 14 years only ,one night of Shivratri festival became the turning point in the life of Mool Shanker ,who was not convinced with the common belief that Lord Shiva come in the night of Shivrati and bless the people having faith and offering prayers in Shiva temple .Mool Shanker decided to go in search of true Lord Shiva .With the passage of time few more incidents occurred in the life of Mool Shanker . Mool Shanker was at 16 , when his younger sister and was at 19 , when his uncle died. Both these unfortunate incidents further made Mool Shanker more sad , rather made him more firm to take some unusual decision .He was forced to think about death . Is death the ultimate end of life or any body can escape it.(can get Moksh) Ultimately ,at the age 21 Mool Shanker left home and never turned back.
For the next 15 years , not worried about his hunger ,thirst ,heat or severe cold , Mool Shanker moved from one place to another crossing rivers, jungles and mountains to meet some spiritual persons/ Sadhu -Sanyasis to quench his thirst of Vedic Knowledge but was not satisfied . Mool Shanker was amongst first front persons with idea of ‘ Swaraj ‘. It was that period when Mool Shanker met and motivated many Indians including Maharani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi and Mangal Pandey etc,who were ready to fight against English govt. to get freedom for our country.
At Alknanda ,Mool Shanker was happy to meet an aged ,learned vedic scholar Swami Purnanand and requested him to teach him true vedic knowledge. Swami Purnanand ,being aged and weak shown his inability to accede to Mool Shanker’s request. However Swami Purnanand taught Mool Shankr some basic vedic principles, blessed him with Sanyas and a name Swami Dayanand Sarswati. Swami Purnanand also advised Swami Dayanand to go to Mathura , to meet a learned aged Vedic Scholar Dandi Guru Swami Virjanand Sarswati who was competent enough to impart true vedic knowledge to him . Swami Dayanand marched towards Mathura in the year 1860 AD . After having talked to Dayanand and coming to know about his quest for the true vedic knowledge , Swami Virjanand happily accepted Dayanand as his student.
Swami Dayanand was so intelligent that it took him only three years to complete his studies . On completing his studies , in guru dakshina to Swami Virjanand ,Swami Dayanand offerd his whole life to propagate true Vedic Dharm and to eradicate prevailing social evils in the society .To fulfill his promise given to Swami Virjanand ,Swami Dayanand travelled from place to place working for eradication of social evils like Pakhand,Gurudam, Murti Puja,Caste system by birth , Untouchability, Sati Pratha, Multi Marriages by men ,Child Marriage , Parda pratha, Animal and Human Sacrifice, Devdasi Pratha, Prostitution, Non Veg – Food, throwing dead bodies/mortal remains inrivers, etc.
During his travel to different parts of the country, Swami Dayanand guided people about Vedic Knowledge and Social Reforms . It was a tough time for Swami ji who faced anger not only of Puranic Pundits but physical assaults also. Swami ji had a foresight and thinking that the work of Ved Prachar and Social Reforms remain continued even after his death. Swami JI established First ARYA SAMAJ at Girgaon ( Kakadwadi) Mumbai in the year 1875 AD.
Swami Dayanand was staunch supporter o f women empowerment by giving them due respect and equal status in the society, their right to education , right to chant even ved matras , adopt Yagyopavit, perform hawan yagya , and widow’s right to remarry. etc. As a result of their education and social equality ,women are now doing very well in every field of life ,may be President ,Prime Minister, Chief Minister. Governor, Ambassador, highest posts in judiciary,civil and police administration, armed forces ,science & technology and what not?
Swami Dayanand gave a slogan ‘Return to Vedas’ i.e.Vedas are universally accepted ancient of all other religious books, so to be read and followed by all human beings.Swami Ji’s another slogan was ” Krinvanto Vishavmaryam “means make the whole world Arya i.e excellent. Swami Dayanand favored theory of ‘ one religion, one nation, one constitution, one flag and one language. Swami Dyanand also motivated people to adopt ‘YAGYA’ ( Agnihotra) and ‘YOG’ as way of life. Yagya is the basic of every vedic ritual by which one offers prayers to the Almighty.Yagya is performed by chanting ved mantras ,offering Ahutis of pure cow milk and hawan samigri made up of number of medicinal herbs , which in turn help in purification of the environment. Yog is not only an exercise to keep one physically fit , but it is a process which helps in achieving mental clarity, spiritual awareness and self control .
Swami Dayanand raised his voice against English Govt. to fight for freedom of our country. Swami Dayanand was first to say ” Koi chahe kitna bhi kare kinto swadeshi rajya sarvopari uttam hota hai”,means self Govt. is best of all other Govts. Thoudsands and lakhs of people, motivated by teachings of Maharishi Dayanand and Arya Samaj , joined Indian freedom struggle and even sacrificed their lives . Few such names are,Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai, Mangal Pandey,Swami Shradhanand Sarswati , Pt. Lekh Ram ,Sardar kishen Singh, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru & Sukhdev,Chander Shekhar Azad, Neta ji Subhash Chaner Bose, Jatin Bagha, Jatin Dass, Kartar singh Sarabha ,Shaheed Udhanm Singh Maharani Laxmi Bai.
More than 80% of freedom fighters , who served and shaped the future of our country before and after independence , were Arya Samajis . we can’t forget the contribution of great personalities like Pt.Gurudutt Vidyarthi,Mahatma Hans Raj, Madan Mohan Malviya,Dada Bhai Nauroji, Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak,Gopal Krishan Gokhale , Babu Rajinder Prasad, Saravpali Dr. Radha Krishnan, ,Veer Saverkar ,C. Raja Gopalacharya, Krishan ji Vema, Lal Bahadur Shastri,Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, and many others,
Arya Veer Dal ( Young males ) and Arya Veerangna Dal (for young females )are the two organizations of Arya Samaj , who are providing Vedic Sanskars and training for self defence. These organizations are also helping people in the times o f natural calamities.
Swami Dayanand fulfiiled his promise by sacrificing even his life. Arya Samaj has done and is still doing a great work for the welfare of the society. Arya Samaj has the distinction of providing vedic as well as modern Education to lakhs of people through Gurukuls and DAV Schools. Colleges and University, not only in India but in other 30/32 countries also. There are more than 20000 Religious /social/ educational set ups including DAVs, other schools, gurukuls, orphanges, reform homes, study circles for students, homes for senior citizens, cow farms, etc associated with Arya Samaj and are providing vedic and modern education and social security/help to lakhs of people not only in cities but in distant tribal belts also. Arya Samaj believes in ” Sarve Bhawantu Sukhinah , Sarve Santu Niramyah ! Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu, Maa kashchid Dukh Bhag Bhawet”.
Swami Dayanand gave us a treasure of Vedic Knowledge by way about 41 very important writings, of which most important are, Satyarthprakash, Rigvedadi Bhashya Bhumica, Rigved Bhashya, Yajurved Bhashya, Ashtadhyai Bhahya, Sanskar Vidhi, Panch MahaYagya Vidhi, Gokarunanidhi etc.
We are grateful to Mahrishi Dayanand Sarswati, who fulfilled his promise given to his Guru Virja Nand Sarsawti ,for the good cause of spreading Vedic Knowledge and doing social reform works . Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati left this world at the age of 59 years only in the year 1883 AD.Respectful homage to a great saint Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati.
” Dhanya Hai Tumako Ai Rishi,Tune Hame Jaga Diya,
So So ke Lut Rahe The Hum Tune Hame Bacha Liya”
Nivedak:
(The author is former President, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (Jammu Kashmir)
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