Bharat Bhushan Arya
Phalgun Krishan Dashmi Vikrami Samvat 2078 ( i.e.26th February 2022AD ) is 198th Jayanti (birth anniversary) of a great Indian saint, vedic scholar-writer, social reformer, supporter of women empowerment, supporter of ancient vedic system of education through Gurukuls , a motivating force to Indian struggle of independence and founder of a socio -religious -organization ‘ Arya Samaj’.
Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati (birth name Mool Shanker) was born in a small village of Tankara in Morvi – Kathiawad ( now Gujarat).
Once family was busy in celebrating festival of Lord Shiva in a temple where stone idol (Shivlingam) of Lord Shiva was being adorned with jewels, flowers and sweets. Mool Shanker, was told by his father that Lord Shiva would appear at Mid night to bless the devotees. Surprisingly at mid night, Mool Shanker saw a mouse eating the food and sweets offered ,running here and there and even polluting the stone idol ( Shivlingam) of Lord Shiva. The scene shattered the faith of Mool Shanker (13 )and a question aroused in his mind ” can this idol be the Supreme Being, the real Lord of all?. No ,was the answer ,then who is the real God ?It was a turning point in the life of Mool Shanker. Two more incidents ,one at the age of 16th when his younger sister died and second at the age of 19th when his uncle died ,both the said incidents left Mool Shanker in a state of utter dejection and forced him to find what is ‘ life and death’.
At the age of 22, Mool Shanker left his home in search of real God and to know the secrets of life and death. Thereafter, it was a long journey full of hardships . During his travels, he met a number of scholars, saints and discussed with them Vedic philosophy but was not satisfied until he met one aged saint in Himalayas ‘ Swami Purnanand ji ‘, who taught him some chapters of Vedic philosophy and blessed him Sanyas by giving a new name ‘ Swami Dayanand Saraswati ‘. Since Purnanand ji was an aged sanyasi, he shown his inability to accept a very hard task of teaching Vedic philosophy to Dayanand ji but advised him to go to Mathura to meet a great vedic scholar ‘Dandi Swami Virjanand Sarswati ji ‘ to quench his thirst of knowledge of real God and also the secrets of life and death. Dayanand ji met Swami Virjanand ji in the year 1859 AD and completed his studies in two and a half years. As a Guru Dakshina, Dayanand Ji promised to spend his whole life for preaching true knowledge of Vedic Philosophy and also to work for the welfare of humanity.
Vedic scholar :
Maharishi ji was a Great Vedic Scholar- Writer. In spite of his busy schedule of meditation, preachings and meetings with the people to discuss various socio- economic-religious issues, Maharishi ji spared sufficient time for reading and writing.
Social Reformer:
a) Maharishi ji was against prevailing social evil of untouchability. Irrespective of caste, creed or religion, all humans are equal. Maharishi ji favored Shudras (Dalits) not as lower caste but equal to all human beings. According to him, if due to some unavoidable circumstances or some prevailing social restrictions etc , one could not get education or status in society, does not mean that he is of lower caste .
b) Maharishi ji was against child marriage, as according to him, unless a boy and a girl are matured enough and attain a proper marriageable age, they should not marry.
c) Maharishi ji was against ‘Sati Pratha’, a ritual when a woman at the time of death of his husband also sacrificed her life by sitting on the burning pyre of her husband . Maharishi ji raised his voice against this social evil by saying , why a widow is to be punished for no fault of her in her husband’s death.
d) Maharishi ji was against use of drugs, superstitions, idol worship, corruption etc.
e) Woman empowerment: Maharishi was in favor of woman empowerment by giving them proper respect , equal social status and education.
f) Maharishi ji was in favour of one country , one religion, one language, one flag, one constitution .
Back to the Vedas:
Since time of Mahabharata as well during Mughal and English regimes, there was a great erosion of Vedic Dharma / Philosophy /Culture. Maharishi ji was of the firm view that Vedas , the voice of Ishwar ( God) since universe came into existence are universal guides for humanity, so we should follow the teachings of Vedas only. Maharishi ji gave a slogan “Back to the Vedas”. Since Vedas are in ancient Vedic language Sanskrit , Maharishi ji translated Vedas into a simple Indian Hindi language so that the common people could easily understand the contents.
Foundation of Arya Samaj:
Revival of true Vedic philosophy and cause of social reforms undertaken are not stopped after his death, Maharishi ji established a socio – religious organization ‘Arya Samaj ‘, (means a group of best people) at Mumbai on 7th April 1875 AD.
Maharishi ji clearly mentioned that he is not establishing any new religion or a sect. ‘Krinvanto Vishavmaryam ‘ make the whole world best’. He was against Gurudom or establishing a Gaddi. He also advised that not to make his Samadhi or a Memorial after his death, rather advised to spray his ashes in a field. He also framed ten principles of Arya Samaj which are universally applicable to the human life, e.g principle no. 6 itself says that” The prime object of Arya Samaj is to do good to the world i.e. To ameliorate physical, spiritual and social standards of all persons.”
Revival of Gurukuls :
Maharishi ji was against English system of education because it was introduced by Lord Macaulay mainly to destroy our well planned ancient Vedic system of education through Gurukuls. Maharishi ji was in Cavour of Gurukuls because Gurukuls teach not only academics but also educate children about other important social aspect of human life.
Ashram Vyavstha (system) for a human life :
Normal human life cycle is assessed at 100 years of age and one must follow Ashram system of living for a peaceful and smooth human life .
1. Brahmcharya: Brahmcharya Ashram (upto 25 years of age) is the mainspring of all Ashrams . This is the period when one is required to keep perfect control over its passions and devote himself to the acquisition of knowledge.
2. Grihasth Ashram ( from 26 to 50 years of age) After completing education a Brahmchari should enter a married life. This ashram is greatest of all four ashrams of human life. It mainly relates to a married life explaining duties of a husband and a wife.
3. Vanprasth : Vanprasth Ashram (from 51 to 75 years of Age). After completing his family responsibilities , one is supposed to leave his home and preferabley live in a forest to lead a simple life and spend time in the Vedic studies and in the service of society.
4. Sanyas : Sanyas Ashram ( from 76 to 100 years of age). It is final phase of life. Normally a person becomes Sanyasi after completion of Vanprasth. A sanyasi lives a virtuous life, has renounced all worldly enjoyments and devotes himself to the dissemination of Vedic knowledge to others without any material reward or expectations .
During his preachings several attempts were made on life of Maharishi ji ,but he faced them bravely and due to high ‘ Yogic Power ‘escaped unharmed. But there was one cruel attempt on life of Maharishi ji which could not save him .On a fateful day of Deepawali the 30th October 1883 AD when the entire nation was busy in celebrating the Festival of Lights outside, the great Soul got ‘ Nirwan’ extinguishing the light inside.
In the turbulent period of our times, when there is so much of violence across the world, humanity needs succour and peace .The same can be attained by following teachings of Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati Ji.
(The author is President, Arya Samaj Trikuta Nagar, Jammu)
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