History :Socio - Religious reform movements PART-2

ARYA SAMAJ

• Founded by Swami Dayanand (or, Moolshankar) in 1875.
• His motto was ‘Go back to the Vedas’ & ‘India for the Indians’. He disregarded Puranas, idol worship, casteism and untouchability. He advocated widow remarriage.
• Dayanand’s views were published in his famous work, Satyarth Prakash. He also wrote Veda BhashyaBhumika and Veda Bhashya.
• Established a large number of educational institutions in India, viz., Gurukuls, DAV schools etc.
• Also started the ‘Siddhi’ movement to convert non – Hindus to Hinduism.
• Other prominent persons of Arya Samaj were Lala Hans Raj, Pt. Guru Dutt, LalaLajpat Rai, SwamiShraddhanand.

Swami Dayananda

• Swami DayanandSaraswati (or Mulashankar) was born in 1824 in Gujarat. He received education from Swami Virajonanda at Math lira . Formally organised the first Arya Samaj unit at Bombay in 1875
• He was known as the earliest Neo-nationalist.
• His ideal was to unite India religiously, socially and nationally, lie looked on the Vedas as India’s “Rock of Ages,” the true original seed of Hinduism. His motto was “Go back to Vedas”.
• He condemned idol worship and preached unity of God.