Swami Dayananda Saraswathi
- Swami Dayananda Saraswathi was born on 12, February, 1824 in Tankara in Rajkot District Gujarat. He was born Mool Shankar.
- He was a profound scholar of the Vedic lore and Sanskrit language.
- Denouncing the idolatry and ritualistic worship prevalent in Hinduism at the time, he worked towards reviving Vedic ideologies.
- He also encouraged widow remarriage and opposed child marriage.
- He also was one of the foremost opponent of the caste system and the Brahmin orthodoxy calling it a fallacy created by vested interests.
- Maharshi Dayanand advocated the doctrine of Karma (Karmasiddhanta in Hinduism) and Reincarnation (Punarjanma in Hinduism).
- Dayananda Saraswati founded Arya Samaj 10th April, 1875 A.D. in Bombay.
- He was the first to give the call for Swarajya as “India for Indians” – in 1876, later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak.
- His translations of the Vedas form Vedic Sanskrit to Sanskrit and to Hindu s also his great contribution.
- He inspired generation of nationalists including Madame Bhikaji Cama, Lala Hardayal, Madan Lal Dhingra, Ram Prasad Bismil, Bhagat Singh, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Swami Shraddhanand, Mahatma Hansraj, Lala Lajpat Rai etc.
- His book Satyarth Prakash also remained inspirational to nationalists during the freedom movement.
Arya samaj
- Arya samaj preached that god is formless, omnipotent, beneficial; immortal, fearless and the maker of-the universe.
- They established a number of Vedic schools across the country to teach the Vedas to everybody and make it accessible.
- Thus they campaigned against caste system vehemently opposing and to try the knowledge to all and thus to take away the monopoly of the Brahmins and the Upper Castes.
- They believed that Vedas are the storehouse of knowledge and religious rites should be performed through Havans and Yajnas
- Focus on the expansion of education and abolition of illiteracy : A Network of schools and colleges for boys and girls was established throughout northern India to promote the spread of education.Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Schools System founded in lahore in 1886 by efforts of Lala Hansraj manages hundreds of institutions today.
- Arya Samajis opposed child marriages and encouraged remarriage of widows.
- Shuddhi movement:It focussed on reconversion of hindus who had converted to other religions back to hinduism.
- They also established their samaj abroad at many places to spread the awareness Hinduism and to cater to the spiritual needs of Hindus there.