History of Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a noble society which is working to promote values and practices based on the belief in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Its motto is Krinvantowishvamaryam – Make the World Noble.
Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati on 10th April 1875 . He created Arya Samaj to condemned practices of several different religions and communities, including such practices as idol worship, animal sacrifice, priest craft, the castes, and discrimination against women. He argued that all of these practices ran contrary to good sense and the wisdom of the Vedas. He had formed the Arya Samaj to save the downfall of Hinduism. The Arya Samaj tried to re-establish Hinduism on the basis of the Vedas. The Arya Samaj movement was inspired by its own fundamental principles. At that time, only Brahman can study the Vedas. Swami Dayanand gave the right to all the other castes to study and interpret Vedas. Arya Samaj worked for equality and religious fanaticism. It worked for the improvement of religious, social, educational and political fields in India. Its work cannot be compared to any religion reform movements.
Principles of Arya Samaj
- God is the efficient cause of all true knowledge and all that is known through knowledge.
- God is existent, intelligent and blissful. He is formless, omniscient, just, merciful, unborn, endless, unchangeable, beginning-less, unequalled, the support of all, the master of all, omnipresent, immanent, un-aging, immortal, fearless, eternal and holy, and the maker of all. He alone is worthy of being worshiped.
- The Vedas are the scriptures of all true knowledge. It is the paramount duty of all Aryas to read them, teach them, recite them and to hear them being read.
- One should always be ready to accept truth and to renounce untruth.
- All acts should be performed in accordance with Dharma that is, after deliberating what is right and wrong.
- The prime object of the Arya Samaj is to do good to the world, that is, to promote the physical, spiritual and social good of everyone.
- Our conduct towards all should be guided by love, righteousness and justice.
- We should dispel Avidya (ignorance) and promote Vidya (knowledge).
- No one should be content with promoting his/her good only; on the contrary, one should look for his/her good in promoting the good of all.
- One should regard oneself under restriction to follow the rules of society calculated to promote the well being of all, while in following the rules of individual welfare all should be free.
Arya Samaj in present –
Arya Samaj has taken a long journey since its birth in 1875. Today, it is a global organization teaching the true Vedic religion, which is at the core of Hinduism. At present, there are more than 8 million followers of Arya Samaj in India alone. Arya Samaj is active in countries including USA, England, Neitherland, Italy, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius and other countries where a significant Hindu population is present.