Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati

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Pime Minister of India to Participate in International Aryan Summit 2025 in New Delhi on 31st October.

• Dayanand Saraswati – He was a prominent social reformer, philosopher, religious leader and founder of the Arya Samaj.
• Born on - 12^th February 1824 in Tankara, Gujarat.
• He was earlier named Mool Shankar Tiwari.
• Father - Karsan Ji Tiwari
• Mother - Amritbai.
• He received education from Guru Virjanand in Mathura.
• Philosophy & teachings –
  • He believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas.
  • He advocated the doctrine of Karma & Reincarnation.
  • Emphasized "Go Back to Vedas" - True Hinduism is rooted in the Vedas, which uphold rationality, equality, and social justice.
  • Literary Work – Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth), Sanskarvidhi, Yajurved Bhashyam, Veda Bhashya Bhumika, etc, journal “Arya Patrika’.
• Social reforms –
  • Opposed – Untouchability, idol worship, religious superstitions, polygamy, child marriage, etc.
  • Advocated for women's education, widow remarriage, upliftment of depressed classes, Shuddhi movement for reconversion and the abolition of Sati and child marriage.
• Educational contributions
  • He advocated for modern, scientific, Vedic education and opposed the British colonial education system.
  • He established the Vedic schools for the education of girls and boys of all castes.
  • Establishment of Gurukuls,  Girl’s Gurukulas, DAV (Dayanand Anglo Vedic) schools & colleges in 1886 to realize the vision of Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
• Role in national movement -
  • He was the 1^st to give the call for "India for Indians" (swaraj) in 1876, a call later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak.
  • India’s 2^nd President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan called him as “a maker of modern India”.

Arya Samaj is a Hindu monotheistic socio-religious movement, established by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay.

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References

1. PIB | PM to participate in International Aryan Summit 2025.
2. The Arya Samaj | Dayanand Saraswati
3. SDEF | Dayanand Saraswati