Arya Samaj is a monotheistic Hindu reform movement in India that supports principles and practices based on the Vedas' irrefutable authority. On 10 April 1875, the sannyasi (ascetic) Dayanand Saraswati created the samaj. Arya Samaj was the first Hindu group to practice proselytization. Since 1800, the group has also campaigned to advance the civil rights struggle in India. This article will explain to you about the Arya Samaj (Swami Dayanand Saraswati) which will be helpful in Modern Indian History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Arya Samaj - Background

• Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1824-83) founded the Arya Samaj in 1875. He was a Sanskrit expert who had never studied English.
• He issued the slogan, "Back to the Vedas."
• He was unconcerned with the Puranas. Swami learned Vedanta from a blind instructor named Swami Virajananda in Mathura. His viewpoints were similar to Ram Mohan Roy's.
• The Arya Samaj's social values include, among other things, God's fatherhood and Man's fraternity, gender equality, total justice, and fair play between man and man and country and nation.
• Intercaste marriages were also promoted, as were widow remarriages.
• Disbelief in polytheism and image worship, hostility to caste-based limitations, child marriage, opposition to the ban of sea journeys, and advocacy for female education and widow remarriage were all key programs shared by Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj members.
• Swami Dayananda Saraswati, like other reformers of his day, held the Vedas to be everlasting and infallible.

Arya Samaj - Features

• Believes in the infallibility of the Vedas and regards them as the ultimate source of all truth and knowledge.
• It was believed that post-Vedic books such as Puranas were to blame for the contamination of the Vedic religion.
• Opposes God's idolatry and reincarnation idea, but supports the notion of 'Karma' and soul transmigration.
• Dayanand also rejected the doctrine of fate/destiny Niyati.
• Believes in a single God who does not have a physical existence.
• Rejects Brahmanical domination over Hindu spiritual and social life. Brahmins' claim to be conduits between man and God is condemned.
• Supported the Four Varna System, however, it should be based on merit rather than birth.
• Everyone has an equal position in the spiritual and social lives of Hindus.
• Advocated for women's equality in society. There is no place for any type of gender discrimination against women.
• Supported widow remarriage and female education while opposing polygamy, child marriage, Sati, and other practices.
• Supported the spread of Hindi and Sanskrit. Considered good education to be the foundation of a decent and robust social order.
• It conducted outstanding work in the realm of education, particularly for women.
• Animal sacrifices, religious pilgrimages, feeding the dead through sraddhas, sorcery and charms, and other socio-religious sins are condemned.
• According to Swami Dayanand, these sins occur in society owing to a lack of understanding of the Vedic teachings.

Ten Guiding Principles of the Arya Samaj

• God is the originator of all real knowledge.
• God alone is deserving of worship as the all-truth, all-knowledge, omnipotent, immortal, creator of the Universe.
• The Vedas are the genuine scriptures of wisdom.
• An Arya should always be willing to embrace the truth and reject the lie.
• The guiding concept of all activities should be dharma or careful consideration of right and evil.
• The Samaj's primary goal is to promote global well-being in material, spiritual, and social terms.
• Everyone deserves to be treated with compassion and justice.
• Ignorance must be removed, and knowledge must be expanded.
• One's advancement should be dependent on the advancement of all others.
• The collective well-being of humanity is to take precedence above an individual's well-being.

Arya Samaj - Significance

• The Arya Samaj set the minimum marriageable age for guys at 25 years old and girls at 16 years old.
• Swami Dayananda reportedly derisively referred to the Hindu race as "the offspring of children."
• The Arya Samaj became well-known for its humanitarian work after natural disasters such as earthquakes, famines, and floods. It also took the lead in promoting education.
• After Dayananda's death in 1883, the samaj's work was carried on by prominent members. Education was a critical area for the samaj.
• The Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (D.A.V.) The college was founded in Lahore in 1886.
• The Arya Samaj was able to instill self-esteem and confidence in Hindus, which aided in dispelling the illusion of white supremacy and Western civilization.
• In order to safeguard Hindu civilization from the invasion of Christianity and Islam, the Samaj launched the shuddhi (purification) movement, which sought to reintegrate converts to Christianity and Islam into Hindu society.
• During the 1920s, an active shuddhi movement resulted in increased communication of social life, which eventually snowballed into communal political consciousness.
• The shuddhi movement also tried to convert persons considered untouchables and outside the Hindu caste system into pure caste Hindus.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati

• Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a social and religious reformer, was born on February 12, 1824. He was born in the Gujarat town of Tankara.
• On April 7, 1875, he established the Arya Samaj.
• Dayananda, born Mul Shankar Tiwari, was a prominent Hindu religious reformer.
• After his sister and uncle died, he began to explore the purpose of life.
• Mul Shankar, who was engaged to be married when he was in his teens, decided he wanted to live an ascetic life and ran away from home.
• During this period, he began to practice Yoga. Virajanand Dandeesha was his spiritual instructor.
• Dayananda saw that Hinduism has deviated from its roots. He promised his Guru that he would work hard to restore the Vedas to their due place in the Hindu faith and way of life.
• He warned against the practice of making contributions to priests.
• He emphasized One God and condemned idol worship via this reform effort. He also spoke out against the revered role of priests in Hinduism.
• He was hostile to the diversity of castes. Furthermore, he believed that the conversion of lower castes to Christianity and Islam was mostly due to caste multiplicity.
• He also founded Vedic schools to educate females and boys of all castes. Students at these schools were provided with free literature, clothes, shelter, and food, as well as instruction in the Vedas and other ancient writings.
• Arya Samaj conducted a long-running campaign against untouchability and pushed for the abolition of caste inequalities.
• The establishment of the Dayanand Anglo Vedic Trust and Management Society in Lahore in 1886 was an attempt to unify the samaj and its operations.
• They also campaigned for the protection of widows and other social causes such as assisting victims of natural or man-made disasters.
• He wrote a lot of novels. Satyartha Prakash is his most notable contribution. Other books include the Sanskarvidhi, the Rig Veda Bhashyam, and many more.

Dayanand Saraswati

Conclusion

Arya Samaj created a network of DAV educational institutions for both boys and girls. It represented a type of Indian national awakening and brought hundreds of nationalist Indians into its fold. It played a particularly progressive role in the early phases of national awakening when it challenged religious superstitions, brahmin domination, polytheism, and untouchability, and when it later accepted the policy of mass education, sub-caste eradication, and equality of men and women.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Evaluate the role of Arya Samaj in the promotion of social and educational reforms in 19th century India.

Explanation: This question requires an evaluation of how the Arya Samaj contributed to social and educational reforms. The answer should focus on the movement’s role in eradicating caste-based discrimination, promoting women's education, opposing child marriage, and establishing educational institutions like Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools. The Arya Samaj’s impact on uplifting marginalized sections of society through Vedic teachings and its role in creating a more egalitarian society should be discussed.

Q2: Discuss the impact of Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s philosophy on the religious and social fabric of India.

Explanation: This question asks for an analysis of how Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s philosophy of returning to Vedic principles impacted the religious and social landscape of India. The answer should highlight his rejection of idol worship, caste discrimination, and superstitious practices, and his advocacy for monotheism. The influence of his teachings on socio-religious reform movements and his contribution to shaping modern Indian society should be explored.

Q3: “Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s vision of India was rooted in Vedic ideals.” Critically examine the relevance of his ideas in contemporary India.

Explanation: This question requires a critical examination of how Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s vision, based on Vedic principles, continues to influence contemporary India. The answer should explore the relevance of his ideas on education, social equality, women's empowerment, and religious reform. It should also assess the impact of these ideas on modern social structures and the continuing significance of his call for returning to Vedic values in a rapidly modernizing society

Previous Year Questions on Arya Samaj & Swami Dayanand Saraswati

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Q1: Discuss the significance of the Arya Samaj in the socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century in India. 

Answer: The Arya Samaj played a crucial role in the socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century by challenging superstitions, idol worship, and the rigid caste system in Hindu society. Founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875, it aimed to revive the Vedic way of life and eliminate practices like child marriage and untouchability. The movement emphasized education, particularly for women, and encouraged scientific thinking. The Arya Samaj also set up Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools to blend modern and Vedic education, thereby contributing to the intellectual awakening of Indian society during British rule.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Q2: How did Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s teachings influence the nationalist movement in India? 

Answer: Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s teachings emphasized self-reliance, education, and social reform, which had a profound influence on the Indian nationalist movement. His call for "Swaraj" or self-rule, and his advocacy of the Vedic way of life, inspired many nationalists to strive for independence from British rule. The Arya Samaj, founded by him, promoted education and self-respect among Hindus, and its emphasis on social equality, including the eradication of untouchability and caste discrimination, aligned with the broader goals of the freedom movement.