Bharat Bhushan Arya
Arya means a noble person and Samaj means an association, so Arya Samaj is an association of noble persons. Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati , a saint social reformer of 19th century who in his short span of life ( 1824-1883 AD) initiated a series of social reforms ,wanted that the work of social reforms is not stopped even after his death . So on 1st Chaitra Shukle Vikrami Samwat.1931 ( 7th April 1875 A D ) foundation of 1st Arya Samaj was laid in Mumbai on the lawns of Sh. Adreji Manik Ji , a Parsi gentleman & first contribution of Rs.5000/- was made by Sh. Allaharakha khan, a Muslim gentleman.Thereafter Maharishi Ji visited many other parts of India and continued establishing Arya Samajas .While laying foundation of 1st Arya Samaj at Mumbai, Maharishi clearly told his followers that he is not starting any new Religion or a Sect . At that time Maharishi Ji had in his mind the following main objectives:
* The primary object of the Arya Samaj is to do good to the whole world by bettering the physical,spiritual and social conditions of humanity.
* Purification of environment by performing daily Yagya ( Agnihotra) by burning of odoriferous substances with pure ghee in the sacred fire chanting Ved Mantras.
* “Krinvanto Vishavmaryam” – Not only India but to make the whole world noble.
*”Back to the Vedas” -As per Vedic Dharma , the aim of one’s life is to achieve ‘Moksh’ through Dharm, Arth and Kaam ,which can only be achieved by following the path shown by Vedas .
*To bring the whole world under one roof i.e. One State, one Religion, one language, One flag and one Constitution.
* To support Women empowerment by providing them right to equality, education social status and to support widow marriage.
* Arya Samaj do not believe in casteism but irrespective of caste , creed or religion, believe in equality amongst all human beings.
* To help the weak, poor ,orphans and downtrodden . * To fight against social evils like untouchability, superstitions, drug menance, animal sacrifice , dowry system, child marriage and satipratha.
* To encourage people to continue their fight against the British rule till get independence . In fact Maharishi Daya Nand Sarswati had been a motivating force behind hundred and thousands of freedom fighters who got motivation from the he of and principles of Arya Samaj to join Indian freedom movement . Maharishi Ji ,in his great valueable book named “Satyrath Prakash” i. e. (Light of Truth) published in the year 1875 ( ref. chapter8) ,has clearly mentioned that ‘Howsoever good may be the foreign rule but our own Govt. is best of all others ‘.
*To revive ancient mode of education by opening more and moreGurukuls.Swami Shraddhanand Sarswati , the great disciple of Maharishi Ji, took initiative and established first such Gurukul in Kangri village of Haridwar in the year 1902 , which is now a world famous university named ‘ Gurukul Kangri University’. Thereafter number of Gurukuls established in other parts of India and are doing great work by imparting Vedic / Moral education .
Arya Samaj has done wonders in the field of education .Under the guidance of Lala Lajpat Rai , Pt. Guru Dutt Vidyarthi and Mahatma Hans Raj ,1st DAV school was established in the year 1885 AD at Lahore which was upgraded to 1st DAV college in the year 1886 AD .Today DAV has become a great name in the field of education in the whole world.Thousands of education institutions ,schools, colleges and Universities affiliated to DAV and Arya Samajs are imparting Vedic /Moral and General education to lakhs of people in India and abroad.
At the time of foundation of 1st Arya Samaj at Mumbai, Maharishi set few principles , which were later on at foundation of arya Samaj at Lahore in the year 1877 were reduced to worldwide acceptable ’10 principles of Arya Samaj’ which are as under:
* God is the primary source of all true knowledge,and of all that is known by its means.
* God is Existent , Conscious, All -beatitude, Formless, Almighty, Just, Merciful, Unbegotten,Infinite, Unchangeable, Beginningless, Incomparable,the Support of all, the Lord of all, Prevailing, Omniscient and Controller of all from within, Evermature, Imperishble,Fearless, Eternal, Holy and Creator of Universe. To Him alone is worship 7
* . The Vedas are the scriptures of all true knowledge.It is the paramount duty of all Arya’s to read and to teach them (others) & to hear and to recite them (others).
* All persons should be ever ready to accept truth and renounce untruth.
* All acts aught to be performed in conformity to Dharma i.e. after due consideration of right and wrong.
* The prime object of Arya Samaj is to do good to the world i.e. To ameliorate physical,spiritual and social standards of all persons.
* All ought to be treated with love, justice,righteousness and due regard to the their merits .
* Ignorance ought to be dispelled and knowledge be disseminated .
* No one should remain content with his or her own well-being but on the contrary should regard his or her well- being in consonance with the well being of others.
10. In the matters affecting well-being of the society ( all others) an individual should subordinate his or her personal liking while in matters affecting him or her alone he or she could enjoy the freedom of action .
In the words of Neta ji Subhash chander Bose” Swami Dayanand Sarswati is certainly one of the most powerful personalities who have shaped modern India and are responsible for its moral regeneration and religious revival . His Samaj –the Arya Samaj –is clearly and unquestionably one of the most potent factors building , reforming and rejuvenating the institutions of India”.
(The author is President Arya Samaj, Trikuta Nagar Jammu )
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