Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati
Such a unique personality
Consumed by the passion for action,
yet practical despite being principled.
Reached deep into the soul and conscience,
yet totally involved in the present and always working for a better future.
Receptive of appropriate from the rapidly changing world,
but never submissive to its unfair pressures.
Visionary of making his country the crown of the world again,
but also the dreamer of a good and pleasant life for all.
Not only seeking devotional satisfaction,
but considering social and economic satisfaction as the goal.
Vedas
In the beginning, humanity had only one dharma and one scripture — the Vedas. That alone gave the guidelines for life and living. Then the world was one family and Bharat (India) was considered the world teacher.
Times changed. Misinterpretations of the Vedas started. Prejudiced eyes began to see what did not exist in the Vedas; and thus the teachings of the Vedas got shrouded. Different people brought forth their versions and so there was complete fragmentation of the humanity into various faiths and sects. Inevitably the result was mental tension, mutual hatred, conflicts, and bloodshed.
Once again there are better times. Enlightened person like Maharshi Dayanand (1824-1883) have resurrected the Vedas and ushered in a new era. He has put forth a re-assertion that the Vedas are the scripture of true knowledge, and so urged for a return to the Vedic knowledge and way of life. Humanity will forever be indebted to Maharshi Dayanand for making the true meaning of the Vedas accessible to the masses.
Thoughts of Dayanand
Arya Samaj
Maharshi Dayanand started a new era of renaissance. He became the ray of hope for millions of people. He wanted that the work started by him should continue even after him and his dreams should come true. For this he formally established Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875.
Arya Samaj is not a new religion or sect. Arya Samaj is a reform movement and socio-religious organization. Its objective is to take people away from superstitions and non-Vedic beliefs and bring them back to the Vedas. Arya Samaj calls for the return towards unadulterated original human dharma i.e. Sanatan Vedic Dharma.
Arya Samaj is a spiritual way of life with a universal message of peace and well-being. Its ethos is embodied in its ten guiding principles based on Vedic teachings that aim to make the world a better place. Arya Samaj promotes true Vedic culture and national spirit by awakening the feeling of pride and patriotism towards the country.
Favorite Ved Mantra of Maharshi Dayanand
Om vishwaani deva savitar duritaani paraa-suva. yad bhadram tan-na aasuva.
Yajurveda 30|3
O Creator of the entire world, full of opulence, pure form, giver of all happiness God! Please remove all our vices, addictions and sorrows and grant us all the beneficial qualities, actions, nature and things.
Signature of Maharshi Dayanand
Satyarth Prakash
Satyarth Prakash is the magnum opus of Maharshi Dayanand. It is a compilation of Maharshi Dayanand’s teachings on religious, social, educational, political and moral subjects. It contains the essence of the Vedic thoughts propounded by the Rishis from Brahma to Jaimini.
The main objective of Satyarth Prakash is to present the real form of truth and falsehood before humans, so that they can understand their own interests and disadvantages and be happy by accepting the truth and abandoning the untruth. While Maharshi Dayanand has propounded the true form of Sanatan Vedic Dharma in this book, he has also made an impartial and logical review of the various prevalent sects without making any distinction between own and others.
In fact, it is the lighthouse that leads humans from darkness to light, from irrationality to rationality, from unrighteousness to righteousness and from ignorance to science.
Tributes
Relevance of Maharshi Dayanand's thoughts in today's time
Maharshi Dayanand deeply shook the colonial and dilapidated India of the 19th century with his unique personality and work. We are experiencing its impact even in the 21st century and taking inspiration from it, we are fighting those social evils and religious superstitions which are hollowing out the society and religion from within. Maharshi had deeply studied the diseases, weaknesses and errors of the social, religious, educational, economic, political, philosophical and spiritual worlds, hence he treated them according to the disease. As the pioneer of total revolution, the ideal path of life shown by Maharshi for the all-round development and rejuvenation of individual and society will, in fact, be seen for centuries as a priceless treasure of world history.