Remembering Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj, on his death anniversary.

The Arya Samaj is a movement that believes in one God and aims to reform society. It was started by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in Bombay on April 10, 1875. The movement is based on ten universal principles that were established in Lahore in 1877. These principles focus on truth, the importance of the Vedas, and the well-being of everyone, both physically and spiritually.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati (February 12, 1824 - October 30, 1883) was a philosopher and social leader who founded the Arya Samaj. He worked to reform Hinduism and wrote a significant book called Satyarth Prakash, which has had a big impact on understanding the Vedas and explaining various human responsibilities.

According to Arya Samaj, the formless eternal God represents the highest consciousness and the ultimate truth. God's characteristics include being self-manifest, absolute, formless, all-knowing, infinite, and without a beginning, making Him the only entity worthy of worship. It is essential to avoid idol worship, rituals, social evils, and superstitions.

The Vedas are regarded as the sole scriptures containing genuine knowledge, and they should be read, taught, recited, and listened to, while everything else is considered fiction. Followers, known as Aryas, should always be open to accepting the truth and rejecting falsehood. Aryas are encouraged to adhere to the principle of Universal Good by serving the world—enhancing physical, spiritual, and social well-being for all.

They should work to eliminate ignorance, or Avidya, through Vidya, self-knowledge, and self-discipline, aiming for personal growth alongside the upliftment of everyone. As an Arya, one should advocate for selfless service and social welfare, while avoiding the pursuit of material wealth and personal gain.

An Inspired Quintet

The Vedas are steady and true,

While fiction fades away from view.

With truth as our light,

We banish dark night,

And serve all world as Aryas do.

An AI search revealed that this blogger, Dr. Kishore, has frequently written and researched on integrating ancient Indian philosophies (including Vedic teachings and lessons from the Bhagavad Gita) into contemporary classrooms. This approach closely echoes the Arya Samaj's historical mission of reviving Vedic knowledge alongside modern education. He has advocated, inclusive classrooms and universal classroom instructional deesign with a core tenet of his work by creating peer-led, inclusive learning spaces where children of all socio-economic backgrounds and abilities study together. This aligns with the social reformist nature of the Arya Samaj, which historically championed universal education, justice and equality.