Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Topic: Arya Samaj (Part of Socio-Religious Reform Movements)

 

Topic: Arya Samaj (Part of Socio-Religious Reform Movements)

Speaker's Context & Sources:

  • This is the 3rd class in the SRRM series. (1st: Intro, 2nd: Brahmo Samaj/RRMR).

  • Speaker is providing context and mentions Group 1/UPSC Mains relevance, particularly comparing Arya Samaj and Brahmo Samaj.

  • Source Material Mentions:

    • NCERT Class 8: Chapter "Women, Caste, and Religious [Reform]" (from page 94). Title includes women, caste, religion. Speaker emphasizes this as a primary source (99% coverage).

    • Spectrum: From page 210.

    • Degree Books (Telugu Academy): From page 264.

    • Ambedkar Pragati: Pages 500, 472.

  • Speaker reiterates that standard books like NCERT and Spectrum cover this topic well, unlike the previous topic (British Policies).

Founder: Swami Dayananda Saraswati (Original Name: Mool Shankar)

  1. Birth & Early Life:

    • Born in a Brahmin family in Gujarat (Morbi district).

    • Original name: Mool Shankar (named after the Moola Nakshatra under which he was born).

    • Witnessed the death of his sister and uncle, leading to detachment (Vairagya) and a quest to understand birth and death.

    • Left home and wandered.

  2. Finding His Guru:

    • Met Swami Virajananda Saraswati in Mathura (UP).

    • Virajananda was blind (Andha Sanyasi).

    • Guru taught him the Vedas and instructed him to spread Vedic knowledge and reform society.

    • Virajananda gave Mool Shankar the name Dayananda Saraswati.

  3. Post-Guru Journey & Observation:

    • Travelled and observed society.

    • Noticed discrepancies between Vedic teachings and current practices.

    • Saw societal ills: Caste system based on birth (puttuka), untouchability, subordination of women, lack of patriotism (Indians acting like slaves under British rule).

Arya Samaj: Formation & Ideology

  1. Establishment:

    • Founded in 1875 in Bombay. (Key Year & Place)

    • Headquarters later shifted to Lahore (where it became more popular, especially in North & West/NW India).

  2. Key Book:

    • Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth).

    • Written in Hindi (Important).

    • Contains the 10 Principles of Arya Samaj that members must follow.

    • Telugu Translation: By Adipudi Somanatha Rao.

  3. Core Principles & Slogans:

    • Vedas are Infallible: Believed the Vedas were the ultimate, revealed, and infallible source of all knowledge (Vedala Amoghatvam).

    • "Go Back to Vedas": Famous slogan urging a return to Vedic principles.

    • Rejection of Post-Vedic Texts: Rejected Puranas, idol worship (Vigraharadhana), polytheism, rituals, superstitions, priestcraft, animal sacrifices, pilgrimages etc., as corruptions not found in the Vedas.

    • Monotheism: Believed in one formless, omnipotent God.

    • Caste System:

      • Rejected caste based on birth (puttuka).

      • Accepted the Vedic Chaturvarna system based on occupation/merit/karma (vrutti), implying social mobility (chelana sheelata).

      • Aim: A Casteless and Classless society.

    • United India: Advocated for unity based on Caste, Religion, and Society.

    • Karma & Reincarnation: Believed in the doctrine of Karma and rebirth.

    • Destiny: Rejected the idea of fate/destiny (Vidhi); emphasized Karma (action).

    • Philosophy: Rejected Advaita (non-dualism); closer to Dvaita (dualism - God and Soul are separate, God is supreme).

    • Women's Rights: Advocated for equal rights, education for women, opposed child marriage. Set minimum marriage age: 25 for men, 16 for women (as per Degree book page 273). Supported widow remarriage (through Niyoga - conception for childless widows, different from typical remarriage).

  4. "The Four S's" (Implicit/Explicit):

    • Swaraj: First to use the term (1876). Advocated self-rule. Slogan: "India for Indians". (Key point)

    • Swadharma: Follow one's own religion (Arya/Vedic religion). Only one religion: Arya Dharma.

    • Swabhasha: Use one's own language (promoted Hindi & Sanskrit). Criticized English education (Macaulay's system) as it spread Western culture, undermining Indian culture.

    • Swadeshi: (Implied through emphasis on Indian culture and self-reliance).

  5. Education:

    • Established the first school in Farukhabad (1860s) with 50 students (NCERT fact, important).

    • Led to the split later (see below).

Split in Arya Samaj (Post-Dayananda's Death)

  • Occurred mainly over Education and Diet (Meat-eating).

  • Two Factions:

    1. DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic) Wing / College Party / Cultural Party:

      • Leaders: Lala Hansraj, Lala Lajpat Rai.

      • Education: Favored Anglo-Vedic system – integrating Western education (science, English) with Vedic culture.

      • Established DAV College in Lahore (1886).

      • Diet: Considered meat-eating a personal choice (vyaktigatam), allowed it (more liberal).

    2. Gurukul Wing / Mahatma Party:

      • Leader: Swami Shraddhananda (Original name: Munshi Ram).

      • Education: Favored traditional Gurukul system, focusing purely on Vedic culture and Sanskrit. Rejected English/Western influence.

      • Established Gurukul Kangri near Haridwar (1902).

      • Diet: Advocated strict vegetarianism (sampurna shakahari). Opposed meat-eating.

Controversial Aspects & Criticisms:

  1. Shuddhi Movement:

    • Aim: To reconvert Hindus who had converted to Islam or Christianity back to Hinduism (purify).

    • Impact: Became a major source of communal tension between Hindus and Muslims. Seen as contributing to the Two-Nation Theory (Dwijati Siddhantam) and religious division (Mata Vibhajana).

  2. Cow Protection Movement (Go Samrakshana / Cow Protection Societies):

    • Venerated the cow as sacred ("mother").

    • Actively opposed cow slaughter, primarily targeting Muslims who practiced it.

    • Further increased Hindu-Muslim tensions.

  3. Prayers/Music near Mosques (Masjidula mundu Bhajana):

    • Seen as provocative by Muslims and led to friction.

Impact & Evaluation:

  • Nationalism:

    • Promoted Indian self-respect and confidence.

    • First to raise the slogan "India for Indians" and call for Swaraj.

    • A.R. Desai called Arya Samaj the "first tide/upsurge of Indian nationalism" (Jatiyavadapu toli pongu). (Found in Spectrum).

    • Valentine Chirol (British journalist) viewed Arya Samaj as a threat to British imperialism (British Samrajyavadaniki pramadakaram) and called Dayananda (along with Tilak) the "Father of Indian Unrest".

  • Social Service: Active in relief work during famines, earthquakes, etc. Provided education and support for orphans.

  • Hindu Revivalism: Played a significant role in countering Christian missionary activities and promoting a reformed, assertive Hinduism based on the Vedas.

  • Communalism: While promoting reform, its aggressive stance on Shuddhi and Cow Protection contributed significantly to Hindu-Muslim conflict.

Comparison with Brahmo Samaj (Key Differences - marked 'X' by speaker):

FeatureArya Samaj (Dayananda)Brahmo Samaj (RRMR/Debendranath)
Source of TruthVedas (Infallible, sole authority)Vedas/Upanishads + Reason (later more universalist)
Caste SystemRejected by birth, accepted Varna by occupationRejected Caste (more strongly by later factions)
UntouchabilityActively opposedLess emphasis initially (RRMR/Debendranath)
NationalismStrong ("Swaraj", "India for Indians")Initially loyalist, sought reform within British rule
Western EducationOpposed English (Gurukul wing), integrated (DAV)Strongly supported
Religious ScopeFocused solely on Vedic/Arya religionMore inclusive/universalist (esp. Keshab Sen faction)
Other ReligionsCritical, confrontational (Shuddhi)Studied, sought synthesis (e.g., RRMR's Precepts of Jesus)

Similarities (√):

  • Opposed idol worship, polytheism, meaningless rituals, priesthood dominance.

  • Advocated women's education and rights (though methods/focus differed).

  • Monotheism.

Arya Samaj in Hyderabad:

  • More influential than Brahmo Samaj in Hyderabad.

  • Established in 1892.

  • Founder: Swami Nityananda.

  • First President: Kamala Pershadji.

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