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)
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.
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.
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
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).
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.
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).
"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).
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:
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).
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:
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).
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.
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):
Feature | Arya Samaj (Dayananda) | Brahmo Samaj (RRMR/Debendranath) |
Source of Truth | Vedas (Infallible, sole authority) | Vedas/Upanishads + Reason (later more universalist) |
Caste System | Rejected by birth, accepted Varna by occupation | Rejected Caste (more strongly by later factions) |
Untouchability | Actively opposed | Less emphasis initially (RRMR/Debendranath) |
Nationalism | Strong ("Swaraj", "India for Indians") | Initially loyalist, sought reform within British rule |
Western Education | Opposed English (Gurukul wing), integrated (DAV) | Strongly supported |
Religious Scope | Focused solely on Vedic/Arya religion | More inclusive/universalist (esp. Keshab Sen faction) |
Other Religions | Critical, 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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