Topic: Veda Samaj (వేద సమాజ) & Deva Samaj (దేవ సమాజ)

 

Topic: Veda Samaj (వేద సమాజ) & Deva Samaj (దేవ సమాజ)

Context & Source:

• Part of Socio-Religious Reform Movements (SRRM).

• Discussed after Servants of Indian Society.

• Reference: 8th Class NCERT (Chapter: Caste, Religious and Women [Reform]). Speaker stresses the importance of NCERT for Group 1/Group 2 Prelims.

Link to Brahmo Samaj:

• Both Veda Samaj and Deva Samaj (and Prarthana Samaj, mentioned earlier) have their roots in or were inspired by the Brahmo Samaj.

• Keshab Chandra Sen's efforts to spread Brahmo Samaj ideas across India were crucial.

Veda Samaj:

1. Place: Madras (మద్రాస్).

2. Founder/Key Figure: Sridharalu Naidu (శ్రీధర్లు నాయుడు).

3. Inspiration: Established after Keshab Chandra Sen visited Madras.

4. Year Founded: 1864 (From NCERT).

5. Initial Ideology: Similar to Brahmo Samaj - Focused on Monotheism (ఏకేశ్వరోపాసన - worship of one God).

6. Evolution/Renaming:

   • Later, Sridharalu Naidu renamed the Veda Samaj to "Brahmo Samaj of Southern India" (దక్షిణ భారత బ్రహ్మ సమాజం).

   • Year of Renaming: 1871 (From NCERT).

Deva Samaj:

1. Place: Lahore (లాహోర్).

2. Founder: Shiva Narayan Agnihotri (శివ నారాయణ్ అగ్నిహోత్రి).

3. Origin: Initially started as a branch of Brahmo Samaj in Lahore (Lahore Brahmo Samaj).

4. Ideological Evolution (Crucial):

   • Stage 1: Starts like Brahmo Samaj - Monotheism (ఏకేశ్వరోపాసన - belief in one God).

   • Stage 2: Moves towards Dual Worship (ద్వంద్వ పూజ - Dual Worship).

     • Worship both God (దేవుడు) and the Guru (గురువు - i.e., Agnihotri himself).

   • Stage 3: Rejects God, focuses solely on Guru Worship.

     • Agnihotri elevates himself, replacing God.

   • Stage 4: Becomes an Atheistic society (నాస్తిక సమాజం).

     • Rejects the concept of God entirely. Focus remains on the Guru (Agnihotri).

5. Key Book: "Deva Prakash" (దేవ ప్రకాశ్)

   • Written by Shiva Narayan Agnihotri.

   • Focuses on the importance and worship of the Guru.

Radha Soami Satsang (Mentioned Briefly):

1. Movement Name: Radha Soami Movement (రాధా స్వామి ఉద్యమం).

2. Founder: Tulsiram (తులసీరామ్).

Other Mentions:

• Speaker notes other individual reformers like Bahramji Malabari (బహ్రంజీ ఎల్ మలబారీ) and Ishwar Chandra Sagar (ఈశ్వ చంద్ర సాగర్) will be covered later.

• The series will then move to Muslim Reform Movements.

Summary:

• Veda Samaj (Madras, 1864, Sridharalu Naidu) and Deva Samaj (Lahore, Shiva Narayan Agnihotri) were inspired by Brahmo Samaj.

• Veda Samaj remained closer to Brahmo ideals and was renamed Brahmo Samaj of Southern India.

• Deva Samaj underwent a significant ideological shift from monotheism to dual worship (God+Guru), then Guru-centric worship, and finally became atheistic, centered around founder Agnihotri.