Thread by @SadaaShree

Swami Dayananda Saraswati , founder of Arya Samaj, social reformer, nationalist, who awakened Hindus with his call of "Back to the Vedas", influenced a whole generation of freedom fighters. A truly great soul. #swamidayanandasaraswati
Thread on his Jayanti today.

His real name was Moolshankar, born to Karshanji Tiwari, a tax collector and Yashoda, in Tankara, Morbi dt of Gujarat .He grew up studying the scriptures, and he was prepared for a comfortable life ahead.

The death of his younger sister and uncle from cholera, had a profound impact on him, and as he began to ask questions on life and death, his parents began to worry for him.

They decided to get him off married at a young age, as was the tradition those days. Moolshankar however had made up his mind that the married life was not for him, and in 1845, he ran away from home. #swamidayanandsaraswati

From 1845 to 1869, Moolshankar spent time roaming all over India, living an ascetic life. He was initiated into the order by Poornanda Swamy, and given the name of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. #swamidayanandsaraswati

With the bare minimum of clothes, a begging bowl, of Swami Dayananda , travelled to every pilgrimage site, crossing jungles, rivers, mountains, deserts for finding the answer to his question.

At this time, he met a monk Poornashrama Swamy, who told him “There is only one man on this earth who can fulfil your desire, and that man is Virajananda Dandeesha. He lives in Mathura.” #swamidayanandsaraswati

In 1860, he finally managed to meet the blind sage Virajananda, who was also known for his harsh temper, and strict attitude. He asked Swami Dayananda to throw Kaumudi and Saraswatha, the 2 famous texts on Sanskrit Grammar in the Yamuna and start afresh.

Swami Dayananda willingly surrendered himself to Virajananda, who was quite a hard task master, known for his strict discipline. He would fetch water for his Guru, even in biting cold and rain, clean the floor, and even bore his beatings. #swamidayanandsaraswati

Once after a very severe beating he had from his Guru, one of his fellow students asked him why he was bearing with this being a Swami himself . To which he replied
#swamidayanandsaraswati

When the time came to leave the Ashram, his Guru, took a promise from Swami Dayananda, that he would spread the knowledge of Vedas, and revive Hinduism once more. Virajananda, felt that Hinduism had strayed from it’s original Vedic roots, and was corrupted.

Virajananda asked Dayananda to revive Hinduism, take it back to it’s Vedic roots, that would be his true Gurudakshina. #swamidayanandsaraswati

As per the promise given to his Guru, Swami Dayananda, travelled all over the North to places like Ajmer, Haridwar, Jaipur, Meerut, Gwalior, spreading the knowledge of Vedas among ordinary people.

He fearlessly attacked the weaknesses of every religion, and spread awareness among people of the greatness of Sanathana Dharma, asking them to unite as one. #swamidayanandsaraswati

On 22nd Oct, 1869, Swami Dayananda, had one of the greatest debates in Hinduism ever with 27 distinguished scholars of Varanasi, attended by the Maharaja of Kashi. Attended by 50-60,000 people, he was ranged against some of Varanasi’s greatest scholars.

So powerful were the arguments of Swami Dayananda, that the scholars had to admit their defeat. At this juncture, some of the unruly elements in the crowd, began to hurl, slippers, stones and rocks at Swami Dayananda, who nevertheless did not flinch.

Though he was basically from Gujarat, Swamy Dayananda was convinced that there should be one national language, Hindi, and in fact wrote all his books in that language only.

He was also a true nationalist, who loved Bharat, and aimed for the welfare of it’s masses. Once an Englishman impressed by his speech, asked Swamiji to go to England and teach them Dharma there. And this was his reply.

He advised Indians to awake, learn from their glorious history, tradition and use it to shape the present. He hated the present system of education that created contempt for India. In his own words.

A true nationalist, Swami Dayananda, felt that the only way India could achieve freedom was through armed revolution. The Arya Samaj, which was founded by him in Bombay on 10th of April, 1875, was ostensibly meant to propagate his goal of social reform

It however also became a crucible for nationalist leaders and the freedom struggle. Many branches of the Arya Samaj were founded in princely states like those of Udaipur, Jodhpur, and he aimed to bring together the princes to fight against British rule.

The Arya Samajs all over North played a major role in shaping the nationalist, revolutionary ideas among masses. From Swami Shraddhananda to Lala Lajpat Rai to Bhai Parmanand, a whole new generation of freedom fighters, emerged from the Arya Samaj.

Revolutionaries like Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshanlal were proud of their association with the Arya Samaj. Apart from his tremendous intelligence, Swamy Dayananda was also known for his exceptional physical strength too.

Dayananda always cared for humanity, he was sensitive to the sufferings of the ordinary masses as he once said –“ To love the creation of God is to love God Himself’. He fought against casteism, and other social evils, exhorted people to shake off their lethargy.

He was against casteism, untouchability, child marriages. He fought for women’s equality, was against the purdah system, and stressed the need for pure conduct in one’s life.

He made many aware of the glory of Hinduism, through his teachings. Many young Hindus, who were about to accept Christianity, changed their mind, after listening to him and became staunch followers. #swamidayanandsaraswati

He also took back, people who had been converted by force into Muslims and Xtians, back to Hinduism, performing the Shuddhi rites for them. He was bitterly opposed to untouchability, calling it a curse on society, as he said.

Education was what Dayananda espoused, however he was against the existing Western system, which he felt only created people with contempt for native traditions. He favoured the Gurukul system, where students would stay with their teachers.

Along with studies on Indian culture, Vedas, the Gurukul would also teach modern sciences like astronomy, mathematics, geology, so that the student receives a complete education.

One of Swami Dayanand’s most famous works, was Satyartha Prakash( The Light of Truth), a 14 chapter book, containing his teachings based on the Vedas. His book, explained the importance of the Vedas.

He declared that knowledge was not just about showing how to get salvation after death, it must also show a man how to live usefully in the world. He stressed on the need to follow the Vedic path of Dharma( righteousness), Artha( Wealth), Kama(Pleasure) and Moksha( Salvation).

Back to the Vedas was what Swami Dayananda emphasized, and said, that while the main aim is salvation, unless we have a worthy life, we can never attain salvation. He was fearless in his pursuit of truth and knowledge, even in the face of great dangers and threats.

Once a Christian preacher threatened that he would send him to prison, if he continued to show the faults in religion. To which he replied
I shall point out defects wherever I find them. I am not a rabbit to be frightened by the cries of jackals like you. #swamidayanandsaraswati

However the end came well and nigh at Jodhpur, the Maharaja there was a follower of Swami Dayananda. The ruler however spent a lot of time with a dancing girl Nanhi Jaan, and was rebuked by Dayananda, who said his action was not proper conduct for a Kshatriya.

The offended Nanhi Jaan, conspired with the cook to poison Swamiji, and asked him to mix powdered glass pieces in his milk. Dayananda drank the milk and realized he had been poisoned, tried vomiting it out, but was too late.

Sores broke out all over his body, and Swamiji had to suffer torture, due to the pain. When the cook confessed that he had poisoned Swamiji, he gave him some money, and asked him to run away, because if he were found out, he would be hanged to death.

Though the Maharaja shifted Dayananda to Mt.Abu for better treatment, it was of no avail. And on Oct 30, 1883, the great soul passed away on Diwali day, uttering the word Om, in presence of his disciples.

Thus ended the life of one of modern India’s greatest thinkers, a social reformer, a nationalist, a writer, a man who taught Indians to speak and think fearlessly. Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a truly great son of Bharat. #swamidayanandsaraswati

My article on #SwamiDayanandSaraswati on his Jayanti do check out and share.
historyunderyourfeet.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/swa…

My podcast on #SwamiDayanandSaraswati on his Jayanti do check out and share.
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gaana.com/song/swami-day…