Do you know the great Hindu philosopher Maharishi Dayanand Saraswat? Well, he was a famous

Guru, founded the Arya Samaj. Here is his journey of life and the Arya Samaj principles. He

founded the Arya Samaj in an aim to free India from the British. At the same time, he also wanted

to stop the evil practices that were followed by few Indians.

On 12 November 1824, a boy was born to Yashodabai and Karshanji Lalji Tiwari in a small place

in British India near Tankara. He was named Mula Sankara Tiwari. Mula Sankara was introduced

to formal, spiritual education at the age of eight. His father, Karshanji who was a follower of Lord

Shiva taught his son all the devotional songs and stories about Lord Shiva. As an obedience to

Lord Shiva, he would sit all night chanting the Lord Shiva' s name on a Shivratri night. On the

death of his beloved sister and uncle, he fasted for days asking himself, "What is life and its

importance?".

At a very young age, Mula Sankara was married and he ran away from his home

thinking that he needed to achieve something in life rather than wasting his entire life at home with

his wife. He wandered from place-to-place near the Himalayan mountains until he found a saint,

Swami Virajanand under a holy tree, meditating.

Swami Virajanand questioned Mula Sankara about his family and his escape from home. The

Swami was very disappointed in him and immediately ordered him to leave. Mula Sankara begged

Swami Virajanand to teach him those skills as it visually looked easy to him. After a long thought

the Swami accepted his request. Thus, he became a disciple of Swami Virajanand and promised

Swami Virajanand that he would practice all the peace skills that were taught to him at the very

same day. As promised, he would practice all his asanas in Yoga and would sit down with his Guru

to meditate. He was then introduced to Hinduism and its principles. There were thousands of

thoughts and questions arising in his mind.

After a few years he found many incorrect principles of the Indian castes and rituals which were

followed by the people of India. He then made up his mind that he would do something, achieve

something to the Indian society. Mula Sankara thought that he needed to form a monotheistic

Indian Hindu reform movement that can promote values of based on the belief in the infallible

authority of the Vedas. This led to the discovery of Arya Samaj meaning a noble one leading a

Hindu religious movement. He argued on all practices like idol worship, animal sacrifice,

pilgrimages, priest craft, offerings made in temples, castes, child mairrage, meat eating and

discrimination against women. Nanji Kalidas Mehta gave the title Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati

to Mula Sankara. He was impressed by Mula Sankara's dedication towards the different principles

and thereby named him Dayanand Saraswati. At times Dayanand Saraswati was attracted by the

principles of Islam and Christianity. He would wander here and there finding and hunting the

religious truth.

1)On one fine day, when Dayanand Saraswati was busy meditating, he thought that God, the

supreme one is the cause and key to all the true knowledge that is God is the one who cannot be

ignored or else God can destroy all of us. This principle saying that God is the cause to all true

knowledge we are utilizing and referring to. "Arya Samaj", a splendid but yet a thoughtful name

for the principles was a great change to British India.

2) Therefore, he started appreciating God and his/her powers no matter it is Shiva, Bhramha,

Vishnu, Allah, Jesus, Nataputta Mahavira or even Gautama Buddha. Each God has its own

importance and is unique. He then said that, "God is existent, intelligent and blissful. He is

formless, omniscient, just, merciful, unborn, endless, unchangeable, beginning-less, unequalled,

the support of all, the master of all, omnipresent, imminent, immortal, fearless, eternal and holy,

and the Creator of all. He alone is worthy of being worshiped." Dayanand Saraswati started

appreciating God no matter who they are worshipping. He wanted to remove the difference

between the castes and religion of people. Even though, he was a Brahmin, he never followed the

principles of the Brahmin caste but enjoyed the Hindu principles and never ate meat.

3) "The Vedas are scriptures of true knowledge. It is the duty of all Aryans to read them, teach

them, hear them being read and recite them to others." Dayanand Saraswati has enlisted the main

duties of the Aryans that is to teach everyone the importance of the Vedas that are Rig Veda, Sama

Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda. Nritya and the Mahabharat Veda is also considered to be the

hidden 5th, Veda. The Vedas have an inspiring but the key to success and everything which

everyone should be told and taught.

4) After the death of his beloved sister, he made a quote consoling his relatives that, "We should

always be ready to accept the truth." He knew that his sister has reached the walls of heaven and

had to accept the truth of her death. It is not only the truth on what has happened but also to confess

your misdeed actions. A theft can never escape from any crime but will escape from this land.

5) All action should be performed in conformity with Dharma. This principle leaves behind a

strong message that 'Dharma', the eternal and inherent nature of reality is the reminder to check

on every action whether it's like eating an onion or walking on a road. I personally believe that

this is related to the famous carpenter's quotes "Measure twice before you cut".

6)One of the main principles of the Arya Samaj was to promote physical, spiritual and social good

of everyone. His main priority was the welfare and he wanted to promote this priority so that

brotherhood can be promoted leading to Fraternity where India is trying to achieve its main

constitutional goals.

7)Our conduct towards all should be guided by love, righteousness and justice. Everyone should

be treated equally and it is our duty to love all, provide them the support and justice. The support

needed for everyone is endless but it is our duty to support everyone as much as we can. Everyone

is equal. There shall be no one rich or poor in this country as everyone shall enlighten the world

with justice. This principle has bloomed the Arya Samaj.

8) "We should aim at dispelling ignorance and promoting knowledge." This main principle teaches

everyone a lesson after the wrong actions is done. One may not understand this but might

understand after he/she realizes his/her grave mistake on an action. Ignore that mistake and

continue, never give up. 'Defeat' is a significance of your upcoming success. But, never get

defeated from your next success. We should learn from our mistakes.

9)Dayanand Saraswati wanted to enlist the Altruism between people and this line, "One should

not only be content with one's own welfare, but should look for it in the welfare for others also."

He made this quote to diminish the greediness between people. He knew that greediness is in all

even himself but one has to control the emotions by meditating. There might be something that

keeps you happy but make sure that it does disturb everyone but also keeps them happy.

10) One should regard oneself under restriction to follow the rules of society calculated to promote

the well-being of all, while following the rules of individual welfare all should be free. Isn't this

the same as the 9th Arya Samaj principle? Don't you think so? I strongly believe myself that there

is a small difference between them even though they are similar. I feel that Dayanand Saraswati

has explained the rules that are to be followed. Everything has a limit unless it is the universal

supreme god. A rule is promoted for your own welfare. Rules are not meant to be broken; they are

meant to be followed.

One fine day, a king from a distinct land invited Dayanand Saraswati to his palace, they indeed

had lots of fun and he explained the Arya Samaj to everyone acquiring great publicity. He then

offended the court dancer when he advised the King to forsake her and suggested her to pursue a

life of Dharma. She became furious with her embarrassment and she conspired with the cook who

mixed pieces of glass in the Guru's milk. He suffered excruciating pain, but forgave the cook

involved in the deed before he died. October 30,1875, one gloomy day where the skies thundered

with cries, the death of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, the

founder of Arya Samaj, created this in 1875 to free India from Indians and made a quote "India

for Indians". This means that India is a place only for Indians and we are not for India, India is for

us. He might have left this land but his soul and his principles are still alive.