Birth anniversary of Swami Dayananda Saraswati is celebrated as Swami Dayananda Saraswati jayanti.He was the founder of Arya Samaj and one of the most radical socio-religious reformer in the Indian history. According to the Hindu calendar he was born on the 10th day of waning phase of moon or Krishna Paksha Dasami Tithi in Falgun month.
Life history of Swami Dayananda Saraswati
His original name was Mool Shankar and he was born in year 1824 in Tankara, Gujarat in a rich family of Brahmins. He was given good education and brought up according to the Brahmin custom. At the age of fifteen on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri he was asked to stay awake the whole night. In the night he saw a rat eating from the god’s offerings. By watching he began to wonder why god could not defend himself from the menace of the rat and how could he protect the world.
This incident shook his belief in idol worship. He asked for answers from his elders for which he was rebuked. From that day onwards he stopped taking part in any religious practices. At the age of 19 he ran away from home to avoid forced marriage. He wandered around the country for the next 15 years seeking answers. In the 1860 year he found guru and mentor Swami Virjanand Saraswati at Mathura who was blind. It was Swami Virjanand Saraswati who gave him the name Dayanand and asked him to spread the knowledge of Vedas and revive Hinduism as his gurudakshina.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanthi believed that there was only one supreme reality which should be worshipped in spiritual form. On 7 April, 1875 Dayanand Saraswati formed the Arya Samaj at Bombay. 'Krinvanto Vishvam Aryam" was the motto of the Arya Samaj which means, "Make this world noble”. He was a great scholar, philosopher and a social reformer and he opposed child marriage, caste distinction, untouchability, pilgrimages, idol worship, child marriage and animal sacrifice. His main message was back to Vedas. He published many religious books including Sathyaprakash which means light of truth. Today Arya Samaj is present in more than 100 countries and it is an important organisation for social and religious reforms.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati died in the year 1883. It is believed that he was poisoned by the mistress of maharaja of Jodhpur who wanted to take revenge on the saint since he opposed the king’s unethical acts and had asked him to forsake the mistress called Nanhi Jan.
How is Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti Celebrated?
On this day discourses on Arya Samaj principles are organised by various bodies following Arya Samaj. Many educational institutions also organise special programmes on this day and pictures and videos depicting the life of Swami Dayanand Saraswati are shown. Charitable activities like free clinics are organised on this day by the members of Arya Samaj.