Life
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati (1824–1883) was born as Mool Shankar in Tankara, Gujarat. Moved by a Shivratri night experience and the quest for true knowledge, he left home, wandered for years as an ascetic, and studied under Swami Virjanand of Mathura, who asked him to rid the nation of superstition and revive the Vedas as his gurudakshina.
Mission
He founded Arya Samaj on 10 April 1875 in Mumbai and wrote Satyarth Prakash, Rigvedadi-Bhashya-Bhumika and Sanskar Vidhi. He championed “Back to the Vedas”, women’s education, the abolition of untouchability and child marriage, and the use of Hindi and Sanskrit for national awakening.
Legacy
His movement gave India the DAV schools and colleges, Gurukuls, and a strong voice in the freedom struggle. He passed away on Diwali day in 1883 in Ajmer; Arya Samaj observes this as Rishi Nirvan Diwas.
Key Works
- सत्यार्थ प्रकाश – Satyarth Prakash
- ऋग्वेदादिभाष्यभूमिका – Rigvedadi Bhashya Bhumika
- संस्कारविधि – Sanskar Vidhi
- पंचमहायज्ञविधि – Panchmahayajna Vidhi