Arya Samaj

Shishya · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 4:47 am Post subject: Namaste and Welcome!

Namaste and Welcome
to
The Arya Samaj Forum

The Arya Samaj Forum was created to serve as a central hub of communication and discussion for the international Arya Samaj community as well as to provide information on Vaidika Dharma to the general public. Anyone with a sincere interest in discovering the Eternal Truth is welcome to join!

For those of you who are new to Arya Samaj, here is a short presentation, the original of which can be found at this site.

What is the Arya Samaj?

On April 10th, 1875, the organisation called Arya Samaj was formally registered in Bombay (Mumbai), India. Arya Samaj, as the name signifies, is a Samaj (Organisation) of Aryas (people who are noble). Further clarified, the Arya Samaj is a Society of Noble People, who follow the Vedas (the Word of God handed down to mankind in the begining) and try to behave in accordance with the teachings of the Vedas.

The Arya Samaj was founded by Maharishi Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a sanyasin (renouncer) who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. He advocated the doctrine of karma and reincarnation, and emphasised the ideals of brahmacharya (chastity) and sanyasa (renunciation). The motto of the Arya Samaj taken from the Vedas is "Krinvanto Vishwam Aaryam" (Rig Veda 9.63.5) - "Make all men Aarya (noble and cultured)." A similar echo from the Atharva Veda 2.13.4 states "Krinvantu Vishwe Deva". Another text quotes: "Aano Bradrh: Vishvam Aaryam" which means "Let noble thoughts come from all quarters." Hence, by being a part of a Noble Society (Arya Samaj), you enjoin with a commitment to becoming an Aarya (Noble Person), who gathers in religious assemblies to propagate the teachings of the Vedas so that you can ennoble (make noble) those who aren't - Making the Universe Noble.

Swami Dayananda rejected non-Vedic beliefs altogether. Hence the Arya Samaj unequivocally condemns idolatry, animal sacrifices, ancestor worship, priestcraft, the caste system, the sati system for widows, inequality of women, untouchability and child marriages, on the grounds that all these lacked Vedic sanction. It aims to be a universal organisation based on the authority of the Vedas. The Arya Samaj has set up schools and missionary organisations, extending its activities outside India. It now has branches around the world.