Arya Samaj

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 2:56 am Post subject: The Life of Swamiji in Pictures

The Life of Swamiji in Pictures

Dawn of the Ray of Hope

India, politically under British rule, was suffering from economic backwardness, as well as social evils like Sati tradition, untouchability, child marriage, superstition, illiteracy, belief in miracles and in general, ignorance and illusion were prevailing everywhere.

Amidst such a serious situation on Phalgun Krishna Dasmi 1881 Vikrami, corresponding to 12th February 1825, in the village of Tankara in Gujrat, like a ray of hope a child was born in the prosperous family of Shri Karsanji Tewari. He was given the name Mool Shankar, who later, as Swami Dayanand Saraswati, would enlightened the world with the Light of the Vedas and save many in the world from the depths of ignorance.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:02 am Post subject:

The Upnayan Sanskar

Karsanji Tewari, the father of Mool Shankar, was a religious minded man and a staunch devotee of Shiva. He himself observed all the rituals and made sure his family members did the same.

When Mool Sahankar was eight years of age, Upnayan ceremony was performed. He was made to memorize the Gayatri mantra, Sandya and verses form relegious books. Recitation of Yajurveda hymns also began at this time.

Verily, Mool Shankar's father wanted his son to be a firm devotee of Shiva and a religious minded person.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:11 am Post subject:

The Dawn of the Realisation of the Ultimate Truth

The father of Mool Shankar wished to make his son a staunch devotee of Shiva. Inspired, Mool Shankar decided to keep a fast, to hold a vigil the whole night through and to worship idol of 'Shiva' on Shiva Ratri Falgun Krishna 14, 1894 Vikrami. In the Shiva Temple, the crowd of devotees was busy in the process of worship. But in the third quarter of night, all the devotees - including the priests and Mool Shankar's father - fell asleep. Mool Shankar observed a rat running to the top of the idol and eating the offerings. The doubt flashed in Mool Shankar's mind: "How could the idol be the omnipotent Shiva when even a rat could not be removed by him?" He woke his father and placed the doubt before him, but was not satisfied with his father's reply. He broke the fast and returned home. This event cleared his mind regarding the futility of idol worship and he made a vow to take the darshan of the true Shiva.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:17 am Post subject:

Rising Feelings of Renunciation

When Mool Shankar was 16, his younger sister, who was 14, died of cholera within hours of having contracted it despite all forms of treatment. Everyone in the family began to weep, but Mool Shankar instead deeply pondered over the inevitability of death. "...No one who takes birth can escape death. I, too, will also die one day. Some way should be found and practiced to get rid of this agony of death, and to obtain salvation..." It was at this time that Mool Shankar started to think of renouncing worldly life.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:23 am Post subject:

The Turning Point of His Life

Some events which are overlooked by ordinary people prove to be turning points in the lives of great individuals. It happened with Sidhartha whose heart was changed by seeing an old man, a sick person and the funeral procession of one deceased, and thus he became Gautam Buddha. Young Mool Shankar's thinking process was revolutionized by the event of the Shiv Ratri. Later on, the death of his younger sister and also that of his dear uncle made him think about the futility of worldly life, and the notion of renunciation became all the more firm.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:34 am Post subject:

The Grand Renunciation

Ever since the event of Shiv Ratri, Mool Shankar's mind was in a turbulent state. He was studying in a village miles from Tankara. His parents wanted to make him take root through the bonds of marriage. When Mool Shankar returned to Tankara and saw the preparations for his marriage being made, he decided to renounce family life. Just as 2,500 years before the Prince of Kapil Vastu renounced his royal palace, including his wife and child, to become the Buddha, preacher to the world, so also did Mool Shankar leave his home full of all manner of luxury and the affection of his parents with the intention not to return. We can only speculate as to whether he knew he was destined to become Maharishi Dayanand and to bring back to the world the Light of the Vedas.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:45 am Post subject:

Renouncing Ornaments & Costly Dress

Mool Shankar headed to the village Saila to find yogi Lala Bhakt in order to learn yoga for the purposes of conquering death and enjoying the darshan of the true Shiva. On the way, Mool Shankar met some swindelers (thugs) who were attracted by his ornaments and costly dress. The thugs pursuaded Mool Shankar to renounce the costly items. Mool Shankar was already in a mood of sacrifice, so he gave all these things to the thugs and proceeded on his noble mission.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:55 am Post subject:

Searching for the Ultimate Goal

Having renounced worldly life and having taken a vow of celibacy, Mool Shankar - now Brahmchari Shudh Chaitanya - came to the conclusion that the means of enjoying darshan of the true Shiva and conquering death rested soley in becoming highly efficient in yoga. So whenever he heard of a place where a yogi might be, he immediately went there. Several times he came in contact with hypocrite yogis whose aim was only to misguide the ignorant masses and to derive worldly pleasures thereby.

Once he observed that a gang of hypocrite yogis who had misguided a young girl named Rani who had joined company with them and with whom they were joking indecently. She also tried to behave indecently with Shudh Chaitanya, but mindful of his vow of celibacy, he left the gang and headed to Sidhpur.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:56 am Post subject:

Last Meeting of Father & Son

Brahmchari Shudh Chaitanya stayed at Kot Kangra for three months but could not find a Guru he wanted to remain with. He learned that his persuit could succeed in the Sidhpur Mela, so he headed there. On the way he met an old aquaintance of his family to whom he disclosed his plans to go to Sidhpur and never to return home.

However, in Sidhpur he tried his best to find out a true yogi, but did not succeed.

The man whom he had met in Kot Kangra conveyed Shudh Chaitanya's plans to his fathar at Tankara. He, along with few soldiers, went to Sidhpur to find Shudh Chaitanya. He was very angry to see his son in the dress of a Sanyasi and tore his robes. Shudh Chaitanya, understanding the situation, apologised and agreed to return home with his father.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:59 pm Post subject:

Escape from the Custody of Guards

Although Shudh Chaitanya had apologised to his father to calm his anger, his father was not fully assured about his son's intentions. So, he deployed a few guards to watch over him. Despite this, Shudh Chaitanya did not waver in his firm intention and was always in search of an opportunity to escape and to break the bondage of worldly ties. On the third night after his return, he got a chance. The guards, thinking Shudh Chaitanya was in deep sleep, became negligent and themselves fell asleep. Shudh Chaitanya got up and slipped away in the night.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject:

Initiation as an Ascetic (Sanyasi)

Having renounced his family, Shudh Chaitanya very eagerly wanted to be initiated as a Sanyasi. He requested initiation from Chidashram Swami but was refused on account of his being very young.

He then approached Swami Purnanandji. Initially he, too, refused. But eventually, observing Shudh Chaitanya's intense desire and ability, he agreed, initiated him and gave him the name Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Thus began the mission for the great reformation of Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 4:08 pm Post subject:

The Yoga-Gurus of Swami Dayanand

In 1906, Swami Dayanand met Yogi Shivanand Giri and Yogi Jwala Nand Giri at Chanod. The yogic achievement of these two yogis was of a very high level. They, being covinced that Swamiji was the right and deserving person for yoga-vidya, taught him all the secrets of yoga at Chanod and Ahmedabad.

Throughout his life, Swamiji felt highly grateful to these two yogis and remembered them with great respect and devotion.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject:

Disgust for Non-Vegetarianism

Swamiji was embodiment of pity and kindness. He never agreed to the killing of animals for food, as he preached that meat is not the natural food for man.

One day a Raj Pandit of Tehri invited Maharishi for a feast. When Maharishi arrived, he saw a pandit tearing off and cutting meat. He was much disgusted. He left at once.

It was but natural for a person of his kindness and affection to show disgust for meat eating.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 4:22 pm Post subject:

Temptation of Priesthood of Ukhi-Math

Ukhi-Math was a monastery with a sizeable amount of property and a large income. The head priest of the monastery, considering Swami Dayanand a very suitable person for the priesthood, offered him to be his desciple and to reside at the monastery.

This was a very big temptation. But Swami Dayanand had already renounced wealth as was to be had at the Math. His aim of life was to attain the riches of salvation and such material wealth was a hinderance on this path.

So high was Swamiji's aim of life and for it he resisted all temptations which threatened to deviate him from his path.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 4:29 pm Post subject:

Along the Banks of the River Alakhnanda

Swami Dayanand was extremely eager to find his true Guru. He heard there might be some qualified yogis in the Himalayas. So, he travelled extensively on foot in the high mountain valleys and reached Badri Nath Temple, but could not find a person such as the one he was looking for.

He then walked along the river Alakhnanda and, finding the way closed due to the sheer density of the forest, he tried to cross the river. The river was full of sharp-edged stones and pieces of ice. Despite this, he crossed the river, yet fell unconscious upon reaching the other side due to the severe cold. When he regained consciousness, he again proceeded on his journey. Although he had not yet found his true Guru, this showed his strong will-power and great endurance for the cause he upheld in a most unfavourable situation.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject:

Falseness of Hatha-Yoga Proven by the Dissection of the Human Body

Swamiji had studied books like Hatha-Yoga Pradipika, Yog Bijak on Hatha-Yoga and was very eager to verify the truth about the inside of the human body as described in those books. One day Swamiji saw a dead human body floating a river. He pulled it out and with the help of a sharp knife performed a dissection of the body and compared it with the description given in Hatha-Yoga books. Finding that there was no similarity in the description and the dissected body, Swamiji tore the pages of the books to pieces and put them in the river along with the dissected body. He was thereby convinced of the falsehood of the Hatha-Yoga system.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 5:07 pm Post subject:

The Fearless Sanyasi

In the search of his true Guru, Swamiji had travelled widely in the valleys of the Himalayas, after which he turned towards South India and travelled along the river Narvada.

One day, when he was going on foot in the forest of Narvada valley, a big black bear rushed towards Swamiji to attack him. But Swamiji did not lose courage and stretched out his stout lathi towards the bear. The bear turned back and Swamiji proceeded on his journey undaunted.

Shishya · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject:

The Quest Is To Know: Who Am I?

Having heard about the fame of Swami Virjanandji, Swami Dayanand travelled to Mathura, arriving on Kartik Suda 2, 1917 Vikrami.

He knocked the door. Swami Virjanandji asked from inside, "Who is there?" Swamiji politely replied, "My quest to know who am I has brought me to this door." Swami Virjanand opened the door and asked, "What books you have studied?" Swami Dayanand named the books. Swami Virjanandji replied, "If you wish to study here, forget all you have studied till now. Here you will study only the books authored by Rishis." Swami Dayanand agreed and this first meeting of teacher and student would prove to be a boon for the whole of humanity.

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:27 am Post subject:

The Ideal of Devotion Towards The Teacher (Guru)

In Swami Virjanandji's Ashram the arrangement of meals, milk and oil (for light) was made by Joshi Baba Amarlalji, Shri Goverdhan Saraf and Shri Hardevaji. As a student the duties allocated to Swami Dayanand were to fetch water from river Yamuna and to sweep the Ashram. One day Swami Dayanand had been sweeping with a broom and collected the dust and garbage in a pile. Swami Virjanandji chanced to happen by and his foot touched the pile. Being angry, Swami Virjanandji started beating Swami Dayanand with stick. Not caring for his own pain, Swami Dayanand began to massage his Guru's hands. This is an example of the ideal devotion Swamiji expressed towards his Guru.

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:33 am Post subject:

Kulakkar and Kalljuvah

Swami Dayanand was not only the best of all the students, but in every respect was regarded by Swami Virjanandji as the only student whom he could rely upon to fulfill his ambitions of Ved Prachar. In a mood of affection Swami Virjanandji used to call Swami Dayanandji Kulakkar - meaning 'pillar', as Swami Dayanand could stay firm like a pillar and defeat his rivals in discourses. Kaaljivah means a person whose tongue (speech) may be like death (kaal). By defeating his many rivals in religious discourses, Maharishi Dayanand proved the verity of what his guru had called him out of affection.

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:38 am Post subject:

Farewell Offerings To The Guru

After the completion of the education of Swami Dayanand in the Ashram of Swami Virjanandji, the moment of departure from the Guru arrived. Swami Dayanand produced a handfull of cloves and urged his Guru, "Sir, a beggar like me has nothing to offer as Guru Dakshina. Graciously accept these cloves and bless me."

Guru Virjanandji replied, "The country is suffering from ignorance, blind belief and other social and religious evils. Take the light of truth of the Vedas and enlighten humanity. This will be your Guru Dakshina." Swami Dayanand devoted his whole life to the realization of his Guru's command.

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:43 am Post subject:

Discourses with Christian Missionaries

Maharishi Dayanand had discourses with Bishops Robinson, Gray and Shoulbred on the topic of the soul, the creation of universe and the Vedas. The Bishop read out a Vedic hymn and tried to explain it. Swamiji asked from which 'Veda' he had quoted it. The Bishop could not reply.

Bishop Shoulbred remarked, "Swamiji you can be imprisoned for such talks." Swamiji replied, "I am not afraid of such challenges. I can not leave propagation of truth for any fear or temptation." Bishop Robinson was impressed by Swamiji's learning and gave him a testimonial.

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:49 am Post subject:

Protection Of The Cow

Maharishi worked his entire life to ban cow slaughter. In his book Gau Karuna Nidhi, he was the first preacher to justify the ban of cow slaughter on economic grounds in addition to moral and spiritual issues. He discussed this issue with several British officers, specifically Col. Brooks, political agent at Ajmer. Col. Brooks was deeply impressed by the arguments but he expressed his inability to ban cow slaughter. Maharishi prepared a petition, for which he procured the signatures of thousands of people and sent it to Queen Victoria to ban cow slaughter.

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:55 am Post subject:

Pakhand Khandni Pataka: A Flag To Refute Blind Beliefs

Maharishi arrived at Haridwar on 1st March, 1867 at the time of Kumbha Mela. On this occasion, Sadhus and Mahants of different sects of Hindus celebrate there. Young Dayanand closely observed their deeds in the name of religion.

In compliance to his promise given to his Guru Swami Virjanandji, Swami Dayanand hoisted a flag in front of his cottage upon which he had written the words, "A Flag To Refute Blind Beliefs" and started his discourses. Here Swamiji renounced all his possessions such as books, utensils and fine clothing and kept only the loin cloth (langoti). He was a true Paramahans saint in appearance.

Shishya · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 6:02 am Post subject:

"I Have Come To Liberate People From Bondage"

At Anoop Shahar a Brahman presented Swamiji with a betal. Maharishi accepted and ate it. There was poison in the betal and Swamiji remedied poison by the yogic process of Basti and Nyoli.

Syed Mohammad, a Muslim Tehsildar (Sub-Divisional Officer) of Anoop Shahar, was a devotee of Swamiji. He arrested the culprit and brought him to Maharishi. Syed Mohammad was surprised when Maharishi directed him to set the culprit free with the words, "I have come to liberate people from Bondage and not to put them in bondage. If we abandon our good habits, why should evil persons abandon their evil habits?"