ARYA SAMAJ

 Aum stuta maya varda Veda mata parchodayantam pavmani dvijanam.

Ayuh pranam prajam pashum kritim dravinambrahamavarchasam.

Mahyam datva vrajat brahamalokam.

(Atharvaveda 12-71-1)

The Arya Samaj was established on 7th April, 1875 at Mumbai, India by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati with the purpose of moving the Hindu dharma away from fictitious beliefs and back to the teaching of the Vedas.

The goal of Arya Samaj has always been “krinvantu vishvam aryam” ,that is, to make this world noble. The word Arya means a noble human being – one who is thoughtful and charitable, who thinks good thoughts and does good actions – he or she is an Arya.

The Arya Samaj is based on the teachings of the Vedas. These teachings are summarised in ten basic principles: -

1. God is the primary cause of all that is known by spiritual knowledge and the physical science.
2. God is Existent, Intelligent and Blissful. He is Formless, Almighty, Just, Merciful, Unborn, Infinite, Unchallengeable, Beginningless, Incomparable, the Support and Lord of all, Omniscient, Imperishable, Immortal, Fearless, Eternal, Holy and the Maker of the universe. He alone ought to be worshipped.
3. The Vedas are the scriptures of all true knowledge. It is the duty of all Aryas to read them, hear them being read and recite them to others.
4. We should always be ready to accept the truth and renounce untruth.
5. All action should be performed in conformity with Dharma (righteousness), that is, after due consideration of the right and wrong.
6. The primary aim of the Arya Samaj is to do good to the whole world, that is, to promote the physical, spiritual and social well-being of all humans.
7. We should treat all people with love, fairness and due regard for their merit.
8. We should aim at dispelling “Avidya” (illusion and ignorance) and promoting “Vidya” (realisation and knowledge).
9. One should not only be content with one's own welfare, but should strive for social upliftment, realising his own benefit in the advancement of all others.
10. Everybody should subordinate themselves to the laws of society calculated to promote the well being of all; they should be free in regard to the laws promoting the individual well being. 
  

Swami Dayanandji’s teachings became more and more effective and his followers grew. After the creation of the first Arya Samaj in Mumbai on April 7 1875, others began to be formed wherever Swamiji went. The society gained strength in Punjab. In the large as well as small towns and villages of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, it also got a strong foothold. When there were enough Samajs all over the country they were brought under central institutions in the different provinces.

Today, the Arya Samaj organisation is alive and sound in all parts of the world. In Australia, among various Samaj organisations, the Vedic Pratinidhi Sabha and Arya Samaj of Australia Incorporated is doing marvellous work in promoting the teachings of Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

Pt S N Hari Prasad
Vedic Pratinidhi Sabha and Arya Samaj Of Australia Inc.

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