Dayananda

Dayananda was an Indian philosopher, scholar, and social reformer who played a significant role in the Hindu revival movement of the late 19th century. He was born on February 12, 1824, in Kathiawar, India, and later founded the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement.

Dayananda trained as a traditional Vedic scholar but later formed his own views based on his interpretation of the Vedas. He believed in the authority of the Vedas and criticized the caste system, social inequality, and the use of Sanskrit in rituals. He called for a direct understanding of the Vedas in everyday language and rejected what he saw as superstitions and deities separate from the Veda.

The Arya Samaj was formally established in 1875 with the help of other followers, and its members adhered to strict guidelines, such as a vegetarian diet, the ban on marriage to outside members, and the adoption of Sanskrit as their language. Dayananda traveled throughout India spreading his message, attracting large followings. He gained support from upper-caste and low-caste individuals, which held potential for social reform.

Dayananda's views on women's rights and the Veda's interpretation were groundbreaking, as he considered women to have the right to education and argued that no one deity or scripture had precedence over the Vedas. He studied and scolded the English for what he saw as an unflinching assessment of the Hindu society and accessional loathing for the workings of an unmodern context.

Dayananda died on October 30, 1883, in Praying Sahar and remained a key figure in the world of Indian thought, considering a school of thought reform through education, stark strong sanctions against those deemed ever threatening delicate societal structures.