Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the great philosopher, social reformer, and freedom fighter was born on the 12th of February 1824. His birth anniversary (Jayanti) is celebrated on the 10th day of Falgun (Krishna Paksha),
Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Date
Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is a very famous and global event that falls on the 23rd of February 2025.
Birth and Early Life
Swami Dayanand Saraswati was born in 1824 in Tankara, near Morbi in Gujarat. His real name was Mool Shankar Tiwari and his parents were devout followers of Lord Shiva. Mool Shankar was brought up in a strict religious environment but he had his own ideas and often questioned traditional practices. Mool Shankar was engaged when he was about 20 years old, but he felt marriage was not for him. He ran away from home in 1845 to seek spirituality and find answers to his questions.
Wanderings in Forests and Himalayan Retreats
After leaving home, Swami Dayanand Saraswati spent 25 years wandering from place to place. He lived an ascetic life and devoted himself to spirituality. During the early part of his wanderings, Swami Dayanand Saraswati met his Guru – Swami Virajanand Dandeesha. Soon his thinking and ideas began to fall in place and he decided to spend the rest of his life restoring purity in religious practices.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati felt Sanatan Dharma had strayed from its roots over the centuries. He felt the four Vedas were the core of religion and should be the base of all practices. Swami Dayanand Saraswati wanted the nation to return to the Vedic way of life. He felt priests and other religious figures had gradually corrupted religious practices for their own benefit. Priests encouraged needless superstitions by creating a feeling of fear in people’s minds.
Motive of Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Accordingly, Swami Dayanand Saraswati preached his own thoughts and soon had a large following across India. He also gave the call for Swarajya – freedom. Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati also worked for social equality and more rights for women. He particularly emphasized education for children. He took part in various debates with scholars and religious leaders all over the country which resulted in more and more people accepting his teachings. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was against idol worship, animal sacrifice, child marriage, and pilgrimages. He felt all these are contrary to the Vedas.
Founding and Growth of Arya Samaj
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati went on to establish the Arya Samaj. The samaj was founded on the 10th of April, 1875. Arya Samaj promotes values of life based solely on the Vedas. Members of Arya Samaj believe in One God. Idol worship is not encouraged.
Even before Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj, he had established Gurukul Schools in at least eight locations in India. These schools were residential institutes and completely free of cost for students. Food, clothes and books were provided for the students. Strict discipline was maintained and teaching included the Vedas, Upanishads, and other religious texts.
Contribution of Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a social reformer who promoted equal rights for women, such as the right to education and reading of Indian scriptures, and his commentary on the Vedas from Vedic Sanskrit in Sanskrit as well as in Hindi.
Celebration of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is celebrated with great enthusiasm across India. All Arya Samaj temples, schools, and other affiliates organize functions which include Havans, chanting of Mantras, and reading of Maharishi Dayananda’s thoughts.
The birthplace of Swami Dayanand Saraswati – Tankara in Gujarat is especially geared up for the occasion and there are multiple celebrations in the town. The old house of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati is still preserved and some of the items like Thali and Kalash used by him can be seen even today.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti’s significance in Rishikesh
Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is basically celebrated globally but the significance of this festival is more important in Rishikesh than other places.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati has many contributions in Rishikesh. He used to explore the beauty of the Himalayas and admire the Banks of Rivers like the Ganga. This is how the significance of Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti in Rishikesh is very famous.
Where to Stay in Rishikesh?
In Rishikesh, there are plenty of Stay options are available for all visitors but here is a list of the best options by YatraDham.Org.
Here you can see the detailed Blog on Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati who was a great soul, his work during his lifetime and the legacy he left have contributed immensely to the positive development of India.
