Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj: Difference between revisions
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The '''Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj of Aryavarta''' (or sometimes "of India") was the name of the [[Theosophical Society]] from May 1878 until March 1882, when it became associated to the [[Arya Samaj]] founded by Svāmī [[Dayānand Sarasvatī]]. | The '''Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj of Aryavarta''' (or sometimes "of India") was the name of the [[Theosophical Society]] from May 1878 until March 1882, when it became associated to the [[Arya Samaj]] founded by Svāmī [[Dayānand Sarasvatī]]. | ||
On [[May 22]], 1878, the Recording Secretary of Theosophical Society, [[A. Gustam]], sends a letter “To the Chiefs of the Ârya Samâja,” advising them that the Council of the T.S. has accepted their proposal to unite with them. The Society alters its own title to: “The Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaja of India.” | == Merging == | ||
On [[May 22]], 1878, the Recording Secretary of Theosophical Society, [[A. Gustam]], sends a letter “To the Chiefs of the Ârya Samâja,” advising them that the Council of the T.S. has accepted their proposal to unite with them. The Society alters its own title to: “The Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaja of India.” | |||
[[Henry Steel Olcott|Col. Olcott]] writes: | |||
<blockquote>Our Council, in May, 1878, passed a vote to unite the two societies and change the title of ours to “The Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj.” This was notified to the [[Dayānand Sarasvatī|Swami]], and in due time he returned to me the draft of a new Diploma (now before me as I write) which I had sent him, signed, as requested, with his name and stamped with his own seal. I had this engraved, issued it to a few members who wished to enlist under the new scheme, and put forth a circular reciting the principles under which we intended to work.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' First Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 397.</ref></blockquote> | |||
However, when, in early August of that year the Colonel received the Rules of the Arya Samaja, he was disappointed: | |||
<blockquote>I received from India an English translation of the rules and doctrines of the Arya Samaj, made by Pandit Shyamji Krishnavarma, a protégé of the Swami’s which gave us a great shock—gave me, at least. Nothing could have been clearer than that the Swami’s views had radically changed since the preceding August. . . . It was evident that the Samaj was not identical in character with our Society, put rather a new sect of Hinduism—a Vedic sect accepting Swami Dayânand’s authority as supreme judge as to which portions of the Vedas and Shâstras were and were not infallible. The impossibility of carrying out the intended amalgamation became manifest, and we immediately reported that fact to our Indian colleagues. The Theosophical Society resumed its status quo ante; and H. P. B. and I drafted and the Council put out two circulars, one defining what the Theosophical Society was, the other (dated September, 1878), defining a new body, the “Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj of Aryavart,” as a bridge between the two mother societies, giving in detail the translation of the A. S. rules, etc., and leaving our members perfectly free to join the “link-society”, as I called it, and comply with its by-laws, or not.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' First Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 397-398.</ref></blockquote> | |||
== Break == | |||
The definitive break came in March 1882. | |||
== Notes == | |||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:Organizations]] | [[Category:Organizations]] | ||
Revision as of 21:24, 12 July 2013
The Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj of Aryavarta (or sometimes "of India") was the name of the Theosophical Society from May 1878 until March 1882, when it became associated to the Arya Samaj founded by Svāmī Dayānand Sarasvatī.
Merging
On May 22, 1878, the Recording Secretary of Theosophical Society, A. Gustam, sends a letter “To the Chiefs of the Ârya Samâja,” advising them that the Council of the T.S. has accepted their proposal to unite with them. The Society alters its own title to: “The Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaja of India.”
Col. Olcott writes:
Our Council, in May, 1878, passed a vote to unite the two societies and change the title of ours to “The Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj.” This was notified to the Swami, and in due time he returned to me the draft of a new Diploma (now before me as I write) which I had sent him, signed, as requested, with his name and stamped with his own seal. I had this engraved, issued it to a few members who wished to enlist under the new scheme, and put forth a circular reciting the principles under which we intended to work.[1]
However, when, in early August of that year the Colonel received the Rules of the Arya Samaja, he was disappointed:
I received from India an English translation of the rules and doctrines of the Arya Samaj, made by Pandit Shyamji Krishnavarma, a protégé of the Swami’s which gave us a great shock—gave me, at least. Nothing could have been clearer than that the Swami’s views had radically changed since the preceding August. . . . It was evident that the Samaj was not identical in character with our Society, put rather a new sect of Hinduism—a Vedic sect accepting Swami Dayânand’s authority as supreme judge as to which portions of the Vedas and Shâstras were and were not infallible. The impossibility of carrying out the intended amalgamation became manifest, and we immediately reported that fact to our Indian colleagues. The Theosophical Society resumed its status quo ante; and H. P. B. and I drafted and the Council put out two circulars, one defining what the Theosophical Society was, the other (dated September, 1878), defining a new body, the “Theosophical Society of the Arya Samaj of Aryavart,” as a bridge between the two mother societies, giving in detail the translation of the A. S. rules, etc., and leaving our members perfectly free to join the “link-society”, as I called it, and comply with its by-laws, or not.[2]
Break
The definitive break came in March 1882.