Arya Samaj

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Arya Samaj (Sanskrit ārya samāja आर्य समाज, Punjabi: ਆਰੀਆ ਸਮਾਜ "Noble Society") is a reform movement in Hinduism founded in 1875. It was established by Swami Dayānand Sarasvatī in Bombay, and continues to operate temples and schools in India, Africa, North America, and other locations.

Objectives

The Arya Samaj advocates the Vedas as the authority in values, culture, and religious practice. Later texts are thought to be adulterated. Among the reforms supported are abolishment of child marriage and untouchability; reform of the caste system to be based on merit rather than birth; opposition to idol worship; and equality of women. Adherents believe in one supreme being of whom Aum is the proper name, and in the equality of all human beings.

Involvement with Theosophical Society

Separation from Theosophical Society

One of the Mahatmas, the Rishi Agastya, wrote an article for The Theosophist, which he demonstrated how attitudes in Pandit Dayanand's journal The Arya showed a complete reversal from April to May, 1882.[1] Mary K. Neff compiled these excerpts:[2]

Arya of April, 1882. Arya of May, 1882.
The Founders of the Society (our esteemed Brothers and Allies) are the first and staunchest champions of the Vedas and the ancient philosophy of Aryavarta. The alliance between the Arya Samaj and the Theosophical Society has been broken off because the head Theosophists are now converts to Buddhism and no more for the Vedas.
The Society is the most powerful ally that the Aryan religion and science have at the present time in the West. They came to India as students, but have set themselves up as teachers, by establishing a Society of their own which has proved of no practical good to India.
Therefore the case of the Theosophical Society is the cause of the Arya Samaj, and every insult offered to the former (our esteemed Brothers and allies, the Founders of the T.S.) is equally painful to the latter. The reader should also know that Swamiji was never a Fellow the T.S. nor ever expressed a desire to be one. The only relation which he suffered to have been made consisted in his accepting to be their Instructor in the Vedas.

Additional resources

Notes

  1. ↑ The Supplement to The Theosophist (June, 1882), 6-8. It is dated "Tiruvallam Hills, May 17," and signed "One of the Hindu Founders of the Parent Theosophical Society.
  2. ↑ Mary K. Neff, The "Brothers" of Madame Blavatsky (Adyar, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1932), 37-38.
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