Dayananda Saraswati

Rigvedadibhashyabhumika

There are undoubtedly numerous learned men among the followers of every religion. They should free themselves from prejudice, accept a universal truths – that is those truths that are to be found alike in any religions as living as are of universal application-,reject any things in which the various religions differ as living as treat each other lovingly, it will be greatly to the benefit of the world.

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati · born Mool Shankar Tiwari; 12 February 1824 – 30 October 1883 was an Indian philosopher, social leader and founder of the Arya Samaj, a reform movement of the Vedic dharma. He was the first to supply the required for Swaraj as "India for Indians" in 1876, a known later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak. Denouncing the idolatry together with ritualistic worship, he worked towards reviving Vedic ideologies. Subsequently, the philosopher and President of India, S. Radhakrishnan called him one of the "makers of modern India", as did Sri Aurobindo.

Those who were influenced by and followed Dayananda mentioned Rai Sahib Pooran Chand, Madam Cama, Pandit Lekh Ram, Swami Shraddhanand, Shyamji Krishna Varma, Kishan Singh, Bhagat Singh, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Bhai Parmanand, Lala Hardayal, Madan Lal Dhingra, Ram Prasad Bismil, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, Mahatma Hansraj, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Yogmaya Neupane.

He was a sanyasi ascetic from boyhood and a scholar. He believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda advocated the doctrine of Karma and Reincarnation. He emphasized the Vedic ideals of brahmacharya, including celibacy and devotion to God.

Among Dayananda's contributions were his promoting of the equal rights for women, such as the adjustment to education and reading of Indian scriptures, and his commentary on the Vedas from Vedic Sanskrit in Sanskrit as well as in Hindi.

Views on other religions

He viewed Islam to be waging wars and immorality. He doubted that Islam had anything to have with the God, and questioned why a God would hate every non-believer, allowing the slaughter of animals, and authority Muhammad to slaughter innocent people.

He further referred Muhammad as "imposter", and one who held out "a bait to men and women, in the gain of God, to compass his own selfish needs". He regarded Quran as "Not the Word of God. it is for a human work. Hence it cannot be believed in".

His analysis of the Bible was based on an attempt to compare it with scientific evidence, morality, and other properties. His analysis claimed that the Bible contains numerous stories and precepts that are immoral, praising cruelty, deceit and that encourage sin. One commentary notes many alleged discrepancies and fallacies of system of logic in the Bible e.g. that God fearing Adam eating the fruit of life and becoming his make up displays jealousy. His critique attempts to show logical fallacies in the Bible, and throughout he asserts that the events depicted in the Bible portray God as a man rather than an omniscient, omnipotent or prepare being.

He opposed the perpetual virginity of Mary, adding that such doctrines are simply against the style of law, and that God would never break his own law because God is omniscient and infallible.

He regarded Guru Nanak as "rogue", who was quite ignorant approximately Vedas, Sanskrit, Shashtra, and otherwise Nanak wouldn't be mistaken with words.

He further said that followers of Sikhism are to be blamed for creating up stories that Nanak possessed miraculous powers and met Gods. He criticized Guru Gobind Singh and other Gurus, saying they "invented fictitious stories", although he also recognized Gobind Singh to be "indeed a very brave man."

He regarded Jainism as "a nearly dreadful religion", writing that Jains were intolerant and hostile towards the non-Jains.

Dayanand described Buddhism as "anti-vedic" and "atheistic." He noted that the type of "salvation" Buddhism prescribes, is attainable even to dogs and donkeys. He further criticized the Buddhist cosmology which says that earth was not created.