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What
are the views of the Arya Samaj?
Women
According
to the Vedas, women of all races should be given an equal opportunity to
education as men. At the time of the creation of the Arya Samaj, Hindu
women were not allowed to study religious scriptures; they were not
allowed to be priests or preach the word of God; they were denied access
to education; they were treated as second class citizens below men;
widows were treated as outcasts; they had to burn themselves on their
husbands funeral pyre; their families were forced to produce a dowry
before a man’s family accepted them into their family; and they were
forced into child marriages with older men. The Arya Samaj fought
against all of these injustices then and continues to champion the
rights of women all over the world. In many societies, you will find
that only Arya Samaj women are given the opportunity to become Hindu
priests.
Society
The
Arya Samaj believes that every individual shall be judged by his
character and actions and not by his birthright. Due to the unscrupulous
manipulation of the caste system, those of high caste families were
given honour and respect and those of low caste and their children were
deemed “untouchables” and were ill-treated and suppressed. The Arya
Samaj fought against these injustices against the untouchables and
embraced them, educated them and welcomed them in their satsangs and
religious gatherings.
Education
The
Arya Samaj pioneers education for all. In
India
, many
institutions of learning (schools, colleges, gurukuls) were created for
men, women and children. The Arya Samaj is very vociferous in
encouraging the common man to learn and read the scriptures. This
society is against the practice of having only one selected group of
individuals indulging in the reading and preaching from the scriptures.
Social Welfare
The
Arya Samaj plays an active role in the welfare of the needy. Many
orphanages, homes for abused women and widows and homes for the elderly
have been established in
India
and other
parts of the world. The society is also involved in providing relief
during times of famine, drought, earthquakes and other natural
disasters.
Politics
The
Arya Samaj propagates patriotism and dedication to serving the interest
of one’s nation and motherland. In the times of the British Rule in
India
, the Arya
Samaj was one of the foremost organisations to champion the cause for
political freedom and independence.
Religion
The
Arya Samaj propagates the motto “Back to the Vedas” and promotes
these scriptures as the one true source of all knowledge. The Arya Samaj
holds the Vedic principle of monotheism - that there is
ONE
GOD who is
formless, ever-existent and all powerful. Due to the fact that God is
all-powerful with many attributes he is referred to by many names such
as Creator (Brahma), Preserver (Vishnu) and Dissolver (Rudra). For
hundreds of centuries Hindu sects and scholars had accepted the Vedas as
the original Hindu scriptures but due to passage of time and destruction
of Hindu scriptures and the introduction of other texts and
interpretations, many deviations to the original teachings crept into
Hinduism. The Arya Samaj promotes the Veda as the original scripture of
all mankind and teaches that the acceptance of this will bring about a
unity in the religious thinking of Hindus. The Vedas promote universal
peace and its teachings are universal in character and apply to
ALL
people at
ALL
times.
The Arya Samaj rejects the belief of blind faith, animal sacrifices,
idolatry, priestcraft and superstitions brought about by ignorance and
fear. It promotes the philosophy of Karma (receiving the fruits of
one’s deeds). Suffering is the logical consequence of one’s action
(the law of cause and effect) and hence, superstitious belief does not
eradicate suffering.
Is the Arya Samaj a religion?
The
Arya Samaj is NOT a religion. It is a society that was formed, not as a
new religion, but as a coming together of men and women of noble
thoughts and actions who (irrespective of their social, ethnic or racial
origins) believe in the underlying principles of Vaidik Satya Sanatana
Dharma (commonly called “Hinduism"). In simpler terms, the Arya
Samaj is a society of Hindus that propagates selfless action for the
development of humanity and congregates for the common purpose of
preserving the pristine values of Hinduism.
As was said by Maharishi Swami Dayanand: "I have not come to
preach a new dogma or religion, nor to establish a new religious order,
nor to be proclaimed a new messiah or pontiff. I have only brought
before the people, the light of Vedic Wisdom which has been hidden
during the centuries of
India
's
thraldom.”
Courtesy:
Guyana Central Arya Samaj
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