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Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati
Rishi Dayananda Rejuvenates the Vedic Sanskaar PlanIn an effort to lay bases to spiritually rehabilitate people worldwide, and energize them to reach out to the level of India’s Golden Age again, Rishi Dayananda sought to bring back into popular practice the Karmakaand traditions of Yajña and Sanskaar. Toward this end, Rishi Dayananda wrote a text called the Sanskaar Vidhi which aimed at explaining the performance of Yajñas and Sanskaars. J.T.F. Jordens observes that the publication of this text immediately after the Satyaarth Prakaash shows that the Rishi had embarked on a program of publication that was a systematic and carefully considered one. In his Satyaarth Prakaash, he had described the historical, doctrinal and ethical aspects of Vedic Life. This text embodied the sum-total of his message of reform that was meant to lead Hindus to a higher standard of life experience. What was needed now, he felt, was a complement to this text on doctrines, a practical manual that could have provided Hindus concrete directions to guide them onwards in a life aimed at regeneration and to show them how to worship and pray.
The Advent Of
Mahaa Rishi Dayananda Saraswati
(1824-1883)
20.0 The Rishi’s Life - Principal Events At A Glance
Moolshankar - as was the Rishi’s childhood name - was born on February 12, 1824 in the village of Tankaaraa, Morvi, in Kathiawar, Gujerat. His father, Amba Shankar (also known as Karsan Tiwari) was an orthodox Shivite Brahmin. The following summarizes principal events of the Swami’s life:
Dates
Principal Events
Feb. 12, 1824
Moolshankar born in Tankaaraa - home education begins
1832
Invested with sacred yajyopaveet thread
1837
Participates in Shivaratri fast - loses faith in idol worship
1841
Sister dies – excessive emotional disturbance - mourns in silence
1842
Uncle dies - cries bitterly - resolves to seek means to conquer death
1846-1855
Leaves home in search of learned yogis – initiated into Brahmacharya as Shuddha Chaitanya - later caught by father and brought home - escapes again. Tours length and breath of Northern India - speaks with several yogis, scholars, teachers. Initiated into Sannyaas as Dayananda Saraswati by Swami Poornananda. Taught Yoga by Jwalanand Puri and Sivanand Giri
1855
Attended Kumbha Mela at Haridwar for the first time
Nov. 14, 1860
Arrives in Mathura and gains admission to Gurukul of Swami Virjanand Saraswati to study Sanskrit Grammar
April, 1863
Completes education - undertakes a solemn vow to teach Rishi-written books – takes leave of Guru Swami Virjanand
1863-1865
Lives at Agra – devotes his time to study and reflection in preparing for his life mission
Jan. 24, 1865
Commences his public ministry at Gwalior City
1865-1866
Visits several cities in North India, conducting lectures and disputations
Dec. 1866
Visits Guru Virjanand in Mathura - presents him with gifts - reports on his reform work
March 12, 1867
Attends the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar. Hoists his famous Paakhand Khandani Flag
1867-1868
Continues lectures and diputations in many Cities
Sept. 14, 1868
Guru Virjanand passes away - Swami Dayananda exclaims: “Alas! The sun of Sanskrit Grammar has set today!”
Oct. 26, 1869
Arrives in Banaras. Challenges Hindu Pandits
Nov. 16, 1869
Famous Kaashi Shaastraarth, the debate with 21 front-line Pandits of Banaras in the presence of approximately 50,000 people on the question of whether idol-worship is sanctioned in the Vedas. The Pandits lose the debate and create pandemonium. Swamiji suffers bodily harm
1869-1872
Continues lectures and disputations in many Cities
Dec. 16, 1872
Visits Calcutta and meets with Keshav Chandra Sen and Maharshi Devendranath Tagore of the Brahmo Samaj
Dec. 26, 1873?
Visits Aligarh on the invitation of Raja Jaikishen Das. Raja suggests that Swamiji publish his ideas
May, 1874
Swamiji delivers first lecture in faltering Hindi at Banaras
June 12, 1874
Begins dictating the contents of the Satyaarth Prakaash
Jan. 16, 1875
Seeks to convert the Prarthana Samaj at Rajkot into Arya Samaj
April 10, 1875
Establishes the Arya Samaj in Bombay
June, 1875
First Edition of the Satyaarth Prakaash published by Star Press, Banaras
January, 1877
Visits Delhi on occasion of the Imperial Darbar held on the eve of Queen Victoria becoming the Empress of India. Convenes a meeting of leaders of different faiths to exhort them to work unitedly for the nation. Present were Sayyad Ahmad Khan, Keshav Chandra Sen, Munshi Indramani, Naveenchandra Rai, and others.
March, 1877
Visits Chandaapur Inter-Faith Fair - seeks to unite all Religious Leaders. Present were Rev. T.J. Scott, Rev. Noble, and Moulvi Mahammad Kasim
March 31, 1877
Swamiji arrives in Ludhiana, Punjab
Feb. 27, 1879
Visits Kumbha Mela at Haridwar for the third time
May 1, 1879
Colonel H.S. Olcott and Madame Blavatsky visit Swamiji for the first time.
Sept. 1879
Swami Shraddhaanand (Munshi Raam) sees Rishi Dayananda for first time. Rishi sends his autobiography to be published in the Theosophist
Feb. 12, 1880
Swamiji establishes Vedic Yantraalaya Printing Press at Banaras
Aug. 16, 1880
Establishes Paropkaarini Sabha, a Charitable Trust
May 5, 1881
Pandit Lekh Ram sees Rishi Dayananda for first time
Feb. 27, 1883
Swamiji registers his Final Will
March 28, 1882
Presents a letter of protest against cow slaughter to Queen Victoria through the Viceroy. Letter signed by 250,000 people.
Sept. 26, 1883
Swamiji poisoned in Jodhpur
Oct. 30, 1883
Diwali Day - Swamiji breathes his last with the words - Lord! Let Your Will Be Done!
Written By: SuperUser AccountDate Posted: 2/10/2006Number of Views: 4316
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