Transcript Arya Samaj Foundation Day

Arya Samaj Florida
Vedic Cultural and Spiritual
Center
April 13, 2014
139th anniversary of
Arya Samaj Foundation
Presented by
Dr. Chandreshwar Singh
Arya Samaj Florida
NAMASTE
Welcome to the second session of our very special yagya
The 139th Anniversary of Arya Samaj
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
OM STUTA MAYA VARDA VEDMAATAA
PRACHODAYANTAM PAVMANI DWI-JANAM
AWYUH PRAANAM-PRAJAM PASUM KIRTIM
DRAVINAM BRAHMAVARCHASAM,
MAHYAM DATVA VRAJAT BRAHMA LOKAM. (Atharva Veda 19-16)
We pray to You O Dear God, Vedmaataa, Mother of Vedas, You
gave us yet another human birth; help us to resist evil
thoughts, evil words and evil deeds. Guide us O Dear God
onto the right path and grant us boons that give us long life,
riches, good children, fame and glory. O God, guide us to
enjoy the creation You set before us and teach us to give daan
and ultimately give up every possession to join You in Brahma
Lok.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
What is the Arya Samaj?
The Arya Samaj is a socio-cultural organization founded
by Maha Rishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875. The
mission of the Samaj is to mold the lives of its members
and all others according to the message of the Vedas.
The Vedas contain pure knowledge that is original,
universal and complete. The Vedas were revealed at the
dawn of creation for all mankind without distinction or
discrimination of race, color, caste, creed or sex. The idea
behind this universality is: God is one, His creation is one,
His law is one, Humanity is one, Revelation is one.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swami Dayanand Saraswati
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swamiji was born in 1825 in Tankara village in Saurastra,
Gujarat. His father was a devotee of Lord Shiva. On Shivratri
night, the devotees keep fast and spend their whole day and
night in temples. Moolshanker also kept fast on that day. At night
when all the devotees in the temple fell fast asleep Moolshanker
was eagerly waiting for the appearance of lord Shiva. Instead of
Lord Shiva, a mouse appeared and after climbing on the Shivling
(murti), it started polluting the offerings made by the devotees.
He thought, “Is this the real lord Shiva? No, definitely not, I will
search for the real lord.” He woke up his father and put his
questions before him. His father could not answer his questions.
This day is celebrated as Rishibodh divas or enlightment day by
his followers.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
After a few years, Moolshanker left his home in search of
the real God and truth. He met many yogis and sages but
was disappointed everywhere. At last he met a blind sage,
Swami Virjananad, in Mathura. He studied for about three
years; and from this great master, he received the key to
unlock the eternal treasures of the Vedas. After finishing his
education he begged leave, and according to Vedic
tradition, he offered dakshina. He had only few cloves with
him; so he offered them to his Guru. His guru uttered a
historic sentence, "O Dayanand a handful of cloves are not
a fit dakshina to a guru, what I need is your precious life, do
take the difficult task of the revival of the eternal Vedic
Dharma and dispel ignorance of sin."
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swami Dayanand took a vow to teach and preach the
holy Vedas. He suffered and sacrificed his all for truth
and Vedic culture, his country, suffering humanity,
animals, widows and orphans. Truth was dearer to him
than name, fame and prestige. In 1883, he died for the
same noble cause. (Bhajan: Aarya Samaaj Kartaa)
His contribution to philosophy can be summed up in a
few words. “He has awaken us to our golden philosophy
of life. A philosophy of the reality of God, reality of man
and reality of the universe in which man has to live. He
reminded us of the Vedic teaching that God is unborn,
uncreated, blissful and is perfect.”
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
The Rig Veda:
Acikit-vaan-cik-tusas, cid atra kaviin,
prachaami vidmane na vidvaan
Vi yas tastambha, salimaa rajaam-syajasya,
rupe kimapi svid eekam.
Prem Se Bolo Swamiji ki Jai
The wise sages know and they tell us
about the one unborn Lord who upholds
the Universe.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
The Atharva Veda:
Ya etam devam ekavrtam veda
Sarve asmin deva eka vrto bhavanti
Sa sarvasmai vi pasyati, yacca pranati yacca na
Tam idam nigatam sahah sa, esa eka ekavrd eka eva
To him who knows, there is only one God. All
deities are but different names of the One. He is
the One who oversees what breathes and what
does not breathes. He is the One with all the
power and the authority.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swamiji believed in that law of karma. Everyone has to reap the fruits of
his action whether good of bad. Jiase Karni Waisi Bharni
Jo boyega vahee payega, jo boyega vahee payega
Teraa kiya aage ayega. Sukh dukh hai kya, phal karmo kaa
Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee, Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee
Sabse badee puja hai, mata pita kee seva
Sabse badee puja hai, mata pita kee seva
Kismat valo ko hi, milata hai yeh mauka
Hath se apane, kho mat dena, mauka yeh khidmat kaa
Jannat kaa dar khul jayega, teraa kiya aage ayega
Sukh duhkh hai kya, phal karmo kaa
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee, Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee
Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee, Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee
Chahe na puje murat, chahe na tirath jaye
Chahe na puje murat, chahe na tirath jaye
Mat pita ke tan me, sare dev samaye
Tu inaka dil, khush rakhe toh, ishvar khush ho jaye
Bhagvan tujhko mil jayega, teraa kiya aage ayega
Sukh duhkh hai kya, phal karmo kaa
Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee, Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee
Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee, Jaisee karanee vaisee bharanee
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swamiji boldly declared that the Vedas do not
sanction caste system, idolatry and sacrifices of
animals in the name of God. He said that divine
knowledge of the Vedas is meant for all. No man of
any caste or class of any time can be deprived of
the divine wisdom of Vedas.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
What does the Ramayana teach us about Class/Caste:
When Shabaree met Shri Ram and Lakshmana, she
declared that she was of low birth and dull in
intelligence. She said that she, being a woman, ranks as
the lowest of the low. She then offered them berries
that she tasted first to make sure they were the best
ones.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Shri Ram replied:
Kaha Raghupati, sunu Bhamini baataa, Maana-u ek bhagati kar naataa
Jaati paati kul dharma baraa-ee, Dhan bal parijan gun chatu-raa-ee
Bhagati heen nar sohai kaisaa, Bin jal baarid dekhia jaisa
Listen to my words, O most beautiful Lady! I recognize no
relationship other than devotion. Considerations of
caste, family, religion, social prestige, wealth, power,
connections, virtue and ability are of no value if a person
is lacking devotion. A man without devotion is as useless
as a cloud without water.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
The Mahabharata
Once Yudhistira, the eldest Pandu brother asked his
younger brother Nakula to fetch some water from a far
away pool. Sahadeva, Arjuna and the mighty Bhima
who went to look for Nakula, all fell into deathlike
states because they did not heed the voice that
advised them that they had to answer some questions
before they could get water. The wise Yudhisthira went
in search of his brothers and agreed to answer the
questions. One of the questions was: “What makes
one a Brahmana? Is it birth, good conduct, or learning;
answer decisively.”
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Yudhisthira’s answer was: “Birth and Learning do
not make one a brahmana. Good conduct alone
does. However learned a person may be, he will
not be a brahmana if he is a slave to bad habits.
Even though he may be versed in the four Vedas, a
man of bad conduct falls to a lower class.”
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Women have equal right to read and recite the
hymns of Vedas and in other affairs. It is a great sin
to deny this right to any person on account of his
sex, age or class.
Swamiji said that man is born as a vegetarian and
he should be a vegetarian. This is said in Vedas
also. It is against humanity and also a crime against
the creation of God. The world is now starting to
accept that a vegetarian diet is healthier than a nonvegetarian diet.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swamiji preached against the practice of Sati
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swamiji preached against the practice of Sati
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swamiji preached against child marriage. She was 6 and he was 25.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Amlee, a five-year old bride gets married to 15 year old Ashok.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Swamiji preached against ill treatment of Widows
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Let us join in praise of Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Let us join in praise of Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
Duniya Waalo Dev Dayananda, deep jalaane aayaa thaa
Bhool chuke the raahe apnee, wo dikhlaane aaya thaa
Ghor andheera jag me chaayaa, nazar nahi kuchh aataa thaa
Maanav maanav kee thokar se, jab thukraayaa jaataa thaa
Arya jaati, so-ee paree thee, ghar ghar jaake jagaayaa thaa
Baat gayaa saaraa tukre tukre, bhaarat desh jaagero me
Sashaan karte log videshee, josh nahi thaa veero me
Bhaarat maa ko, mukt kiyaa jo, jagree thee zanzeero me
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
Let us join in praise of Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
Jab tak jag me chaar dishaaye, kudrat ke ye nazaare hai
Sagar nadiyaa dhartee ambar, parvat jangal saare hai
Pathik rajhegaa, naam Riska kaa, jab tak chaand sitaare hai
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
OM SAN-GA-CHAD-VAM SAMVEDHAM
SAMVO MANAMSI JANATAAM
DEVAA BHAAGAM YATHAA PURVAY
SAMJA NAANAA UPASATE (Rig Veda 10 - 191:2)
Come together, talk together, Let our minds be in
harmony. Common be our prayer, Common be our
end, Common be our purpose, Common be our
deliberations, Common be our desires, United be
our hearts, United be our intentions, Perfect be the
union among us.
139th anniversary of Arya Samaj Foundation
NAMASTE