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OM Sage of the modern ages SWAMI DAYANAND SARASWATI By |
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Rishi Dayanand was one of the greatest seer that the world has ever produced. He was a soldier of truth who lived for truth and laid down his life for truth. He fought against superstitions, blind faith and forces of darkness and evil. He had an unshakable faith in god and gods revealed knowledge the vedas . He was a spiritual guru and was uncompromising in his opposition to social evils and untruth. Swami ji was born in 1825 in Tankara village in Saurastra, Gujarat. from his very childhood he was given to devotion. His father was a devotee of Lord Shiva. He said to Swami ji whose name was Moolshanker then to keep fast on Shivratri. on Shivratri or the night of the vigil of Lord Shiva the devotees keeps fast and spend their whole day and night in temple. Moolshanker also kept fast on that day. at night when all the devotees in temple fell fast asleep Moolshanker was eagerly waiting for appearance of lord Shiva. instead of lord Shiva a mouse appeared and after climbing on Shivling(idol) start spoiling the offerings made by the devotees. This might be a small incident for others but for child Moolshanker it was sufficient to open his eyes. A saying that little things are great for the great men and great things are little for little man came true. He thought that what good this lifeless piece of stone can deliver to mankind? Is this the real lord Shiva?No, definately its not. I will search for real lord. He woke up his father and put his questions before him. His father was not able to answer his question. This day is celebrated as Rishibodh divas or enlightment day by his followers. After few years Moolshanker left his home and parents in search of real god and truth. He met many yogis and sages but was disappointed every where. At last he met a blind sage Swami Virjananad in Mathura. He studied for about three years and he got from his great master the key to unlock the closed eternal treasure of Vedas. Finishing his education he begged leave and according to Vedic tradition he offered dakshina. He was having 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" at this Swami Dayanand took a vow to teach and preach the holy Vedas. Swami ji was a good savior of the country and whole mankind. He was the first Indian reformer and seer who so widely traveled in country to awaken the people. He suffered and sacrificed his all for truth, vedic culture, his country, suffering humanity, dumb animals, widows and orphans. Truth was dearer to him than name, fame and prestige for this reason only he faced many difficulties and at Jodhpur in 1883 AD he sacrificed his life for same noble cause. His contribution to philosophy can be summed up in a few words," he has given us a 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 in. His is philosophy of golden action and not of idle musings" what a curious outlook our people had then. We had so many Jagat Gurus but non is comparable to him. He taught that god is unborn, uncreated, blissful and is perfect. then why did he create universe, not for any personal end of purpose, but for betterment and welfare of souls. The souls are having limited knowledge and limited powers, all souls wants to get rid of pain and suffering. The matter is inert. it has no end for itself . Its existence is purposeful only to be of some use or advantage for the suffering souls. God created this universe from eternal matter for eternal souls, god has given us everything, earth, moon, sun, herbs. sea, mountains, air, fire and what not. What are they for? for us only. He revealed the knowledge of vedas in the heart of Rishis in beginning of universe itself so that the whole man kind follow it and aim for eternal life. Had he not given us his instruction book Vedas ,of what use could be all these gifts of our beloved and kind god? What would you think of a doctor who gives medicines to his patient and does not instruct him that how to take them. Swami ji said truth was never born, truth was never made, truth was never invented. Its unborn and uncreated as god is unborn and uncreated, as souls and matter are unborn. You know all scientists today admits that matter can never be created and nor be destroyed but can only be changed from one form to other form. These laws of the universe, the laws which govern the universe are eternal, is it not true? can any one on this earth challenge this view of Swami ji and Vedas. No doubt that the world is changeable and the man changes. The man made things do change, there is always a room for an improvement. But can you see any change in creation of god and his laws that govern the universe. No, as god is perfect and so his works and laws. You can never ever change them. They are from the beginning of the universe. Like this only the Vedas are perfect, universal, eternal and is not subject to any modification or improvement, this is scientific and rational philosophic outlook of Rishi Dayanand. No one can suggest his own new philosophic ideas or principles which can never do any thing good for mankind. Even in this torn world moral virtues are the same as we have in Vedic hymens. As you saw so shall you reap. Can any one challenge this eternal truth. This is what the Vedas teach us. Swami ji believed in that law of karma. every one have to reap the fruits of his action whether good of bad. Prayer according to swami ji is meant for purification of soul. worship according to him is never expiratory, its purificatory. It is really a revolutionary idea. Swami ji said that you can never in any way get rids of the fruits of your sins but you can save your self from sins as you are free to do so. God has not created sin, nor the sinner. Soul either virtuous or sinful is uncreated and eternal. For use of souls our lord has created all things and they are all good and useful. There wrong use or misuse is a bad thing. The souls are free to use gifts of god. Freedom of the soul is also eternal. Its not gods gift as some people assume. Swami ji believed in monotheism not in monism. He does not believed in plurality of gods also. He laid great stress on it and said that god is all pervading. In order to control, govern and execute he must be within all and everything must be within him. He said that god is kind and his kindness is in his justice. He is not at all partial. His mercy lies is in his impartiality. Swami ji shocked whole world when he said that god is all powerful but this does not means that he can do everything. Why he will himself violate laws made by him only. So, no man in this world should ever think of any miracle but should strongly believe in law of karma. Nothing can happen against laws of nature. God is not in particular religion, here or there, or in heaven. as he is our father, mother everything so there is no need of any mediator like Guru, saint or prophet between man and God. There is none in between man and god. This is another great contribution of Swami ji to whole mankind. The belief that we need a mediator to get salvation is a mental and spiritual disease. By our own good deeds and right knowledge we can achieve salvation. Swami ji boldly declared that the Vedas does not sanction caste system, idolatry and sacrifices of animals in the name of god or holy yagnas. He said his divine knowledge the Vedas are meant for all . No man of any caste or class of any time can be deprived of this divine wisdom of Vedas. Women has equal right to read and recite the hymns of
Vedas. Its a great sin to deny this right to any person on account of his sex, age or class.
Swami ji said that man is born as a vegetarian and he should be a vegetarian.
This is said in Vedas also. Its against the humanity and also a crime against the creation of god.
Science also admits this truth. "Krinvanto
Vishavaryam" Let's make this world noble |