Devoir de Philosophie

Arya Samaj

Publié le 22/02/2012

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The Arya Samaj (ārya-samāj, ‘The Association of Nobles') is a Hindu reform movement founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati (1824-83). Based on the supposition that the true religion of India was put forth in the ancient Vedas, rather than in later epics and cycles of myths, the principal aim of the Arya Samaj is to purge modern Hinduism of beliefs and practices associated with the devotional and mythic literature of India. Condemning the hereditary caste system and dismissing the practice of using icons and idols in worship, the society favoured a more rationalistic, humanistic and nationalistic form of Hinduism as India entered the modern era.

« be interpreted by himself and other human beings.

Thus, in the final analysis, Dayanand insisted that individual reason is the deciding factor in arriving at religious knowledge. In keeping with his rejection of the mythology of the Purā˳as , Dayanand condemned the idolatry associated with their mythology.

He also rejected the hereditary system of caste, giving it instead an ethical and occupational interpretation, somewhat as the Buddha had done.

He questioned the authority and social superiority of Brahmans, and was against animal sacrifices and long pilgrimages.

A confirmed nationalist, Dayanand believed that ‘Aryans were the chosen people, the Vedas the chosen gospel and India the chosen land' .

So the Arya Samaj looked upon the Vedas as India's ‘rock of ages' and coined the slogan ‘go back to the Vedas' . The Arya Samaj, like the Brahmo Samaj, worked courageously to eliminate the social evils that it believed had crept into Hindu society.

It was more a social reform movement than a strictly religious or philosophical school.

In the area of social reform, the Arya Samaj struggled against child marriage and campaigned to fix the minimum age of marriage for boys and girls at 25 and 16 respectively.

It advocated a status for women equal to that of men. Intercaste marriage was encouraged, as was the remarriage of widows.

In addition to advocating progressive reforms, the Arya Samaj undertook charitable works during national disasters such as earthquakes, famines and floods, and it opened orphanages and homes for widows, thereby giving a new lease of life to the distressed. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Version 1.0, London and New York: Routledge (1998) Arya Samaj The leaders of the Arya Samaj were aware of the supreme importance of education, but sharp differences arose within the movement over the question of the best system.

One faction favoured the ancient system of Hindu education.

One of its leaders, Swami Shardhanand, started the ‘Gurukul' near Haridwar in 1902 to propagate the more traditional ideas.

Another faction recognized the value of British education and established a network of ‘Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Schools and Colleges' for both boys and girls throughout the country.

Lala Hansraj played a leading part in this effort. In order to counter Christian and Muslim missionary activities, the Arya Samaj started the śuddhi (purity) movement for the reconversion of those Hindus who had been unwillingly or forcibly converted to Islam or Christianity.

They could now be readmitted to Hinduism after passing through a ceremony of purification.

While the Arya Samaj's work in social reforms tended to unite people, its religious work tended, though perhaps unconsciously, to work against the growing sense of national unity arising among the Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Sikhs and Christians of India. Though founded in Bombay, the Arya Samaj found its true home in Punjab, and it later spread far and wide over the whole of northern India.

After Dayanand 's death in 1883, the work he had begun was continued by a band of followers.

Even today, the spirit of the Samaj is active in the towns and villages of India, as well as in communities of Indians who have emigrated to other parts of the world.. »

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