Hindu Connections 03/08

Dear All

 

I am delighted to invite you to our next meeting: 

 

 

 

 

Arya Samaj (Hindi: आर्य समाज, lit. ’Noble Society’, IAST: Ārya Samāja) is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Arya Samaj was founded by the sannyasi (ascetic) Dayanand Saraswati on 7 April 1875. 

 

Arya Samaj was the first Hindu organization to introduce proselytization in Hinduism in order to reconvert back to Hinduism those who had been forced to convert to other faiths.  The organisation has also worked towards the growth of civil rights movement in India since 1800s.  

 

Swami Dayanand Saraswati gave voice to the concept of Swarajya – ‘self rule’ – which led to the 1857 mutiny against the British Raj.  He was also actively involved in the social awakening of India, condemning the practice of Sati and child marriage, whilst advocating the re-marriage of widows, equal rights for women, and the removal of the caste-system, by attributing one’s caste to one’s actions and behaviour, rather than one’s birth. 

 

The Vedas, the oldest texts in the world, were revealed as Shruti (words and sounds heard) in Sanskrit to ancient Indian sages and rishis, The four Vedas: The RigVed; The YajurVed; The SamVed; and The AtharvaVed contain thousands of hymns and mantras (verses) which form the basis of The Upanishads, The Bhagvad Geeta and the later scriptures in the Vedic Sanatan Dharma – which is popularly known as Hinduism. 

 

Maneesha Sharma is a Writer, Teacher and Radio Broadcaster.  She lectures regularly at the Arya Samaj Temple in Ealing .  Maneesha’s mother was responsible for starting several Aya Samaj Temples in India.