Swami Dayanand Saraswati, whose Nirvan Diwas (death anniversary) falls on, November 1 this year, was the beacon of guiding light of the modern world. Our eternal, divine scriptures — the Vedas and their derived texts pronounce ignorance as the root cause of every problem, and knowledge is its solution. A host of problems on multiple fronts grips the modern world.
Despite the existence of many mainstream religions, there is much crime, corruption, fear and insecurity in the world. Despite the wonderful developments of modern science and technology, the world is afflicted by heavy pollution, environmental degradation and climate change. We have the technology, we have the knowledge, and we have the resources, yet we are suffering due to poverty, chronic disease, crumbling relationships and scores of other issues.
Our hard book libraries or digital ones are packed with books on self-improvement, motivation, spirituality and relationship-building skills. However, that huge gap experienced in the practical implementation of bookish knowledge in actual life shows that discipline of the body and mind is widely wanted, and ground realities remain gloomy.
One word explains all the above ironies and contradictions. And that is ignorance. Our folks are ignorant of core truths. They dwell in delusion. They are plentifully informed but poor in understanding realities—apparent or obscured.
Swami Dayanand was the luminary remembered as the person who awakened humanity to the truth of things. His message was simple and clear. Man is limited in knowledge, understanding and intellectual capacity. His divine Creator, being omniscient, knows all. The same Creator has provided his human subjects with all core knowledge in the form of Vedas, which are eternal and incorruptible.
He deciphered the divinely revealed Vedic texts for the uplift of humanity. He brought out strands of true core knowledge related to all spheres and domains of human existence—spirituality, religion, economics, education, politics, science, technology, healthcare and other areas. He enlightened humankind about the purpose of life, the relationship between the Creator, living souls, and material nature, and provided a perfect blueprint for human peace, progress, prosperity, and salvation.
Swami Dayanand was a champion of truth, and he defined truth and truth-based practices in the core, fundamental terms drawing upon the divine texts Vedas. His Mangnum Opus– Satyarth Prakash ( The light of truth) is a brilliant compendium of pearls of divine principles and truths gleaned from Vedas, Manusmriti, Upanishads and other Brahman granths (texts). Satyarth Prakash is the best practical guide to successful, progressive and happy living that one can find, even in contemporary times. He gave us the true concepts and exposition of dharma, sect, cult, souls, nature, God, salvation and scores of other important subjects. He showed faltering humanity that its fulfilment and ultimate salvation lie only in assiduously following the ideology of Vedas. He gave the great slogan—’ Back to Vedas’ to uplift and promote the welfare of all humanity.
He was a Vedic scholar, spiritualist, social reformer and an accomplished Yogi—all rolled into one. Those who were his contemporaries and those who followed the path he showed described him as a person imbued with all imaginable human qualities he had developed through his own tough regimen of Yogic discipline.
Swami Dayanand is credited with notable achievements in his life which was cut short by a conspiratorial action to poison him at the age of barely 59 years. These achievements include—the original translation of Yajurveda and Rigveda, unparalleled in the last 1000 years; the establishment of Varna-based social order according to karmas rather than inherited caste; the emancipation of Shudra community; education of women; campaign against child marriage; dispelling the practice of purdah or facial veil; campaign for widow remarriage; dispelling polygamy; propagation of yogic practice; igniting nationalism, kindling the spark of freedom movement and elucidation of prime truths of human life.
