Gujarati Brahamin (Swami) Dayanand representing the platform for ‘Arya Samaj’, originally listed 28 rules and regulations but tapered down to ten & the first three principles comprises, the doctrinal core of the Arya Samaj, as they summarize the member’s beliefs in regard to God/Ishwer, the nature of Divinity and the authority of the Vedas. The remaining seven principles reflect the reformative ambitions of the Samaj in regard to both the individual and society at large. The logical conclusions from Arya Samaj principles are the unequivocally condemnations for the practices, earlier advocated in 1499 by the founding father for Sikhism, Shri Guru Nanak Sahib, such as :polytheism, iconolatry, animal sacrifice, , priest craft, the belief in ancestor worship, pilgrimage in Avatars or incarnations of God, the hereditary caste system, untouchability and child marriage linking to the grounds with that all these lacks in Vedic sanction. The holy book of Arya Samaj is known as “Satyarth Prakash”. He expressed that: even if there be many different sectarian beliefs prevalent in India, if only they all acknowledge the Vedas, then all those small rivers will reunite in the ocean of Vedic wisdom, and the unity of dharma will come about. Thus, the N.G.O. platform Titled ‘Araya Samaj’ intellectually provided an offensive /defensive religious ideology to their preaching community for future positioning, being taken forward since than religiously taken forward under the garb of democracy.
Therefore, Arya Samaj platform was founded in April 1875 at Bombay by a Pandit Dayanand who got fame with prefix Swami, was a native of Gujarat. The Brahmans anchored above new religious ideas, though less in numerical numbers but happened to be most educated & intelligent race. The Arya Samaj engineered major support from the Jats & Rajputs who otherwise may have adopted Sikhism as that of present adoptions in Punjab. The Arya Samaj opened 131 branches in the following years in states: UttarPradesh – 74 Punjab – 35 Rajasthan – 8 Madhya Pradesh – 5 Bihar – 4 Maharashtra – 2 Karnataka – 1 Bengal – 1 Assam – 1.There was no significant activity or role by platform of Arya Samaj in; Kerala,Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Sindh & many other states of the then British India .
The Membership for Arya Samaj involved the acceptance of the formal Ten Principles, including: the payment of one per cent of one’s income, either monthly or yearly, towards the revenues of the Samaj, attendance at meetings, upright conduct. The Arya Samaj opposes idolatry, animal sacrifice, ancestor worship, cast system based on birth rather than on merit, untouchably, child marriage, pilgrimages, priestly craft, and temple offerings. Every Arya Samaji was suppose to arrange for the teaching of Hindi and Sanskrit to such members as are unacquainted with those languages. The Ten Principals, FINALLY drafted in 1875 by N.G.O. body was shown titled as Arya Samaj. Most of these value contents on comparison with the Sikh way of life were already introduced four centuries years ago. These are practiced by Punjab from 1499 -1699 onwards as taught by Sikh Gurus to the community referred as Sikh Diaspora.
Ptd Daya Nand (Tiwari –Swamy), despite having adopted major reformist parts of new religion developed by those times; as SIKHISM, he appears to have purposefully avoided writing gratitude for measures ,sacrifices made by SIKH GURU and their followers living in & around FIVE RIVERS, known as Punjabis. Ptd Dayanand was one of the most successful, intelligent Brahman produced by GUJARAT land prior to Mr M.D.K.C. Gandhi & Mr Patel. But unfortunately remained ungrateful for political reasons conveying appreciation for Christianity, Muslim, Buddhism, Jainism but spoke little for the norms of new pro humanity faith developed in Punjab Land. He rather wrote in arrogance that NANAK did not knew SANSKRIT but failed to appreciate the fact that he adopted Sikh principles & sold them in new package with title for for ‘ Arya Samaj’ crediting VEDAS .
The religious platforms prepared with different titles of A-B-C ‘Samaj’ in Gujarat, Bengal, Bombay targeted all prevalent religions to minimize adoption by Hindus to new way of life for faiths such as : Sikhs, Christianity , Buddhism, Jainism, Muslim etc. They made an aggressive action plan to improve ,modify ,update Hindu way of life, The latest way of life developed stood tested with times, happened to be the Sikh way of life, which was developed on basis for natural principles of life, educated by Sikh Guru Sahibs .These were being adopted by Punjabis (other than Brahmins & Banian race).This was not taken in its right prospective rather considered a threat to old ,although out lived Hindu traditions by the then preaching class of Brahmins who aggressively took charge for teachings on new Hindu ways of life .The Christianity British in India played active role encouraging such religious groups to stand against each other resulting in social divide .
Despite the efforts on modifications in Hindu way of life ,Hundreds of people got baptized in Christian melas organized in central Gujarat in 1895 by the bishop of the Methodist Episcopalian Church & Hindu platform created spent more energies in north India than in their own states to stem conversions in Bengal, Gujarat U.P., Orissa etc.It is mystery that was the fear of Christianity ruling class or connivance with them or weakness in Punjab leaders who allowed them to meddle in their internal state matters! But the number for the converts increased many fold after the famine when census 1901 reflected great rise in number for converts to Christianity. Christianity drove Hinduism to a defensive attitude, and even an aggressive one…. Idolatry was certainly found losing its hold upon the people.
Pandit Swami Dayanand is credited by Gujarat to have laid working road map by stating in a conference. ‘If you are able to achieve something for the good of mankind by a Samaj, then establish a Samaj; I will not stand in your way. But if you do not organize it properly, there will be a lot of trouble in the future. As for me, I will only instruct you in the same way as I teach others, and this much you should keep clearly in mind: my beliefs are not unique, and I am not omniscient. Therefore, if in the future any error of mine should be discovered after rational examination, then set it right. If you do not act in this way, then this Samaj too will later on become just a sect. That is the way by which so many sectarian divisions have become prevalent in India: by making the guru’s word the touchstone of truth and thus fostering deep-seated prejudices which make the people religion-blind, cause quarrels and destroy all right knowledge”.