Arya Samaj

Scope note: Refers to a Hindu sect and reform movement founded by the brahman Dayananda Sarasvati in Bombay in 1875. Followers, striving for a return to the original purity of Hinduism found in the Vedas, are against image-worship, child-marriage, polygamy and meaningless ritual. Dayananda's book 'Vedabhashya' contains his interpretations of the Vedas, the earliest Hindu scriptures. Arya Samaj promotes a moral vision of kindness and goodwill to all. Arya Samaj, now a worldwide organization, is also opposed to the traditional Hindu caste system and works to remove religious and social injustices. Arya Samaj followers also introduced the novel idea of converting to Hinduism people of other faiths. In 1893 there was a split between conservative and liberal followers who disagreed on whether to advocate traditional or modern forms of education and on whether to advocate vegetarianism or freedom of diet. The movement became nationalistic and was in conflict with Sikhs and Muslims, especially in the Punjab around the time of the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.

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