Delhi court orders probe into affairs at Arya Samaj temple

A Delhi trial court has directed authorities to conduct an investigation on illegal marriages being conducted at Arya Samaj temples located in Yamuna Bazar, shortly after which the Delhi High Court ordered a comprehensive investigation to be conducted against the office bearers of these temples.

“It is a matter of grave concern to the court that, in recent times, a large number of marriages involved the participation of minors who had eloped from their homes. Most of these marriages were conducted at Arya Samaj temples situated in Yamuna Bazar,” said Justice Hima Kohli.

The court has instructed the police to check the bank accounts and other records of the temple authorities over the past 3 years and submit a report on or before Dec 14.

The court has become increasingly concerned over the number of minors eloping from their homes to get married at Arya Samaj temples, especially after the case of a 12-year-old Muslim girl, who ran away from her home with a Hindu boy. Allegedly, the temple authorities had converted the girl to Hinduism and conducted her marriage with the boy.

With regard to a separate case, ASJ Kamini Lau directed the police to investigate allegations that the temple was solemnizing marriages without following the correct procedure, a phenomenon referred by the judge as “socially objectionable and legally impermissible.” Further speaking about the matter, she said: “It is a matter of very serious concern... It has been observed that many such marriages are being performed in cases of runaway couples or where one of the party is a minor, or in cases where marriage is otherwise prohibited under the customary and statutory law.”



Home Minister Chidambaram Writes to Swami Agnivesh

I found this interesting piece posted by Srimanthan Arya in Haindava Keralam. 

Home Minister Chidambaram  wrote a confidential letter to  Swami Agnivesh (memo no. D/3082-HMP/2010 dated May  11, 2010), requesting his  intervention in the Maoist issues. The home minister  wrote: “I would encourage you  to reach out to the CPI (Maoist) and persuade them to  accept the government’s offer  for talks...” The letter was written on the letterhead of the  government of India on May  11, 2010 just five days  following the Dantewada  massacre.

Chidambaram also wrote: “While I respect your views  and urge you to help find a  solution, I would like to clarify  the government’s position for  your kind consideration.” He  continued, “to start with, they  could say that, they will not  indulge in any violent activities  beginning a specific date, say  June 1, 2010 (this is only an  example and it could be an  earlier date too)...prepare a  response well before the  specified date...the response  will include an invitation to the  CPI (Maoist) to hold talks...I  would appreciate if you could  kindly keep the contents of the  letter confidential." At last, the  home minister requested  Swamiji, "the sole condition  being that the CPI (Maoist)  should abjure violence.”


How did the media get this "confidential" letter? 

Swami Agnivesh, born in  Chhatisgarh, graduated from St.  Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He  was once education minister of  Haryana. Originally called  Shyam Vepa Rao, he is an Arya  Samaj activist, preaching  Vedic socialism.

A few days ago, he visited  Sonia Gandhi with radical  Muslim leaders demanding 10  percent job reservations for  Muslims.

Srimanthan Arya has posed the  following questions:

1. Why did Mr. Chidambaram  request Swami Agnivesh to  intervene in this serious issue?
2. Why did Swamiji leak the  contents of the letter to the  media despite the home 
minister's request?

Haindava Keralam adds the  following information regarding  Swami Agnivesh. The same  information can be found in  Wikipedia.

Swami Agnivesh, who is a  fraudster, is not related to the  Arya Samaj in any way.  Seventeen of the 19 Arya Samaj  Prathinidhi Sabhas in India have  condemned Agnivesh for his  diametrically opposite stand to  Arya Samaj principles.

The Arya Samaj movement has  been demanding answers from  him ever since he became the  self-declared president of the  World Council of Arya Samaj,  an organization founded by  him. He has not yet responded  to the 372 outstanding  questions posed by Arya  Samaj.

Readers’ responses to the  above article are also quite  interesting.

K. M. Rajan says that “Swami  Agnivesh is not an Arya Samaj  leader, but a communist and a  co-traveler of so-called  secularists and even Jihadi  outfits. He is also a Maoist sympathizer. He somehow captured position in Arya Samaj and this was questioned in the Delhi Court. A court directive has now forced him to vacate his position. His views on many national issues such as same-sex marriage are against the ideology of the Arya Samaj and the Sathyarth Prakash. The Paropkarini Sabha (the apex intellectual body of the Arya Samaj) has called him for an open debate before the media, the same way they challenged Dr. Zakir.

Srinivas Rao Avvaru says that he is a “lobbyist to Christian and Islamic groups.”

R. Abhed Kiran Kandamath has the following points to add:

  • Agnivesh has formed an India Chapter for World Parliament of Religions and United Nations Voluntary Trust. 
  • Although the Arya Samaj has disowned his several times, he still acts as if he is a Hindu representative, calls himself an Arya Samaji, and a Vedic Hindu.
  • He is known to attend many functions organized by Jama' 'aths and fatwa-issuing moral police jehadi bodies.
  • Agnivesh is a well-known critic of the Sangh Parivar.
  • In his book, “Harvest of Hate: Gujarath Under Siege” co-authored by Rev. Valsan Thampu, a missionary, he accuses Narendra Modi of fascism, fundamentalism, and murder.
  • He had once publicly challenged the Shankaracharya of Puri and has said several times that the RSS, the VHP, and the BJP follows terrorism, fascism, and pseudo Hinduism.
Source: Haindava Keralam,  “Chidambaram Seeks Fraud  Swami Agnivesh’s Support to 
Tackle Maoists” on June 2,  2010.

Some more on this news report.

Punjab and Chandigarh High Court orders probe into Arya Samaj marriage certificates

The senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Chandigarh has been instructed to lead a probe and submit a report on the genuineness of the marriage certificates issued by Arya Samaj and Vedic Welfare Society, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh. 

Justice Hemant Gupta of Punjab and Haryana High court issued this order after taking into consideration four petitions filed by runaway couples demanding police protection from their relatives. 

The order reads: “It has come to my notice that, in four petitions, the petitioners are relying upon the marriage certificates issued by Arya Samaj and Vedic Welfare Society, Sector 22-B, Chandigarh. The photographs attached with all these petitions show the marriage ceremonies being performed in a room with makeshift havan kund. Chandigarh SSP is directed to conduct an inquiry and submit a report on whether these marriages are genuine or not.” 

Earlier the high court had directed various institutions not to “commercialize marriage.” Some temples and gurudwaras were also prevented from solemnizing marriages. 

A few months ago, Justice L. N. Mittal had ordered Gurmeet Singh, the owner of a “gurudwara” to stop solemnizing marriages. The court was shocked to learn that Gurmeet Singh was solemnizing marriages in his living room, which he had converted into a gurudwara by placing a picture of Guru Granth Sahib in it and was issuing spurious marriage certificates to runaway couples.


Bharathi College illegally constructed on Arya Samaj land – Lokananda

Somehow this news item, which had been published in Mangalore Mithr and Canara Times on May 10, 2010 had escaped my notice. The following is a rewritten version. 



On May 8, 2010, the current working committee of Mangalore Arya Samaj under the leadership of President M. Lokananda Devadiga called a press conference at the Mangalore Arya Samaj building on Arya Samaj Road, Balmatta and informed reporters that Shreemadjagadguru Shankaracharya Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji has constructed Bharathi College on land that belongs to the Arya Samaj. 


Honorary President Bhavani Shankar, President Lokananda, and Joint Secretary Dharmendra

Explaining the matter further, Lokananda said that the 3-acre plot of land, located at Nanthoor Padavu, where the Balakara Sevashrama is located, belongs to Arya Samaj. The Sevashrama is a sister organization of Arya Samaj, he said and added that the land has to be returned to the Arya Samaj in case of closure of the Ashram. Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji had secured this land on lease for a period of 99 years and laid the foundation for a college in 2003, which is illegal. The then President of Arya Samaj, Shri Krishna Kamath, filed a case against the seer and the legal battle is still on, said Lokananda. 

Accusing Home Minister V. S. Acharya and MLA Yogish Bhat of supporting the seer in spite of the fact that he has constructed a college building on Arya Samaj land and has inaugurated it last month in clear violation of the law, Mr. Lokananda further said that the seer has obtained the land on lease although there is no relationship between him and Arya Samaj. He has invested Rs. 80 lakh in the college and now intends to do business there, said Mr. Lokananda, accusing the seer of conspiring to grab the land illegally. 



Mr. Lokananda also accused Krishna Kamath, the previous president of Arya Samaj, of illegally attempting to dissolve the current working committee of Mangalore Arya Samaj. Accusing MLA Yogish Bhat of being involved in pressurizing the authorities to issue orders for the dissolution of the committee, he suspects the involvement of several people who are against the activities of the Arya Samaj, whose teachings and philosophy go against the traditional principles and practices. 

Regarding the dissolution of the committee, he said that Krishna Kamath, the president of Arya Samaj from 2003 – 2007, filed a petition with the district registrar stating that the present committee should be dissolved because he was still the president of the Arya Samaj.  The district registrar did not consider the petition then. However, the district registrar issued a notice on April 21 declaring the new committee as an ad-hoc committee despite the fact that he checks accounts every year and that Arya Samaj has paid the taxes and submitted the audits in 2009. Lokananda accused the former president of forging the letter head and seal of the Arya Samaj for the purpose. 

Chief Secretary Dharmendra and Honorary President K. Bhavani Shankar were also present during the press conference. 

Sources: 

The Wiccan Rede

I love the Wiccan Rede; I have always thought it to be beautiful and noble. I especially love the last couplet:

"These Eight words the Rede fulfill: 
An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will."

The couplet gives people the freedom to do as they wish, provided they harm no one, including their own selves.

Compare this with the tenth principle of the Arya Samaj and you will be amazed at the similarities.

"All human beings should subject themselves in abiding by the rules of social interest and should be at liberty to follow rules of individual interest." - 10th principle of Arya Samaj

Here is the Wiccan Rede in full. I have lifted it from "The Celtic Connection."

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give. 

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme. 

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again. 

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane. 

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek. 

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast. 

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest. 

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows. 

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight.   Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower. 

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye. 

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility. 

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen. 

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark. 

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows. 

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite. 

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules. 

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight. 

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be. 

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed. 

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart. 

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow. 

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you. 

These Eight words the Rede fulfill: 

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"  

Dynamic Centenarian Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi

Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, aged 118 years old at the time of writing, says that his secret of longevity is laughter, a vegetarian diet, a passion for the Vedas, and vitamin tablets. The centenarian is enthusiastic, fun-loving, active, lively, and sprightly. He walks with the help of a walking stick and has a zest for life that can inspire even the worst of pessimists.

Born in 1897 in Bangalore, Panditji’s parents sent him to a gurukul at Kangadi in Haridwar when he was only eight years old. Later, Panditji became a freedom fighter and scholar. Since he was closely associated with Gandhiji, he earned the nickname “Postman to Gandhi.” He was an active participant in the Jallianwallah Bagh protests, went to jail more than 31 times during the freedom struggle, and later joined the Arya Samaj.

Today, he is devoted to spreading the light of the Vedas all over the world. He conducts weekly Veda classes and writes for magazines. He enjoys solving problems, socializing, and the Vedas. In fact, his love for the Vedas has earned him the title of “Chaturvedi.”

Panditji works eight hours a day. His day commences at 3:30 a.m. with the reading of the Darshans and the Upanishads. He meditates for two hours daily. He reads magazines and newspapers in English, Kannada, and Hindi and discusses the latest news with visitors.

Although Panditji never got married, he adopted a son. He now lives in Jayanagar with his grand children. He gets a regular health check up, but has never gotten admitted into a hospital. He practices Yoga regularly and eats lesser than he desires.

Panditji, who has witnessed the events of the 19th, 20th, and 21st century, feels hat each century has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Arya Samaj decides not to solemnize marriages without parental approval

A decision taken by a section of the Arya Samaj not to solemnize marriages that do not have the approval of parents and villagers has shocked couples in Haryana. So far, Arya Samaj was the only institution that solemnized the weddings of those who ran away from families and villagers who disapproved of the union. 

The Haryana Arya Prathinidhi Sabha, under the leadership of Acharya Baldev, has decided that the Arya Samaj will no longer solemnize such weddings in its temples. 

Clarifying that the Arya Samaj was not against inter-caste marriages, Baldev said on Monday that the Arya Samaj simply does not approve of marriages that "violate the established norms of society." 

Haryana imposes restrictions on marriages within same gotras and villages. Baldev said: "We do not oppose inter-caste marriages, but in future these couples would also have to be accompanied by parents and prominent persons to solemnize their weddings in our temples. Love marriages are harmful as in such weddings youngsters just see the beauty and not the nature and qualities which should be the basis of marriages." 

However, not all Arya Samajis agree with Baldev. Another section of the Arya Samaj believes that the Arya Samaj should solemnize weddings within villages and gotras.

Arya Samaj is not an illegal outfit, declares M. Lokananda

Arya Samaj President M. Lokananda informed reporters on May 8 in the office of the Arya Samaj at Balmatta that he had called meetings of the executive committee on Jan 16 and Jan 21 to discuss the Arya Samaj’s land dispute with Shraddanandha Ashram.



Honorary President Bhavani Shankar, President M. Lokananda, Deputy Secretary Dharmendra

M. Lokananda said that during the rule of the British, the English rulers gave a tough time to the Arya Samaj, in spite of which this social reform movement continued to conduct inter-caste marriages, protect helpless women, provide land for Harijans, and other work of social welfare.

During those early days, the Shraddananda Seva Samithi had been closed; and Arya Samaj had taken over its property. However, the members of the Seva Samithi were not inclined to close down the old Shraddananda Ashram, said M. Lokananda and added that the Ashram had no significant programme to take up either.

The present president of the Arya Samaj also said that the Arya Samaj was a legal body, and not an illegal outfit. Saying that no one must interfere in the current social reform and progressive activities of the Arya Samaj, he said that there are neither internal feuds nor sex discrimination in the Arya Samaj.

M. Lokananda had been accused of misappropriation of funds by K. Krishna Kamath, the then president of Arya Samaj.

Secretary Purushottam Shetty, Deputy Secretary Dharmendra, and Honorary President K. Bhavanishanker were present on the occasion.

Ban “Sita Sings the Blues”

When I first heard about “Sita Sings the Blues,” Nina Paley’s animated film based on Ramayan, I was surprised. I had never heard of this movie, which has offended the religious sentiments of thousands of devout Hindus in India. I decided to research the matter further.

I feel that one can forgive the artist for her rendering of Ramayan, especially when she says that she empathizes and identifies with the suffering Sita. Since she is obviously not a Hindu, one understands that she has simply accepted Ramayan as a mere legend sans spiritual values and has identified herself as Sita and her ex husband as Ram.

But the Hindu community, especially those who worship Ram and Sita, cannot stomach the fact that Nina has used Ramayan to express her frustrated feelings and to purge her pain of rejection. Nina, who was dumped by her husband via an email, was naturally going through a bad phase in life.

However, in the process of using Ramayan, she has committed unforgivable blunders, the chief of which is the faulty and erroneous presentation of this epic, which is considered holy among the majority of the people in India. She has presented an unforgivably wrong picture of Ram and Sita; and by doing so, she has stripped Ramayan of its spiritual worth. This is not only insulting to the Hindu community, but is also dangerous in the sense that it will give the wrong idea about Hindus, Hinduism, and Ramayan to the Western audience.

One also cannot forgive Nina Paley for making one of her commentators say that “the Ramayan is not as true a story as the Bible.” Lord Ram and Goddess Sita are true enough for millions of Hindus just as Christ is true enough for millions of Christians. This statement reflects Paley’s mistaken idea that Christianity is superior to Hinduism, which simply isn’t true. Hinduism was here even before the birth of Christ, has sustained millions of Hindus in the past, and continues to do so. So this statement simply cannot be tolerated and must be protested against.

Although one respects the artist Nina Paley and her right to artistic self-expression, one cannot accept the damage done to Valmiki’s great epic, considered divine and holy by the Hindu community. To put it shortly, nobody can destroy another’s work while creating their own. Paley has destroyed Ramayan while creating her “Sita Sings the Blues.” And, above all, no one has the right to hurt the religious sentiment of another.

I therefore protest against “Sita Sings the Blues” and request its ban and ask you to do the same.



More Information about “Sita Sings the Blues”





Diet Rules for Aryas

Maharashi Dayanand Saraswathi has mentioned some diet rules for Aryas in his Sathyartha Prakash.

Ø  Do not eat vegetables, fruits, and roots raised in night soil or other kinds of refuse.
Ø  Do not eat food that is detrimental to the growth of the intellect.
Ø  Avoid food that is decomposed, fermented, unclean, or foul smelling.
Ø  Avoid food that is not properly cooked.
Ø  As far as possible, avoid food cooked by those living on meat diets and intoxicating drinks because their bodies are saturated with fine particles of meat and alcohol.
Ø  Do not kill useful animals such as goats and cows for food.
Ø  Never eat any food or drink obtained by injuring or killing others, by stealing, dishonesty, breach of faith, fraud, or hypocrisy.
Ø  Do not eat anything that does not agree with your constitution and can produce diseases or other evil effects.


Ø  Eat food that is obtained through righteous means without killing or injuring any living creature.
Ø  Eat food that gives health and strength, destroys disease, promotes intellectual power and energy, and prolongs life.
Ø  Eat rice, wheat, sugar, milk, butter, fruits, tubers, and roots cooked properly and in hygienic conditions.

Eating out of the same dish as the other should be avoided because people are of different natures and constitutions. The act of eating out of the same dish, therefore, can produce unfavorable results.

Meals can be taken in any place as long as it is clean and tidy. In times of war or other emergencies, people can eat and drink in all positions and places—such as standing up or driving a car. But food should be taken in moderation and at the right time.

It does not really matter who prepares the food; but the food should be prepared in a clean and hygienic manner. The cook must maintain personal cleanliness, wash his/her hands before cooking, trim his/her hair and nails regularly, and place a cloth around his/her mouth while cooking the food.

The kitchen should be kept clean and tidy. Great pain must be taken to wash, plaster, sweep, clean, and tidy up the kitchen. It should never be allowed to get dirty.

Source: Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi’s “Sathyartha Prakash”

Hindus believe in one God – Rita Sherma

Theologian Rita Sherma sought to bust the biggest myth about Hinduism among the non Hindus—the myth that Hinduism has many gods. She said that Hindus believe in the one and only God who is “both personal and beyond personal, the God who has many powers and energies.”

Rita Sherma, the founder president of the Centre for Convergence Spirituality in Casa Grande, Ariz, delivered the keynote address on May 2, Sunday at the 24th annual brunch of the Interfaith Brotherhood/Sisterhood Committee of Bergen Country for the Baha'i, Catholic, Hindu, Islam, Jain, Protestant, Jewish, and Sikh communities of the locality. Rita Sherman, in her talk on “Building a Sustainable Society through Interfaith Understanding and Social Action,” threw light on Hindu beliefs and principles.

Michael Hinton, a Leonia-based Presbyterian, remarked that he loves Hinduism and began loving it more after listening to Ms Sherman’s talk.

Jyothi Gandhi of Saddle River, the previous president of New Jersey Arya Samaj, said that the Hindus are one of the fastest-growing communities in New Jersey. Gandhi established the first Hindu temple in Bergen County; and now there are three more temples in Closter, Mahwah, and Garfield.

The annual brunch was organized at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe and more than 400 people attended it. The sponsors this year were the local Hindus. 

2200 people re-embrace Hinduism

Over 2,200 members of 384 families residing in 20 villages re-embraced Hinduism at a special function organized in Sutarpada, a village in Kapvada Tehsil in the district of Valsad. Dharma Prasar Samiti was the organizer of this event. A team of Arya Samaj purohits conducted the yajna and the people offered ahutis.

The people who returned to the Hindu fold are members of Varali and Konkana Vanvasi communities, who had embraced Christianity in the recent past. A gathering of 300 people warmly welcomed them back home.

Shri Mohan Joshi, the central secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), spoke about the glorious history of our Hindu ancestors who fought to protect Hinduism from foreign invaders.

Saying that Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world advocating peace and love, Swami Omkaranand Maharj called upon everybody to guard it with their lives.

Shri Dilipbhai Trivedi, the Gujarat State president of VHP; Shri Dharmaendrabhai Patel, the Prant Dharma Prasar Pramukh; Shri Lalit Suvakia, the joint secretary; Shri Neeraj Patel, the state secretary; and many others were present.  

Arya Veer Dal performs havan on world's highest road

A team of 8 Arya Veers under the leadership of Shri Vijendra Arya and Shri Nareshpal Arya hoisted the Om flag and the national flag on the highest motorable road at Kahrdungla pass in honor of the foundation day of Arya Veer Dal as well as the Republic Day. They also performed Yajna in a temperature of -27 degrees Celsius.

The time was 12:30 p.m. and the venue was Khardungla Pass in Ladakh, a place at a height of 18,360ft above sea level.

Initiative to Train Vedic Priests for Western World

Tapovan Aashram in Dehradun, India, is conducting the "International Vedic Priest Training Program," under the guidance of renowned Vedic scholars such as Acharya Ashish Darshnacharya and Dr. Mahavir Agarwal and in collaboration with Dr. Deen Bandhu Chandora to train Vedic Pracharaks to spread the knowledge of the Vedas internationally

Dr. Deen Bandhu Chandora of USA masterminded this program and Acharya Rampersad Vedalankar Nyas, Hardwar, India, under the supervision of Acharya Ashish Darshnacharya and with the active support of Shri Anuvrat Arya (Trustee, Acharya Rampersad Vedalankar Nyas) and Shri Vishrut Arya(Member of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America) is implementing this program.

The Program's Salient Features 
  • Course conducted by dedicated and renowned Vedic scholars led by Acharya Ashish Darshanacharya, Vedic Sadhan Ashram, Tapovan, Dehradun India. 
  • Well qualified candidates, who have already studied the Aarsh Scriptures, as described by Maharshi Swami Dayanand Saraswati
  • Full time resident course of one year.
  • Guest lectures and one-to-one interaction with world renowned English and Vedic scholars.
  • Written, oral, and practical exams to assess the candidate’s capability and expertise.
  • Well-defined curriculum, which covers the Vedic principles, personality development, computer skills,  spoken English, and art of public speaking.
  • Emphasis on developing the basics of English language, so that they can express themselves well in western countries.
  • Very pleasant and peaceful atmosphere for conduction of the course at Tapovan Ashram in Dehradun, India.
Major Subjects Taught in English
  • Light of Truth - Maharshi Dayanand
  • Sanskar Vidhi – Maharshi Dayanand
  • Rigvedaadibhashyabhumika- Mahrishi Dayanand
  • Manusmriti
  • “Hindu Centum” by Dr. Deenbandhu Chandora and “Quest” by Sh. Madan Raheja
  • The Sixteen Rituals of Aaryas by Aacharya Jyaaneshwaraaryah
  • Meaning of Mantras used in Sandhyaa and Agnihotra
  • Five daily rituals of Aaryaas
  • Brief introduction to Vedic Principles
  • Explanation of meaning of mantras used in Sandhya and Agnihotra
  • Introduction to some of the other ancient books like Geeta, Ramayan, Mahabharat
  • Basic Computer Skills
  • Behavioral attributes as followed in western culture
  • Astrology and Astronomy : Fraud versus reality of cosmology i.e. science of Astronomy
  • Usefulness of Vedic Sandhya for purification of mind
  • Explanation of Pranayam and Aasanas from Maharshi Patanajali perspective

The Ten Principles of Arya Samaj

1. The primeval cause of all genuine knowledge and all that is known by means of knowledge is GOD.

2. GOD is Truth, Consciousness, Bliss, Formless, Omnipotent, Just, Merciful, Unborn, Infinite, Unchangeable, Beginingless, Incomparable, Support of All, Omnipresent, Internal Regulator of All, Undecaying, Immortal, Fearless, Eternal, Holy and Creator of the Universe. He alone deserves worship.

3. Vedas are the repositaries of all true Knowledge. It is the paramount duty of all Aryas to study, teach, and propound the Vedas.

4. We must be always ready to accept truth and forsake untruth.

5. One should do everything according to the dictates of Dharma, after deliberating upon what is truth and untruth.

6. The main objective of Arya Samaj is to do good to the whole world - to achieve physical, spiritual and social prosperity of all.

7. One should conduct towards all with love, in accordance with the injunctions of Dharma and according to their respective positions.

8. One should dispel ignorance and promote knowledge.

9. One should not be content with one's own prosperity but should realise one's own prosperity in the prosperity of all.

10. All human beings should subject themselves in abiding by the rules of social interest and should be at liberty to follow rules of individual interest.

Online Places to Visit

1. Arya Prathinidhi Sabha America - This is a site worth checking out every now and then.

2. Arya Samaj Jamnagar - I am full of appreciation for the site. So far, it is the best Arya Samaj site I have ever come across. Visiting this site is a must.

3. Aryasamaj Gandhidham

4. Arya Samaj Pracharak Pt. Kanchan Kumar

5. Arya Samaj News Site

6. Agniveer's Site - I do not know much about Agniveer. I happened to get acquainted with him online; and he very kindly responded to some of my queries. I will be very happy to know something more about you, Agniveer.

7. Arya Veer Dal Yahoo Group - A group of 384 members of the Arya Samaj Youth Organization.

8. Jamnagar Arya Samaj Blog - You will find some excellent articles here.

9. Another Jamnagar Arya Samaj Blog - They need to do a bit of work here; but I am sure they will catch up soon. Do keep visiting.

10. Ved Prachar Mission - An initiative to train Vedic purohits to spread the light of the Vedas in Western countries.

11. Shree Ramlal Kapoor Trust - The objectives of the trust are research into the ancient Vedic literature, its safe custody, and its dissemination and also to serve the society through Indian culture, education, sciences, and medicine.

12. Arya Veer Dal, Delhi Pradesh - This is the official website of the Arya Samaj Youth Organization established in 1929.

13. Satya Vidya - A good website for those who want to learn about the Vedas.

Veda Mantras

The following are Veda mantras to be recited early in the morning and just before going to bed. Please do not attempt to learn them by yourself. Find a good teacher and learn from him/her because their meaning depends a lot on their pronunciation, accent, and pitch.

F PɼÀV£À ªÀÄ0vÀæUÀ¼ÀÄ ¥ÁævÀBPÁ® ºÁ¹UɬÄ0zÀ K¼ÀĪÁUÀ GZÀÑj¸À¨ÉÃPÁzÀ ªÀÄ0vÀæUÀ¼ÀÄ

N0  ¥ÁævÀgÀVß0  ¥ÁævÀj0zÀæA  ºÀªÁªÀĺÉÃ
¥ÁævÀ«ÄðvÁæ  ªÀgÀÄuÁ  ¥ÁævÀgÀ²é£Á
¥ÁævÀ¨sÀðUÀA  ¥ÀǵÀtA  §æºÀät¸ÀàwA
¥ÁævÀB  ¸ÉÆêÀĪÀÄÄvÀ  gÀÄzÀæA  ºÀĪÉêÀÄ

      
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gÁeÁazÀåA  ¨sÀUÀA ¨sÀQëÃvÁåºÀ


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NA GvÉÃzÁ¤A ¨sÀUÀªÀAvÀB ¸ÁåªÀÄ
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¸À £ÉÆà ¨sÀUÀ ¥ÀÅgÀ KvÁ ¨sÀªÉúÀ


F PɼÀV£ÀªÀÅ gÁwæ ªÀÄ®UÀĪÀ ªÀÄÄ0ZÉ GZÀÑj¸À¨ÉÃPÁzÀ ²ªÀ¸ÀAPÀ®à ªÀÄAvÀæUÀ¼ÀÄ


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Mangalore Arya Samaj celebrates Ambedkar Jayanthi

Mangalore Arya Samaj celebrated the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar by organizing a special programme at Arya Samaj Mandir, Mangalore, on April 14, 2010.

Ramachandra Baikampady, the president of Karnataka Fisheries Development Ltd, was the guest of honor. Shrinivas Shetty presided over the programme. Nagaraj Shetty, the president of the Coastal Authority, felicitated Sanjeeva Ballur and Keshava Mangalur.

Mr. Lokananda Arya, the president of Mangalore Arya Samaj, spoke about the "varnashrama." Nagaraj Shetty lauded Mangalore Arya Samaj for completing 92 years of age and called upon the members to protect the Arya Samaj and work for its welfare. 

Joint Secretary of Mangalore Arya Samaj conducted the progamme. Secretary Purushottam Shetty gave the welcome speech. Honorary President Bhavani Shankar was present during the programme. 

Source: Udayavani (April 18, 2010)

CM Hooda remembers his arya grandfather

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the chief minister of Haryana, recalled his grandfather, who had accepted the principles of the Arya Samaj, during a state-level function organized by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Welfare Society at Kurukshetra University to commemorate the birth of Dr. Ambedkar on April 14, 2010.

Recalling how his grandfather Matu Ram was criticized for wearing the sacred thread after joining Arya Samaj, he said that Matu Ram never believed in the caste system and faced social boycott for his principles. The boycott was later withdrawn and thousands of people joined the Arya Samaj to fight against caste discrimination.

A number of prominent political personalities were present for this programme.

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Surat Arya Samaj organizes havan for Naxal victims

The Arya Samaj Bhavan, located in Soni Faliya, Surat, organized a havan in honor of those who died in the Chhattisgarh Naxal attack on April 7, 2010.

The havan commenced at noon; and thirty members of the Arya Samaj, including representatives of senior citizens, ex-armymen, politicians, and associations participated.

Secretary of Surat Arya Samaj Rohit Sharma said that they prayed to God to give them peace in heaven and to teach non-violence to Naxals.

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Maharshi Dayananda Saraswathi


Maharshi Dayananda Saraswathi (1824 - 1883), the founder of the Arya Samaj, was one of the best aryas who ever lived. He was a highly acclaimed social reformer and religious scholar. He also bears the credit of being the first proponent of “Swarajya,” which was adopted and advocated by Lokamanya Tilak. Like a true arya, Maharshi Dayananda Saraswathi denounced idol and ritualistic worship and advocated equal rights for women. He tirelessly strived for the revival of Vedic ideologies, believed in the authority of the Vedas, promoted the doctrine of Karma, encouraged skepticism in dogma, and emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya. S Radhakrishnan, the former president of India, rightly called him one of the “Makers of Modern India.”

Birth, Childhood, and Youth

Dayananda Saraswathi was born on Feb 12, 1824 in Tankara near Morvi in the Kathiawar region of Gujarath. His father, Lal Tiwari, was an affluent brahmin. His mother was Yashodabai. Dayanand was called Dayanand Mulshanker in his childhood. He studied Sanskrit, the Vedas, and other religious books in preparation for the life of a Hindu priest.

However, he began questioning idol worship when he spied a rat nibbling at the offerings placed before an idol of Shiva on Shivarathri. He began pondering over the significance of life when he lost his uncle and his younger sister to cholera. The questions he asked deeply troubled his parents because they had no answers to satisfy him. Finally, he refused to get married and fled from his home in 1846.

The Student

Dayanand wandered around for nearly 2 decades in search of a guru before he found Swami Virajananda in Mathura. His new teacher instructed him to throw away his books and focus on the Vedas. After two and a half years of rigorous study, his teacher asked him to spread the light of the Vedas far and wide as his gurudakshina.

The Social Reformer

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswathi began questioning religious scholars and priests and won all debates with them. He even criticized Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, and idol-worshipping Hindus. His book, Sathyartha Prakasha, gives great insight into the thoughts, ideals, philosophies, and beliefs of this great sage.

Arya Samaj, the organization he founded, condemns idol worship, ancestor worship, animal sacrifice, priest craft, pilgrimages, making offerings in temples, untouchability, caste system, discrimination against women, and child marriages on grounds that the Vedas do not sanction these practices. The Arya Samaj also discourages symbolism and dogma and encourages skepticism in beliefs that do not conform to logic and common sense. The organization also hopes to create a “universal samaj or society” based on Vedic authority.

Death

Maharshi Dayananda Saraswathi was once the guest of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, a womanizer who was fond of a dancing girl. The sage asked the king to give up his mistresses and his unethical lifestyle and to follow the path of dharma. The dancing girl, who overheard this advice, was deeply offended and bribed the cook to poison the sage.

That night, the cook offered him a glass of milk laced with poison, which the sage drank unsuspectingly. Later, he realized that he had been poisoned and tried to purge his body, but to no avail. Dayanand suffered intensely just before he died. The cook was struck with remorse and confessed to him. Dayananda forgave the cook, gave him some money, and asked him to flee the palace. He then breathed his last.
Namaste!! Thanks for visiting my blog. I will be glad to be in touch with you. Do feel free to email me at 
saraswathiarya@gmail.com

If required, phone number and postal address will be revealed through email.  



The Story of this Blog 
(March 14, 2011) 


When this blog was first created on April 23, 2010, it was called mangalorearyasamaj.blogspot.com. I had christened it so because of my association with the Arya Samaj. 


I had approached the Arya Samaj back in March 2009 for purely social reasons. I desparately wanted to place my son in Hindu society. So, I went there Sunday after Sunday, chatted with them all endlessly, drank endless cups of tea, had numerous plates of snacks, smiled indulgently when I heard them talk about vegetarianism, and so on and so forth...simply because I wanted to place my son in Hindu society. The world crashed around my ears exactly a year later, somewhere in February, when I learned that the place I had learned to love was fraught with internal conflicts and legal battles, a fact that was carefully kept secret from me for months. 


As I walked away from Mangalore Arya Samaj, I felt a pain I had never felt before. Was this place lost to me for ever? I had been a Christian for nearly 32 years before I joined the Arya Samaj and I hardly felt a thing when I left the Church, but the loss of the Arya Samaj was a deep personal loss. I asked myself again and again: "Didn't I join for purely social reasons?" "Did all those social get togethers mean so much to me?" 


I searched deeply in my mind and heart and wondered what was it about Arya Samaj that kept dragging me back, however much I tried to get away from it. It was only after several months that I realized that the one I missed the most was Agni. After all, I had sat before Him Sunday after Sunday, as the purohit chanted mantras in a language I did not understand. I had reverently offered ahutis Sunday after Sunday. Agni never forced me to become a vegetarian, but I found myself unable to eat non vegetarian foods. Right from childhood, I had been terrified of fire, but in Arya  Samaj, the most terrifying one became the most beloved one to me. Agni was no longer the hell fire of Christianity, he was the giver of light and warmth of the ageless Vedic religion. I had felt that I had finally found the place I belonged to. 


Now that I have explained my association with Arya Samaj, let me get back to this blog. On June 6, 2011, I was called "moorukasinavalu" precisely for starting this blog. I decided to change its address to mangalorearyas.blogspot.com simply because I did not want to get entangled in any legal wrangles.


Today, on March 14, 2011, I changed the name of this blog for the third and last time. Although the Arya Samaj introduced me to an aspect of God that fascinated me, the Arya Samaj has not succeeded in telling me everything I need to know. From now on, I am on my own, joining hundreds and thousands of people in the eternal quest for the Incomprehensible one ... commonly called God. 


I thought that the address of this blog should be a name of God. I mulled over the name Agni for a long time, but someone else had already taken it. I then typed the phrase "names of the Vedic God" in Google and came across this interesting web page. I finally decided to give my blog the address: insearchofaum.blogspot.com.


I have unpublished everything I had ever published about the Arya Samaj, except news. I don't thing there is anything here that might upset anyone from the Mangalore Arya Samaj. If there is, kindly bring it to my attention, and I will remove it at once. 
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