Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati was a great saint, phylosopher and social reformer of India. He is also well known as a scholar of Vedas. He Interpreted the Vedas in Hindi Language. He founded Arya Samaj in Mumbai in 1875 for spreading the Vedic knowledge and culture. His contribution to India is unforgettable.
Everybody has a curiosity of knowing more about such elevated personalities. Most of people wish to peep into their life. To calm the curiosity of the readers, there is a piece of the text from the autobiography of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati.
On 4th August, 1875, at Peth; in Pune, Maharashta; Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati delivered a sermon in which he discussed about himself. Here, the facts told by Swamiji about himself are being given in brief. Let us enjoy it-
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati says –
There are many people who ask me how they know that I am a Brahmana; and ask me to produce some letters from my friends and relatives as proof or to introduce them to someone who knows me. Therefore, I am telling you about me today.
In comparison with the people of the other States, those of Gujarat are a little more emotional. If I would write to my friends or relatives or if I would give them my address, then they would come after me and that would be a great impediment for me from which I have freed myself. I am frightened that they might follow me. I do not want to have any correspondence with them.
Dharangdhara is a kingdom in Gujarat and in its border is located a town named Morvi, where I was born. I am Udeachya Brahmana. The Udeachya Brahmana are the followers of the Samaveda School; But I studied with much difficulty the Yajurveda. My parents have much estate. At present I am 50 years old.
In eighth year after my birth; my sister was born. I had an uncle and he loved me a lot. There would have been about fifteen households in my family. In my childhood; I was first taught the Rudra Adhyaya and then started the study of the Shukla Yajurveda. My father taught me the worship of Shiva. When I was of ten; I started the worship of the idol of Lord Shiva.
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The Incident of Shivarati
Once, my father asked me to fast for Shivaratri; but I didn’t agree. Then, he narrated me a tale of Shivaratri. I was greatly impressed and I firmly decided to make the fast. My mother had told me not to fast but I didn’t listen to her and I started my fast. There is a big temple near the locality where I lived.
On the day of Shivaratri many people are assembled there and pray. Besides my father and me many people were there. The rituals for the first prahar were already performed. The rituals of second prahar were also completed. Now, it was 12 at the night and all the devotees were dozing at there places. My father too fell asleep. Then, the pujari too stepped out the temple.
I kept myself awake because I feared that my fast would not be completed if I fell asleep. And a miracle happened. Rats came out of their holes and were running around the idols of Mahdeva and climbing on it. Climbing on the idol; they began to eat the offerings that were placed there. I kept on watching the rats with awe.
One day earlier, I had already listened the tale of Shivaratri to my father. I was told how horrible Shiva was and how great was his potential, his weapons- the Pashupatastra etc. and about his means of transport; the bull. So, looking at the performance made by these tiny creatures, my innocent wisdom was greatly awestruck. I thought why Shiva who killed mighty demons was not able to protect himself from those diminutive rats. So many doubts like this were raising in my mind.
I awakened my father and asked him why Shiva was not able to throw away these rats? But my father replied that my mind was impure. He added that this was only an idol. Then, I decided that I would worship only when I am able to see the real Trishool Bearing Shiva; otherwise not. With this thought in my mind, I returned home and as I was hungry, I asked for food from my mother.
My mother said, “I told you before that you won’t be able to fast but you did not listen. You persisted to fast.” She gave me food to eat and advised me not to appear before my father for two or three days and neither to talk to him otherwise he would not spare me.
Death of Dayananad’s Sister
After having my food, I went to sleep. I woke up at 8 a.m. on the next morning. I narrated the whole incident to my uncle. The latter handled the situation with tact and told my father that he should not make me to observe fasts etc. as I had to study. At that time, I was studying the Yajurveda from him and a Pundit was teaching me Grammar. I completed the Yajurveda when I reached the age of 16 or 19.
Then I went to study in the village where we owned land. In our house, there used to be a dance party on a certain day and once on that occasion my sister fell seriously ill. She was lying on death bed; unable to speak. I went in and stood near her bed. I witnessed death at first time in my life.
When my sister died, I was greatly disturbed and full of fear. I thought that one day everyone has to die. Everyone was weeping but my heart was overwhelmed with fear and not even one drop of tear came out of my eyes. Looking at me, my father said that I had a granite heart.
My mother loved me a lot but she also made similar remarks. They used to advise me to try to sleep but I was never able to sleep properly. Often, I woke up frightened and various sorts of thoughts haunted my mind. According to the custom which was prevalent in our society five- or six-times lamenting sessions were held and again I did not weep and all looked at me with scorn.
Death of Dayanand’s Uncle
When I was of nineteen, my uncle also passed away. He used to love me immensely. Before dying, he called me near him. Someone began to observe his pulse. I was sitting near him and while he was looking at me, tears were dropping from his eyes. I also began to weep and I wept bitterly. I had never wept so much in my life.
At that moment, I began to realize that one day I too would die like my uncle. With such feelings in my mind, I started asking from my friends and the Pundits about the means to escape death and how to become immortal. They advised me about Yoga and its practice. Then, I pondered that I should leave the parental roof and go away. I was twenty years old, then.
On noticing me neutrality, my father asked me to go and to look after our land; but I did not agree. Then, my father decided to get me married so that there might be some change in my behaviour. It was the talk of the day in our house. When I had come to know about it, I took the decision to get never married.
I disclosed my feelings to a friend but he did not agree with me. Instead, he encouraged me to accept the proposal. So, I decided to leave the parental home. Nobody gave me a proper advice. Everyone was counselling me to get married. Within a month, all arrangements for the wedding ceremony were finalized.
Dayanand’s Departure from Home
One day, I left my house taking along with me a dhoti. I convey a message through a soldier to my parents that I had gone to a friend’s house. I went to a neighbouring village. At home, my parents waited for me up to ten p.m. at night, I left the village and reached another village some ten kosas away where I stayed in a Hanuman Temple.
From there, I went to meet a certain Yogi named Sayala. But it did not calm my inquisitiveness. I came to know about another Yogi named Lalabhakta. I left for him. On the way, a vairagi was sitting placing an idol near him. I talked to him. When he saw my gold rings he said that I would not be able to realize my wish and become a Vairagi, wearing these rings. He thus convinced me to offer the three rings to the idol.
Approaching to Lalabhakt, I practiced Yoga. At the night, while I was sitting under a tree, I heard a strange voice. I guessed it a ghost and got frightened. I entered the cluster.
Reaching at Kota Kangare
Then, I reached in a village known as Kota Kangare near Ahamedabad. There were many Vairagees there. A certain queen was duped by them. Once the queen tried to be romantic to me but I was able to save myself. I stayed there for some three months. Here, the Vairagees were making fun of me because I used to wear a silken dhoti. So, I threw it away. Now, I had only three rupees left. I bought an ordinary dhoti and wore it. Since then, I started calling myself Brahmacharee.
Visit to Sidhpur fair and Returning Home:
During those days, I heard that a fair would be held at Sidhpur in the month of Kartika. I left for Sidhpur as I thought that I might come across certain accomplished Yogi who would be able to show me the way to be immortal. On the way, I met someone who was from my village. He informed my father that I had left for Sidhpur. My father and other relatives were still searching for me. My father reached Sidhpur accompanied by four soldiers.
I was sitting in a temple and unexpectedly I saw my father standing in front of me. I was stunned. I thought that he would beat me. Without losing time, I stood up and touched his feet. He was very infuriated. I told him that a wicked person brought me here and that I wanted to go back home and it was better that he had come. He broke my water pot and tore my outfit. He then gave me some cloths and we returned home.
Two soldiers were engaged to keep a watch on me day and night. One soldier was always sitting near my bed while I was sleeping at night.
Departure from Home Again
One day, I made a plan to befool the soldier and run away. During the night, I wished to know if he slept or not. Therefore, I decided not to sleep at night but to pretend to be sleeping. This way, I had not been sleeping for three nights. At the fourth night, the soldier fell asleep. I took a water-pot and went out of the chamber. I was thinking that if someone would have seen me then I would say that I was going to the toilet.
From that place, I got out of the village and stayed in a garden. In the early morning, I climbed up a tree and, the whole day, remained seated on it. At about 7 p.m., when darkness had spread, I left the place. This was the last contact with my village and my relatives. Once, I met some individuals from my village at Allahabad. But I did not tell them my whereabouts. Since that day, I have never met anybody of my village.
Continued ………………
Note: This article is based on ‘Upadesh Manjari’, a collection of sermons delivered by Maharshi Dayanand Sarasvati.
Facts are verified with en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayanand .
