Early Life
- Born: 12 February 1824, in Tankara, Gujarat.
- Birth Name: Mool Shankar Tiwari.
- Family: Belonged to a Brahmin family, father was Karshanji Lalji Tiwari.
- Influenced by: Vedantic texts, Upanishads, and Yoga.
- Turning point: Witnessing a rat eating prasad in a temple, which made him question idol worship.
Philosophy and Contributions
- Founded Arya Samaj (1875): A Hindu reform movement based on Vedic principles.
- Back to Vedas: He promoted returning to Vedic teachings and rejected superstitions.
- Opposed Social Evils:
- Idol worship
- Caste discrimination
- Child marriage
- Sati system
Religious and Social Reforms
- Satyarth Prakash (1875): His famous book, meaning The Light of Truth.
- Education Reforms: Advocated Vedic education and founded Gurukuls.
- Women’s Rights: Supported widow remarriage and women’s education.
- Nationalism: His ideas inspired leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and Swami Shraddhanand.
- Hindu Revivalism: Opposed foreign influence on Hinduism and emphasized self-reliance.
Death
- Died: 30 October 1883, due to poisoning by a cook in Jodhpur.
- His last words: “O Lord! Let my country awake to true knowledge.”
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. When was Swami Dayanand Saraswati born?
a) 1824
b) 1835
c) 1788
d) 1857
→ Answer: a) 1824
2. Which organization was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati?
a) Ramakrishna Mission
b) Arya Samaj
c) Theosophical Society
d) Brahmo Samaj
→ Answer: b) Arya Samaj
3. What was the original name of Swami Dayanand Saraswati?
a) Mool Shankar
b) Ranjit Shankar
c) Keshav Chandra
d) Swami Vivekananda
→ Answer: a) Mool Shankar
4. Which of the following books was written by Swami Dayanand Saraswati?
a) Gita Rahasya
b) Satyarth Prakash
c) Anand Math
d) Hind Swaraj
→ Answer: b) Satyarth Prakash
5. What was Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s famous slogan?
a) Go Back to the Vedas
b) Jai Hind
c) Swaraj is my Birthright
d) Do or Die
→ Answer: a) Go Back to the Vedas
6. Who among the following was inspired by Swami Dayanand Saraswati?
a) Lala Lajpat Rai
b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Rabindranath Tagore
→ Answer: a) Lala Lajpat Rai
7. Where did Swami Dayanand Saraswati die?
a) Ahmedabad
b) Jodhpur
c) Varanasi
d) Haridwar
→ Answer: b) Jodhpur
8. What was the main goal of Arya Samaj?
a) Promote idol worship
b) Spread Western education
c) Revive Vedic traditions
d) Support caste-based discrimination
→ Answer: c) Revive Vedic traditions
Short Answer Questions
Q1: What is Swami Dayanand Saraswati famous for?
A: He was a Hindu reformer who founded Arya Samaj and promoted Vedic teachings while opposing idol worship, caste discrimination, and other social evils.
Q2: What was Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s most famous book?
A: Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth).
Q3: What was the famous slogan given by Swami Dayanand Saraswati?
A: Go Back to the Vedas.
Q4: Name any two social reforms introduced by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
A: 1) Opposition to idol worship
2) Promotion of women’s education
Q5: Who was influenced by Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s ideas?
A: Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and Swami Shraddhanand.
Q6: When and how did Swami Dayanand Saraswati die?
A: He died on 30 October 1883 after being poisoned by a cook in Jodhpur.
This note covers all essential facts needed for competitive exams. Let me know if you need more details! 🚀
One reply on “Dayanand Saraswati: Life and Contributions”
[…] (e) Dayananda Saraswati (1824–1883) […]