NO IDOLATRY IN VEDAS - WESTERN INDOLOGISTS

Swami Dayanand was first scholar in modern times to proclaim that idolatry or worship of God in forms of idols is not sanctioned in the Holy Vedas. Although many reformers in past like Adi Shankracharya, Guru Basava, Guru Nanak, Sant Kabir, Dadu, raja Ram Mohan Roy etc have openly disagreed with the Idol worship but swami Dayanand view of idolatry is based not merely on observations of demerits of idolatry as his predecessors but also on proofs and evidences mentioned in different Vedic texts. In same age of swami Dayanand a class of scholars in west also tried to explore The Vedas and other texts with special interest and different motives. Many of them were influenced by Christian upbringings and political pressure of their Christian state while some of them were real truth seekers too. Overall their views are acceptable up to that extent until they are with the truth and nothing else. 

In this article we will read different quotations by European scholars on idolatry and our main motive is to give message to the readers for their spiritual elevation by giving them lesson of worship of one supreme formless God.

Maxmuller- It has sometimes been asserted that the Vedic religion is extinct in India, that the modern Brahmanic religion as founded on the puranas and tantras consists in a belief in Vishnu, Shiva and Brahama and manifests itself in the worship of the most hideous idols – Origin and Growth of religions page 154

Monier Williams says - It is very doubtful whether idolatry existed in the time of Manus compilation of the smriti- Indian wisdom page 226  

H.H.Wilson says- There is (in the Vedas), no mention of any temple, nor any reference to public place of worship and it is clear that the worship was entirely domestic – Wilson’s Rigveda- Introduction, volume 1, page xv

H.H.Wilson says–And yet Manu notices no Avatara, no Rama and no Krishna and is consequently admitted to belong anterior to the growth of their worship as set forth in the Ramayana and Mahabharata- Wilson’s Rigveda- introduction, volume 1, page xi, xii

H.H.Wilson says – But the worship of defied heroes is no part of that system, nor are the incarnations of deities suggested in any other portion of the text, which I have yet seen, though such are sometimes hinted at by the commentators.

It is also true that the worship of the vedas is for the most part, domestic worship, consisting of prayers and oblations offered in their own houses, not in temples by individuals, for individuals good and addressed to unreal presences, not to visible types.

In a word, the religion of the vedas is not idolatry

H.H.Wilson- Vishnu purana preface page 111

 

J.I.Wheeler says- They appear to have had no temples but either performed their sacrifices in the open air or else in a sacrificial chamber set apart in each dwelling- Wheeler’s History of India introduction page 11

Mr Mill says- Idolatry is an altogether after growth springing from the mind incapable of entertaining the elevated abstract notions of the permitive creed- Mills History of British India, quoted in the Vedic magazine may 1918 page 117

Mr Mill says but they (Brahmanas) never, like the priests of other pagan nations, or those of the Jews, conducted public worship, worship for individuals indiscriminately, worship in temples or make offerings to idols is held as degraded and unfit to be invited to religious feasts- (Manu II 152,180) Mills History of British India vol II page 192 F.N.

M. Elphinstone- There seems to have been no images and no visible types of the objects of worship.-History of India page 40

M. Elphinstone-At the same time, they erected no temple and addressed no worship to the true god-History of India page 93, 94

M. Elphinstone-Mr. Colebrooke avowedly confines himself to the five sacraments which existed in Manu’s time; but there is a new sort of worship never alluded to in the institutes, which now forms one of the principle duties of every Hindu. This is the worship of images before which many prostration and other acts of adoration must daily be performed.-History of India page 40

There are many more quotes from different scholars to prove that the Idol worship is not sanctioned in The Vedas. We must accept truth and follow the message of the vedas as ultimately

“Truth only will be Victorious”

By Dr. Vivek Arya

KADAVALLUR ANYONYAM : A VEDIC HYMN RECITATION CONTEST

The famous Vedic Hymn recitation competion called ' Kadavallur Anyonyam' which used to be held on every year during the Karthika month started at Kadavallur in Kerala on 16 Nov 2012. Kadavallur Anyonyam is conducted in the month of November every year at the famous Sri Ramaswamy temple situated at Kadavallur, near Kunnamkulam, Thrissur Dt, Kerala. Traditional scholars of Rigveda assemble in the temple and enter in severe competitions in the chanting of Rigveda for eight days This friendly competition usually done between Thrissur Brahmaswam Madhom (Thrissur Yogam) and Thirunnavaya Brahmaswam Madhom (Thirunnavaya Yogam).  For more details visits this site http://www.kadavalluranyonyam.org/anyonyam.php.

This year in the first session (Varam) on 16 Nov 2012, Vadakkumbat Narayanan Namboothiri seated in the front and started with the Hymn Apam na patha....(Vth vargga of 2nd chapter 1st Ashtakam of Rigvedam). Keezhmundayur Parameswaran Namboothiri and Paduthol Neelakandan Namboothiri helped him with raising hand mudras. Bhatti Vadakkedam Neelakandan Namboothiri of Thirunnavaya Brahmaswaom Madhom continued in Second Varam with Hymn Aasaavi swama..... (Rigvedam Ist Ashtakam, VIth chapter, Vth varggam). Dr.Jathavedan Namboothiri and Kothamangalam Vasudevan Namboothi helped him by raising hand mudras. The Jada prayogam was presented by Puliyannur Subrahmanian Namboothiri and Vadakkumbat Govindan Namboothiri of Thrissur Yogam.

MAHARISHI DAYANAND AND MAHATMA GANDHI

AUM MAHARISHI DAYANAND MAHATMA GANDHI COMMONALITY OF MISSION YET POLES APART By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM Maharishi Dayanand and Mahatma Gandhi both were born and brought up in Gujarat and spoke Gujarati as their mother tongue. Precisely speaking the two stalwarts were from Kathiawar in Saurashtra where the vagaries of Nature and limited rainfall make the sons of the soil tough and sturdy. Both were born in and nourished by the princely states where their fathers had found employment and cultivated their culture without acquiring an imprint of princely high brow. Both the great men took to mixing with masses like fish takes to water. The influence of the Hindu Dharma was so deeply etched on their body, mind and soul that other proselytizing religions of the middle-East was kept at arms’s length by both. Indeed the deep chasm within the Hindu Dharm did not leave them unaffected. Maharishi Dayanand, as balak Moolshankar, was brought up as a Shaiv, whereas Mahatma Gandhi clung to the Vaishnav traditions through and through. The inward impact of the two strong religious traditions was indeed so noticeable in the outer manifestation of their personalities. PARTING OF WAYS COMMENCED CULTURALLY DAYANAND was born in 1824 and GANDHI in 1869; thus the former was fortyfive years senior to latter. Indeed a lot of time in between had passed by and much water had flown down the Sabarmati river in between. After Gandhi’s arrival in this world, Dayanand lived on for a mere fourteen years before he breathed his last. Apparently there was no time and no opportunity for an interaction directly between the two great men who changed the religious, social and political set up of their beloved Bharat. The direct and indirect impact of their personality left no one untouched or unaffected. Dayanand always called a spade a spade irrespective of the fact whether the man in conversation with him was a king or a commoner. Once His Highness, the Maharana of Udaipur offered the Mahantship of the Ekling Mandir, to which is big State was dedicated, provided Dayanand gave up his criticism of the idol worship and advocated only the stuti of Nirakar Ishwar. Dayanand took umbrage and minced no words in retorting “ Maharana, I can run across your principality in one go but if I disobey Ishwar and obey you, where will I go to hide myself?” The wise ruler understood the import and dropped the subject. Gandhi, on the other hand, sent across an unpleasant message in a pleasant mode without causing an upheaval in the social set up. Once Gandhi was addressing a crowd of the Indian settlers in South Africa when the local administration decided to disperse the assembly in the town hall and trooped in to do so. Before the British officers of the Police and their constables could carry out the dispersal orders, Gandhi said that now his mission was over and that the assembly must sing “God Save the King”, the national anthem. The police officers and constables had no choice but to stand to attention and sing their national anthem. Thus it was Gandhi’s spiritual strength that he could overwhelm his adversaries with his mild manners. Those who came to scoff, remained to pray. BOTH WERE VOTARIES OF AHINSA Dayanand was a follower and a preacher of the Vedic Dharm that advises its followers to carry and wield BAJRA to fight against and annihilate the enemy and his army. Gandhi, of course, believed in non-violence as a Vaishanavite and loved to sing the line “ vaishnav jana to tene kahiye peer parayee jaane re” and one who can realize the pain and suffering of others will never indulge in violence. Gandhi loved the principle of non-violence and would practice it even if it cost him his life. So steadfast was he in observing the principle of non-violence. Dayanand too advocated the philosophy of Non-violence. Writes the Rishivar in the Satyarth Prakash while discussing the Ten principles of Dharma as defined by Manu Maharaj, how he wished AHINSA was also included as the eleventh principle of DHARMA. Here I must hasten to add that the concept of Ahinsa of Dayanand meant that a strong man must not voluntarily torment a weak man and cause violence. Thus Dayanand’s Non-violence did not give an immunity to an enemy that had intruded to destroy our Dharma, our home and hearth. Gandho, on the other hand believed in a kind of non-violence that was absolute. Dayanand and Gandhi both advocated observance of AHINSA but their definitions differed. Nevertheless, non-violence continued to be on their agenda throughout. DAYANAND DRUMMED SELF RULE Dayanand wrote the first edition of the Satyarth Prakash, his magnum opus in 1874 and published it in 1875. Dayanand had the moral courage to write in the eighth chapter of his aforesaid book about throwing off the foreign yoke and establishing self rule thus: ( let me quote word for word in original in Hindi) “ koi kitna hi kare parantu jo swadeshi rajya hota hai, who sarvopari uttam hota hai. ….. apne aur paraye ka pakshapat shunya, praja par mata-pita saman kripa, nyaya aur daya ke sath- videshiyon ka rajya bhi purna sukhdayak nahin hai.” When Dayanand wrote these lines as a freedom fighter and it was the heyday of the British Empire where the word “sunset” was unheard of, Gandhi used to roam about the streets of Saurashtra in his night undergarments. Irrespective of the consequences, Dayanand wrote regarding self rule and exhorted his newly elected members of the Arya Samaj executive committee to be as fearless as the Yajurveda advises them to be. The Ved mantra on the state of Fearlessness to be cultivated by all Aryas is quoted again in the Shanti Karanam of the Daily Havan procedure. Thus two birds would be killed with one stone: even Vaishyas will become bold like Kshatriyas and the Arya Samaj would face the British boldly without fear or favour. Without making it public, Dayanand was once again experimenting with the theory of MANTRA MOTIVATION. INDEED IT WAS A GRAND SUCCESS. The British Rule used to deal with “ freedom-fighter elements” in society firmly and separated them from the rest of the masses. Life Imprisonment meant exiling the freedom-fighter to the Andaman and Nicobar islands and that in effect meant the rank and file not coming in touch with the Satyagrahis or the men and women who insisted on following the path of principles; path of TRUTH and Ahinsa. The situation was grim but the freedom fighters were a determined lot prepared to make a sacrifice of life and limbs. India, that is Bharat was on the path of progress leading to its destination – the FREEDOM from FOREIGN YOKE. Much before volunteers of the Indian National Congress came forward, it was the Arya Samaj that had lighted the Lamp of Freedom and removed the darkness of slavery to a foreign power. Thanks to Dayanand and his Satyarth Prakash, the awakening was on the horizon. Before long the word, SWATANTRATA WAS ON EVERY LIP AND EVERY PHYSICAL MOVEMENT WAS TO 0UST THE FOREIGN RULERS AND FINALLY EVERY MENTAL MOVE WAS TO BID GOOD BUY TO THE FOREIGN RULERS AND USHER IN A RULE BY INDIANS, FOR INDIANS AND 0F INDIANS. EDUCATION OF YOUTH On going through the writings of Mahatma Gandhi I find that his views about the Arya Samaj were magnanimous when he was in South Africa. Of course, the Arya Samaj, under the leadership of Parmanand Ji had done yeoman’s service to promoting the Hindu Dharm and Vedic sanskriti among the Indian youth living in that far off foreign land. I would like to quote Gandhi Ji’s words that I borrowed from an article written by Dr Yadav and entitled SWAMI DAYANAND ARYA SAMAJ AND Mahatma Gandhi. The piece runs thus: Mahatma Gandhi told, “You, Sir, belong to a band of self-sacrificing workers whom the Arya Samaj has given to India. You, in common with your fellow-workers, have given your lifetime to the cause of Religion and Education. We, therefore, feel honoured in honouring you. We hope that your brief visit to South Africa will result in the Arya Samaj deciding to send some self-sacrificing educationists to work among the Indians in South Africa. Proper education is one of the greatest wants of the Indian community in South Africa.”4 Mahatma Gandhi told, “Mr. Lajpat Rai, from the Punjab, is no less noble in mind. He is the recognized leader of the Punjab. He has been devoting his earnings and his energy to the promotion of the work of the Arya Samaj.”5 Mahatma Gandhi told, “I have studied the Gayatri. I like the words. I have also studied the book the Swamiji gave me. I have derived much benefit from its perusal. It makes me more inquisitive about the life of Swami Dayanand2. I see that the meaning given by Swami Dayanand to the Gayatri and several mantras of the Vajasaneya Upanishad is totally different from that given by the orthodox school now which meaning is correct? I do not know. I hesitate straightway to accept the revolutionary method of interpretation suggested by S. Dayanand.” Later in life Mahatma Gandhi, as a political leader and as a crusader of the Hindu-Muslim unity to gain SWARAJ became extremely critical of the thought process of the Arya Samaj and its leaders. He could not tolerate Arya Samaj proselytizing like the Christian missionaries and converting Muslims and Christians to the Vedic Dharm. Perhaps he found the edifice of religious unity that he was building like a castle in the air crumbling under the attack of the Arya Samaj pracharaks who minced no words in calling a spade a spade. TRUTH was the main plank of both Maharishi Dayanand and Mahatma Gandhi . The former went whole hog in preaching and practicing Truth. The latter perhaps had political expediency in mind and his ultimate goal, namely independence of India was always the be all and the end all. No wonder Maharishi Dayanand made TRUTH the base of Five out of TEN Principles of the Arya Samaj formulated in Lahore in 1877. The Rishivar never deviated from the Truth, come what may. I shall not commit blasphemy by saying or even remotely indicating that Mahatma Gandhi deviated from the Truth. Nevertheless, I shall be failing in my duty if I do not point out that he was more critical of the Arya samaj in particular and Hindu elements in the Congress than he ever was of Muslims or Christians. Gandhiji spearheaded the movement in India to restore Caliphate and the Sultan of Turkey after the World War I, just to please the Muslim clientele of his. If it was NOT a deviation from the Truth, from the ground realities of life, what else would be. The Muslims of Turkey were too happy to say good bye to their religious and temporal head and usher in a real secular social and political order under Mustafa Kamal Attaturk but Gandhiji closed his eyes to the grassroots Truth in Turkey. Let us rest the case here for the time being. SWAMI SHRADDHANAND’S SHUDDHI MOVEMENT As a devout believer in the Vedic Dharm, Swami Shraddhanand Ji had launched a successful movement of SHUDDHI to bring back to the Vedic dharm those men and women who had strayed away and had been forcibly converted to Islam or allured by love of lucre to convert to Christianity. He had the support of Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya and Maharana of Udaipur in toto. However, this was N ANTHEMA TO Mahatma Gandhi but he had never raised a voice in protest when Muslims revolting against the British rule in Malabar had attacked the Hindu houses, adducted and raped their women and converted the weak kneed to Islam. So, why did Mahatma Gandhi’s conscience prick now, if one may ask. Maharishi Dayanand’s disciples and Mahatma Gandhi were now on the war path, the bugles were sounded and the distant drums could be heard far and wide. Mahatma Gandhi wrote articles in self defence that Yogendra Yadav, a Gandhian scholar, has quoted to convince a modern reader that the Mahatma was impartial and if anything, he had lovingly mentioned time and again that both he and Swami Dayanand Saraswati were from that tiny part of India called Katiawar. Let us see what the Mahatma had to say warding off the VAJRA-LIKE ATTACKS OF THE OFFENDED ARYAS : Mahatma Gandhi told, “A storm of indignation on the part of Arya Samajists is blowing against me. I have letters and telegrams of energetic protest against my references to the Samaj, its illustrious founder, Swami Shraddhanandji and the shuddhi movement. They are from Ghaziabad, Mutan, Delhi, Sukkur, Karachi, Jagraon, Secunderabad, Lahore, Sialkot, Allahabad, etc. I omit mention of individual letters. Probably all of them expect me to publish their protests; some have specially insisted upon my doing so. They will forgive me for not complying with their desire. The majority are worded after the fashion of the telegram I reproduced last week. All resent what they regard as an attack upon the Arya Samaj, the Satyarth Prakash, Rishi Dayanand, Swami Shraddhanandji and the shuddhi movement. I am sorry to have to say that my position still remains unaltered. I have read with careful attention the argumentative correspondence received by me. Those who have attributed my statement to my ignorance have done so probably to leave me an open door for a safe retreat. Unfortunately for me, I have left no such chance for myself. I cannot plead ignorance of the Satyarth Prakash or the general teachings of the Arya Samaj. I cannot even say that I might have been prejudiced against the Arya Samaj. On the contrary, I approached it with the greatest veneration. I had, as I still have, profound regard for the personal character of Rishi Dayanand. His brahmacharya was an object of emulation for me. His fearlessness commanded my admiration. And my provincialism, if I have any in me, was flattered by the fact of the Rishi being of the same little Kathiawar as myself. But I could not help myself. The conclusion I came to was in spite of me, and I published it only when its publication became relevant. Its suppression would have been a cowardly omission on my part. Instead of becoming enraged against me for an honest expression of opinion, I appeal to them to take my criticism in good part, examine it, try to convince me and pray for me if I cannot be convinced. Two letters have challenged me to substantiate my conclusion. It is a fair challenge and I hope before long to produce from the Satyarth Prakash passages in its support. My friends will not engage me in a religious discussion with them. I shall content myself with giving them the grounds of my opinion, So far as Swami Shraddhanandji is concerned, there is no question Of substantiating my opinion. My critics will oblige me by leaving him and me to ourselves. In spite of my opinion, I shall not quarrel with the Swamiji. Mine is the criticism of a friend. As for shuddhi, the critics in their blind fury have forgotten the qualification ‘as it is understood in Christianity or to a lesser extent in Islam’. This is quite different from saying that there is no proselytism in Hinduism. Hinduism has a way all its own of shuddhi. But if the Arya Samajists differ from me, they may still allow me to retain my opinion. If they will re-read the statement, they will discover that I have said that they have a perfect right to carry on their movement if they like. Toleration is not a coinciding of views. There should be toleration of one another’s views though they may be as poles asunder. Lastly I have not said that Arya Samajists or Mussalmans do kidnap women. I have said ‘I am told’. By repeating what I was told, I have given both the parties an opportunity of repudiating the charge. Was it not better that I should publish what was being said, so that the atmosphere might be cleared? Let me point out to my Arya Samaj friends that their protests betray want of toleration. Public men and public institutions cannot afford to be thin-skinned. They must stand criticism with good grace. And now for an appeal to them. They have almost all entered their protests. I do not mind them. I assure them that I share their sorrow. It pained me when I wrote my criticism. It pains me now to know that it has hurt them. But I am not their enemy. I claim to be their friend. Time will prove my friendship. They do not want to quarrel with anybody or any faith. That is what almost all have said in their letters. Let them take to heart the tribute I have paid to the Samaj, its founder and to Swami Shraddhanandji. I know the purifying work that the Arya Samaj has done. I know that it has laid its finger on many abuses that have soiled Hinduism. But no one can live on his capital. I want them to outlive the latter and extend the spirit of their reform. In spite of their denial, I repeat that their shuddhi propaganda savours of the Christian propaganda. I would like them to rise higher. If they will insist upon reform from within, it will tax all their energy and take up all their time. Let them Hinduism the Hindu if they believe with me that Arya Samaj is a part of Hinduism. If they consider it as distinct from Hinduism, I fear it will be a hard task for them to convert the Hindus. Let them ascertain where they stand. I have criticized because I want them to help the great national and religious movement that is now going on. The Samaj has a great future if it can outgrow what has appeared to me its narrowness. BURY THE HATCHET NOW The disciples of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati and followers of Mahatma Gandhi must bury the hatchet and move forward on the path of progress so that our motherland may attain the greatness that it was famous for in days of yore. Mahashay Vishwanath Ji, a staunch Arya Samajist and a Gandhian, of the DAV College, Lahore fondly narrated an anecdote to me. Long ago in undivided India, he was on a Ved prachar mission in the interior of the Punjab beyond Multan. Hindi was neither spoken nor understood in that remote interior rural Punjab. Going in an ekka, he heard melodious bhajans in Hindi from a group of women WHO WERE ALSO WORKING ON THE SPINNING WHEEL OR CHARKHA POPULARISED BY THE SWADESHI AANDOLAN. Swadeshi was indeed so dear to both Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati and Mahatma Gandhi. Here was a fusion of the Vedic spirituality popularized in the Punjab by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati emerging as bhajans in praise of ISHWAR and lessons in self dependence through the CHARKHA that rekindled the freedom spirit awakened by Mahatma Gandhi. We of the present generation are proud recipients of the rich legacy of both the Maharishi and the Mahatma. Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM Email: sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303 Bharat (INDIA). Mobile: 9811173590.

DEMISE OF DAYANAND DEMANDS DELVING DEEP

AUM DEMISE OF DAYANAND DEMANDS DELVING DEEP By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM “However, it is now a part of history how Swami Dayanand Saraswati was betrayed in the State of Jodhpur and poisoned by those whose livelihood was endangered by the enlightening discourses and personal counselings by the Rishivar to the affected persons who were high and mighty, such as courtesan like Nanhi Bhagatan, Muslim Musahibs like Faizullah Khan and his protégé Doctor Ali Mardan Khan. Having suffered from an undiagnosed illness and consequently lack of effective medical treatment, shifting the Swami from place to place when he was in frail health are some of the factors that call for an investigation de novo into his illness and treatment thereof. We may keep the issue alive and take up when the environment is more cordial for a probe. Leaving the legal aspect aside, one may dive deep into the medical aspect of diagnosis, treatment and medication of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in last few months of his life in what was then known as Rajputana; the present day Rajasthan. It was the Diwali evening. The date was 30th October 1883. Swami Dayanand Saraswati who had been suffering for one month one day for lack of proper medical treatment, composed himself, prayed pronouncing Ved mantras and singing a bhajan, bestowing an Aashirwad look to his disciples. He breathed his last serenely. The 59-year old Sanyasi was in pain but his composure and his trust in the dispensation of justice, the karma Phal that he believed in, really convinced one and all who were present in that hall of the Bhinoy Kothi that the Rishivar’s trust in Ishwar was unshakable by matters mundane such as illness and pre-mature demise. Swami’s sad demise a century and three decades ago shocked all Arya Samajists all over Bharat but they recovered soon and vowed to carry on the mission of Dayanand and let the masses be benefitted. Among them was Pt Guru Dutt Vidyarthi, formerly an agnostic bordering atheism, who drew sustenance from the last moments of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and became an Arya pracharak par excellence.” I have quoted the above lines from my own earlier writing based on books,tracts published by renowned Arya Samajists from time to time. Of course, there are other versions of the story of sad demise of Dayanand Saraswati, the great socio-religious reformer, inspired original writer of Ved Bhashya in both Sanskrit and Hindi and founder of the Arya Samaj. A student of history doing research on the life and times of Dayanand Saraswati cannot ignore the folklore that has grown around the life of the Rishivar. Nevertheless, it is the duty of a disciple of Dayanand to ensure that the grain is separated from the chaff and facts in original form are presented to readers. RESEARCH IS NEED OF THE HOUR The story of demise of Dayanand Saraswati has been continually told by the previous generation to the succeeding generation both by word of mouth and in black and white. Change, if any, may be in narration of minor details and the substantive form has remained unaltered. I am now nearing the 80th year of my life and have been hearing the same story year after year since I was a toddler. Many a time both the narrator and the listener were emotionally moved and tears rolled down our cheeks. Even today in the year 2012 when I am typing the narrative on my computer, my eyes are in the repeat mode and parting company with tears. It is amazing that the same story of sad demise of Dayanand Saraswati as told by Devendra Nath Mukhopadhyay, the first researcher and writer of the Rishivar’s biography continued in the Hindi version by Ghasiram Ji and written in original by the tireless collector of facts and interviews, Pundit Lekh Ram Ji, Arya Musafir without any substantial change in fact or form. The original historians banked upon what they heard and recorded after interviewing the people who had met and talked to Swami Dayanand Saraswati or other gentlemen who were close to the doyen among martyrs, the first one to lay down his life at the altar of the Vedic Dharm. Perhaps this kind of interview was the only reliable form of collecting, collating and disseminating information of importance. The degree of reliability was acceptable by men of letters and historians. Moreover, the researchers and recorders belonged to the middle class of the social order and found their access to the Royalty of Jodhpur barred by the intermediary court officials. Rajputana being a citadel of feudal system, the class distinction between the Royalty, the courtiers and commoners was well pronounced and meticulously observed. No wonder the Maharaja of Jodhpur took too long to pay his first courtesy call on Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Times have changed now. Interaction between the high and the low is no taboo now. It is time a Research Team is constituted and it stays put in Jodhpur for some time to delve deep into the relationship between Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the court officials, especially the Muslim courtiers, the courtesan, Nanhi Bhagtan alias Nanhi Jan to determine the circumstances leading to now pronounced and now subdued interaction between the Ascetic and the Durbar.The face off between a nephew of court minister Faizullah Khan and the Vedic reformer Sanyasi during a preaching session is well recorded. However, the lead ends there and does not throw light on the nexus between the court dancer and the Muslim courtiers leading to a murderous conspiracy. One wonders if there is any recorded version of the court dancer’s palanquin being helped to depart post haste from the Durbar on Swami’s sudden appearance on the scene. Rishivar had written three letters to His Highness about proper way of running the court and behavior of Rajputs vis-à-vis prostitutes but only two are availacle and recorded in a book form entitled Maharishi Dayanand’s letters and advertisements published by Ramlal Kapoor Trust of Amritsar. It is worth trying to find out why the third letter is missing and if there is more to it than meets the eye. Another angle is that the time gap of a century plus between then and now will be a virtual obstruction in the research work. Further, the vested interests comprising descendants of the affected people might block the path of research like the China wall. Never mind that because when you take up a good cause, obstructionists are bound to come in play. As we say; when you perform a yajna, the Rakshasas are sure to put in an appearance to spoil the show. We have to face them and remove the Durit and imbibe the Bhadra. The most important aspect of our intended research will be the medical angle leading to the sad demise of Dayanand Saraswati. An experienced physician who is well versed in the medico-legal cases cannot but be an important member of the research team. It is a part of recorded history that Swami Dayanand Saraswati remained ill, initially mildly but later severely to the point of fainting and losing consciousness and continued to be in that deteriorating medical condition for one month one day before breathing his last at Ajmer. The sad episode stands described right in the first couple of paragraphs of this article. What appears to be a criminal neglect of the doctor, Ali Mardan Khan that he gave strong doses of medicines leading to open bleeding soars on Swamiji’s body. They were so painful and he was being moved from place to place under uncomfortable conditions. Since there was no railway line to Jodhpur, Swamiji was moved in a cart and then by train from Pali to Abu Road. Who was the doctor who advised this move? It was not Dr Lakshman Singh. Of course, meanwhile he was posted at Ajmer and desired to handle the case himself. Civil Surgeon Newman too was consulted but it was a case of too little and too late. The medical handling of Swamiji’s case by Dr Ali Mardan Khan, a protégé of courtier Faizullah Khan of Jodhpur was nothing short of criminal negligence and a fit case for re-examination in medico-legal term. I quite know that a dead man is beyond the reach of long arm of the law but an endeavour to reach the Truth will satisfy the Arya Samaj people and record correct story of the sad demise in the annals of the Arya Samaj. Thus a competent research team is the crying need of the hour and those who wish to follow the path of Truth cannot shirk their responsibility now. BRIDGING TIME GAP There are researches going on on the lives and times of great poets, dramatists and prose writers in English literature. The dedicated scholars spend a lifetime in looking for new facts and sometimes draw a blank. At times a research scholar has to remain contented with partial success only. Yet the State funding is done for carrying on the research work. The Harvard University promotes original research and publishing of the Thesis to the extent of linking it to pay raise and promotion. Thus the Mantra for research is : PUBLISH OR PERISH. In the Arya Samaj there is a crying need for original research and here is an opportunity that presents itself to be grabbed by the leadership. As of now no other organization is better equipped than the Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha and the DAV College Management Committee to undertake an assignment of this nature. The Pradhan and the Adhyaksh is young and energetic and he may be bold enough to steer the project in uncharted sea. A decision may be made and the time is now. Rewriting the history of demise of Dayanand Saraswati to bring out the Truth is the sacred duty of the Arya Samajists who have taken a pledge to carry the mission of Dayanand Saraswati forward. Let us redeem our pledge. The time to redeem the pledge is now. Email: sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com Mobile. 9811173590.