Arya Samaj

Arya Samaj mandir is situated at Bidhan Sarani near Srimani Bazaar bus stop, Simla, Machuabazar. Arya Samaj (meaning Noble Society) is a monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes values and practices based on the belief in the supremacy of the Vedas. Members of the Arya Samaj believe in one creator God referred to with the syllable 'Aum' as mentioned in the Yajur Veda and reject scriptures such as like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, the Bible, and the Quran. Worship of idols is strictly prohibited. It also denies the concept of a personal god. The Arya Samaj members consider the Gayatri Mantra, as the most holy mantra and chant it periodically, do the meditation known as "Sandhya" and make offering to the holy fire (havan), under a purohit. However celebration of Holi and Diwali is practised.

The samaj was founded by Dayanand Saraswati on 10th April 1875 in Bombay, and was the first Hindu organization to introduce religious conversion in Hinduism. Since then it has spread to various centres in various parts of India including Punjab, Sindh, Gujrat, Malabar, Hyderabad, Bengal and its present head quarters is at New Delhi. The samaj also established chapters in British colonies having Indian population such as South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. The organization has worked towards the growth of civil rights movement in India since 1800s. In the early 1900s, the Samaj campaigned against caste discrimination, widow remarriage and women's education. Arya Samaj schools and temples are found in almost all major cities and as well as in rural areas (especially in the North region) of India. Some, including the one at Bidhan Sarani, are authorised to conduct weddings. The Samaj is associated with the Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) schools which number over eight hundred. Presently, there are about eight million followers of the samaj in India. Other Arya Samaj Mandirs in Kolkata and its surroundings are located at Barabazar, AJC Bose Road, Newtown, Mullick bazaar, Howrah, Barrackpore, Chandipur, Kathiahat, Bhatpara, Jamshedpur etc.








 

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