February 12 is the birth anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj.

Dayanand Saraswati was born on February 12, 1824 at Tankara, Gujarat as Mool Shankar. His parents Karshanji Lalji Tiwari and Yashodabai were deeply religious and followers of Lord Shiva.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a reformer who had a lasting impact on India. He voiced against adhering to pointless rituals. Swami Dayanand Saraswati criticised the caste system and promoted education and gender equality. He instituted a total reform of the educational system and is frequently regarded as one of contemporary India's visionaries. To carry on Dayanand Saraswati's goal, the DAV (Dayanand Anglo Vedic) schools were founded in 1886. Mahatma Hansraj served as the headmaster of the first DAV School, which was founded in Lahore.

Renowned scholar Swami Dayanand Saraswati promoted the Vedic philosophy and the concepts of karma and rebirth. His life's work was to establish the Arya Samaj in order to fulfil his vision of world oneness.

The Arya Samaj rejects idolatry, untouchability, child marriage, a caste system based on birth rather than merit, pilgrimages, the priesthood, and temple sacrifices. Education and social transformation played a significant role in Swami Dayanand Saraswati's ideals.

More than 60 books were written by Dayananda Saraswati. Satyarth Prakash, which translates to "The Light of Truth," is one of his most significant scholarly works.

10 Principles of Arya Samaj

One should promote physical, spiritual and social good of everyone

One should focus of goodness in people around them

One should dispel Avidya or ignorance and promote Vidya or knowledge

Conduct towards all should be guided by love, righteousness and justice

The main objective of the Arya Samaj is to do good to the world

All acts should be performed in accordance with Dharma

One should always accept truth and to renounce untruth

The Vedas are the scriptures of true knowledge

God is existent, formless, omniscient, just, merciful, endless and omnipresent

God is known through knowledge

Remembering Dr. Zakir Husain on his 126 birthday on February 8