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Dayanada and Arya Samaj
While all the religious leaders of whom we have
already spoken and shall speak in the future were
and are from Bengal. Dayananda came from quite a
different land, the one which half a century later
gave birth to Gandhi—the north-west coast of the
Arabian Sea. He was born in Gujarat at Tankara
(Morvi) in the State of Kathiawar of a rich family
belonging to the highest grade of Brahamins no less
versed in Vedic learning than in mundane affairs both
political and commercial. His father took part in the
government of the little native state. He was rigidly
orthodox according to the letter of the law with a
stern domineering character, and this last to his
sorrow he passed on to his son.
As a child Dayananda was, therefore, brought
up under the strictest Brahmin rule, and at the age
of eight was invested with the Secred Thread and all
the severe moral obligations entailed by this privilege
rigorously enforced by his family.' It seemed as if he
I The vows of l3rahmacharaya, chastity, purity, austerity
and discipline throughout student life,
and
obligation to recite
the Vedas daily, and to live according to certain embodied
codes of conduct introduced in to teacher's home system of
education. (Editor)