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Dayanada
and Arya
Samaj
3
was to become pillar of orthodoxy in his turn, but
instead he became the Samson, who pulled down
the pillars of the temple; a striking example among
a hundred others of the vanity of human effort, when
it imagines that it is possible by a superimposed
education to fashion the mind of the rising generation
and so dispose of the future. The most certain result
is revolt.
That of Dayananda is worth recording. When
he was fourteen his father took him to the temple to
celebrate the great festival of Shiva. He had to pass
the night a strict fast in pious vigil and prayer. The
rest of the faithful went to sleep.The young boy alone
resisted its spell. Suddenly he saw a mouse nibbling
the offerings to the God and running over Shiva's
body. It was enough. There is no doubt about moral
revolt in the heart of a child. In a second his faith in
the idol was shattered for the rest of his life. He left
the temple, went home alone through the night, and
thenceforward refused to participate in the religious
rites.'
' At present this night is celebrated by the Arya Samaj
as a festival that is the night of enlightenment of Maharishi
Dayananda Saraswati. (Editor)