Shiv Narayan Agnihotri - Revision history

>JohnFromPinckney: philosphy->philosophy - Fix a typo in one click

2021-09-12T22:55:24Z

philosphy->philosophy - Fix a typo in one click

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:25, 13 September 2021
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	On 16 February 1887 Agnihotri founded the Dev Samaj, rejecting Brahmo rationalism and drawing on the concept of the [[Guru]] as an enlightened soul as its central tenet, while retaining elements of Brahmo reformism.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=104\|edition=reprint}}</ref> Combining a strict moral code with social radicalism, Agnihotri advocated [[vegetarianism]], the social integration of [[castes]], the education of women, widow remarriage and the elimination of child marriage. Adultery, polygamy and other 'unnatural crimes' were outlawed and hard work was stressed with members being urged to lead a useful life and shun excessive ceremonial expenses.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=105\|edition=reprint}}</ref>		On 16 February 1887 Agnihotri founded the Dev Samaj, rejecting Brahmo rationalism and drawing on the concept of the [[Guru]] as an enlightened soul as its central tenet, while retaining elements of Brahmo reformism.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=104\|edition=reprint}}</ref> Combining a strict moral code with social radicalism, Agnihotri advocated [[vegetarianism]], the social integration of [[castes]], the education of women, widow remarriage and the elimination of child marriage. Adultery, polygamy and other 'unnatural crimes' were outlawed and hard work was stressed with members being urged to lead a useful life and shun excessive ceremonial expenses.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=105\|edition=reprint}}</ref>

	The Dev Samaj followed the ~~philosphy~~ Propounded by the founder in 4 religious texts named as Dev Shastra volumes 1 to 4 and on the person of its Guru, Agnihotri, who held all doctrinal authority.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=116}}</ref> Though initially upholding the worship of God, from 1892 Agnihotri advocated dual worship of himself and God claiming a status of near divinity.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=118}}</ref> He asserted that he had attained the highest possible plane of existence and that eternal bliss could only be attained with his guidance.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shiv-Narayan-Agnihotri\|title=Shiv Narayan Agnihotri\|website=www.britannica.com\|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> While retaining the nature of a [[cult]], by 1895 the Society underwent a new development and became essentially [[atheistic]] in its ideology when Agnihotri rejected the worship of God and taught instead that the Religious Philosophy as written in the Dev Shastra volume 1 to 4 and Guru were for attention for its members.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=119}}</ref>		The Dev Samaj followed the philosophy Propounded by the founder in 4 religious texts named as Dev Shastra volumes 1 to 4 and on the person of its Guru, Agnihotri, who held all doctrinal authority.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=116}}</ref> Though initially upholding the worship of God, from 1892 Agnihotri advocated dual worship of himself and God claiming a status of near divinity.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=118}}</ref> He asserted that he had attained the highest possible plane of existence and that eternal bliss could only be attained with his guidance.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shiv-Narayan-Agnihotri\|title=Shiv Narayan Agnihotri\|website=www.britannica.com\|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> While retaining the nature of a [[cult]], by 1895 the Society underwent a new development and became essentially [[atheistic]] in its ideology when Agnihotri rejected the worship of God and taught instead that the Religious Philosophy as written in the Dev Shastra volume 1 to 4 and Guru were for attention for its members.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=119}}</ref>

	Agnihotri was active as a writer and journalist and was a dramatic speaker.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=104–106\|edition=reprint}}</ref> His main target of criticism remained the Arya Samaj and he was able to produce a large volume of propagandist literature throughout his life.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=115}}</ref> His teachings gained influence mostly among educated Hindus in the [[Punjab]] who came to view him as their Guru. The Dev Samaj peaked in early twentieth-century Punjab as a "Science Grounded Religion" with 3,597 members in 1921, but declined following Agnihotri's death in 1929.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=104–106\|edition=reprint}}</ref>		Agnihotri was active as a writer and journalist and was a dramatic speaker.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=104–106\|edition=reprint}}</ref> His main target of criticism remained the Arya Samaj and he was able to produce a large volume of propagandist literature throughout his life.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab\|date=1976\|publisher=University of California Press\|isbn=0-520-02920-8\|page=115}}</ref> His teachings gained influence mostly among educated Hindus in the [[Punjab]] who came to view him as their Guru. The Dev Samaj peaked in early twentieth-century Punjab as a "Science Grounded Religion" with 3,597 members in 1921, but declined following Agnihotri's death in 1929.<ref>{{cite book\|author1=Kenneth W. Jones\|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3\|date=1989\|publisher=Cambridge University Press\|isbn=9780521249867\|page=104–106\|edition=reprint}}</ref>

imported>Dabathinda: I am a follower of this religion and personally follow it in letter and spirit from last 5 generations. The changes done are only based on remote assumptions and some are tottaly wrong. The Guru is not to be be worshipped for his appearance of will but due to the Religious Philosophy perfounded by him which is clearly written in four books named as Dev Shastras volumes 1 to 4. I have personally read all these books. The updation done during July 2021 is misleading.

2021-07-24T12:00:25Z

I am a follower of this religion and personally follow it in letter and spirit from last 5 generations. The changes done are only based on remote assumptions and some are tottaly wrong. The Guru is not to be be worshipped for his appearance of will but due to the Religious Philosophy perfounded by him which is clearly written in four books named as Dev Shastras volumes 1 to 4. I have personally read all these books. The updation done during July 2021 is misleading.

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shiv Narayan Agnihotri
| image = Ssa-da.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = 20 December 1850
| birth_place = [[Akbarpur, Kanpur Dehat]], ([[Uttar Pradesh]])
| death_date = 3 April 1929
| death_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]]
| nationality = {{flag|India}}
| other_names = Satyanand Agnihotri<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab|date=1976|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0-520-02920-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RpvXCtNzrz8C|page=115}}</ref>
| occupation = Religious Philosopher, public speaker, writer, journalist
| known_for = Founder and [[Guru]] of the Dev Samaj, formerly a [[Brahmo Samaj]] leader
}}
'''Pandit Shiv Narayan Agnihotri''' (20 December 1850 – 3 April 1929) was a Hindu social reformer who emerged as a leading member of the [[Brahmo Samaj]] (Society of God), a Hindu reform movement. He broke from [[Brahmoism]] in 1886 to form his own religious group, the Dev Samaj (Divine Society).<ref>Johnson, W. J. [https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001/acref-9780198610250-e-67 "Agnihotri, Pandit Shiv Narayan "], ''A Dictionary of Hinduism'', Oxford University Press 2009, Oxford Reference Online, accessed June 25, 2021 (requires subscription)</ref>

Born into a family of [[Brahmins]] in [[Akbarpur, Kanpur Dehat|Akbarpur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], Agnihotri entered the [[IIT Roorkee|Thompson College of Engineering]] in [[Roorkee]] at the age of sixteen.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3|date=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521249867|page=103–104|edition=reprint}}</ref> In 1873, he settled in [[Lahore]] where he took up a position as a drawing master at the Government School and joined the [[Brahmo Samaj]], quickly rising as a major figure within the movement.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3|date=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521249867|page=104|edition=reprint}}</ref> In 1882, he resigned from his teaching position to commit himself fully to the movement,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shiv-Narayan-Agnihotri|title=Shiv Narayan Agnihotri|website=www.britannica.com|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> As a Brahmo Samaj leader, Agnihotri engaged in theological disputes with the [[Arya Samaj]] movement and in polemical exchanges especially with its founder [[Dayanand Saraswati]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab|date=1976|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0-520-02920-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RpvXCtNzrz8C|page=115–117}}</ref> Though he opposed the latter as a Brahmo Samaj proponent, his own eventual dissatisfaction with its ideology resulted in ideological friction with other Brahmo leaders which, by 1887, led to a complete break with the movement.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab|date=1976|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0-520-02920-8|page=115}}</ref>

On 16 February 1887 Agnihotri founded the Dev Samaj, rejecting Brahmo rationalism and drawing on the concept of the [[Guru]] as an enlightened soul as its central tenet, while retaining elements of Brahmo reformism.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3|date=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521249867|page=104|edition=reprint}}</ref> Combining a strict moral code with social radicalism, Agnihotri advocated [[vegetarianism]], the social integration of [[castes]], the education of women, widow remarriage and the elimination of child marriage. Adultery, polygamy and other 'unnatural crimes' were outlawed and hard work was stressed with members being urged to lead a useful life and shun excessive ceremonial expenses.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3|date=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521249867|page=105|edition=reprint}}</ref>

The Dev Samaj followed the philosphy Propounded by the founder in 4 religious texts named as Dev Shastra volumes 1 to 4 and on the person of its Guru, Agnihotri, who held all doctrinal authority.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab|date=1976|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0-520-02920-8|page=116}}</ref> Though initially upholding the worship of God, from 1892 Agnihotri advocated dual worship of himself and God claiming a status of near divinity.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab|date=1976|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0-520-02920-8|page=118}}</ref> He asserted that he had attained the highest possible plane of existence and that eternal bliss could only be attained with his guidance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shiv-Narayan-Agnihotri|title=Shiv Narayan Agnihotri|website=www.britannica.com|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> While retaining the nature of a [[cult]], by 1895 the Society underwent a new development and became essentially [[atheistic]] in its ideology when Agnihotri rejected the worship of God and taught instead that the Religious Philosophy as written in the Dev Shastra volume 1 to 4 and Guru were for attention for its members.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab|date=1976|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0-520-02920-8|page=119}}</ref>

Agnihotri was active as a writer and journalist and was a dramatic speaker.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3|date=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521249867|page=104–106|edition=reprint}}</ref> His main target of criticism remained the Arya Samaj and he was able to produce a large volume of propagandist literature throughout his life.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab|date=1976|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=0-520-02920-8|page=115}}</ref> His teachings gained influence mostly among educated Hindus in the [[Punjab]] who came to view him as their Guru. The Dev Samaj peaked in early twentieth-century Punjab as a "Science Grounded Religion" with 3,597 members in 1921, but declined following Agnihotri's death in 1929.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth W. Jones|title=Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3|date=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521249867|page=104–106|edition=reprint}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Brahmo Samaj]]
*[[Hindu reform movements]]
*[[Dayananda Saraswati]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[Devsamaj Official Website* http://WWW.DEVSAMAJ.COM] [http://devsamaj.com]
*[https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/sikh-reformist-movements/dev-samaj] The Sikh Encyclopedia

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agnihotri, Shiv Narayan}}
[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1929 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Haridwar]]
[[Category:Indian academics]]