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{{Short description|Hindu monk and teacher (1930–2015)}}
{{About|the founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|other uses|Swami Dayananda (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|other uses|Swami Dayananda (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
 
{{Infobox Hindu leader
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name       = Swami Dayananda Saraswati
| name               = Swami Dayananda Saraswati
|image       = Swami Dayananda Saraswati.jpg
| image             = HH SDS.jpg
|caption     = [[Oil on canvas]] painting of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, from the private collection of [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam]]
| caption           = His Holiness Swami Dayananda Saraswati, from the private collection of [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam]].
|religion   = [[Hinduism]]
| religion           = [[Hinduism]]
|birth_date   = {{birth date|1930|8|15|df=y}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1930|8|15|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Manjakkudi]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| birth_place       = [[Manjakkudi]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
|birth_name = Natarajan Gopala Iyer
| birth_name         = Natarajan Gopala Iyer
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2015|9|23|1930|8|15}}
| death_date         = {{death date and age|df=y|2015|9|23|1930|8|15}}
|death_place = [[Rishikesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| death_place       = [[Rishikesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
|known       =  
| known             =  
|nationality = Indian
| nationality       = Indian
|philosophy = [[Advaita Vedanta]]
| philosophy         = [[Advaita Vedanta]]
|founder     = [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam]]<br/>[[AIM For Seva]]<br/>Swami Dayananda Educational Trust
| founder           = [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam]]<br/>[[AIM For Seva]]<br/>Swami Dayananda Educational Trust
|guru       =
| guru               =  
|influences  = [[Adi Shankara]], [[Chinmayananda Saraswati]]
| honors             =  
|honors     =  
| footnotes         =  
|footnotes   =
| website            = {{Official website}}
|works = ''Bhagavad Gītā: Home Study Course'', published in 9 volumes<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Bhagavad_G%C4%ABt%C4%81/WIDpoAEACAAJ?hl=en|title=Bhagavad Gītā: Home Study Course|date=2012|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9789380049304}}</ref>
|literary_works = ''Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā''<ref name="Daya07"/>
}}
}}
{{Advaita}}
 
{{Hindu philosophy}}
'''Swami Dayananda Saraswati''' (15 August 1930 – 23 September 2015) was a renunciate monk of the Hindu Saraswati order of sannyasa. He was also known as Pujya Swamiji and was a traditional teacher of [[Advaita Vedanta]].<ref name=":0" /> He was the founder of the [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam]]s in Pennsylvania, USA; Rishikesh, Uttarakhand and Coimbatore Tamil Nadu, India. He was also the spiritual Guru of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]], (the third-highest [[Indian honours system|civilian award]] in the [[Republic of India]]), for his service to the nation in the field of spirituality in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modis-spiritual-guru-dayanand-saraswati-gets-padma-bhushan-1270014|title=PM Narendra Modi's Spiritual Guru Dayanand Saraswati Gets Padma Bhushan|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=25 January 2016|access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>
'''Swami Dayananda Saraswati''' (15 August 1930 – 23 September 2015) was a renunciate of the Hindu order of [[sannyasa]], a renowned traditional teacher of [[Advaita Vedanta]], and founder of the [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam]] and [[AIM For Seva]].


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Early life===
=== Early life ===
Swami Dayananda Saraswati was born as '''Natarajan''' in Manjakudi – [[Thiruvarur]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]] on 15 August 1930 <ref name="dialogues">Dialogues with Swami Dayananda, Sri Gangadhareswar Trust, 1988</ref> to Shri.{{nbsp}}Gopala Iyer and Smt.{{nbsp}}Valambal. He was the eldest of four sons. His early schooling was done in the District Board School at Kodavasal.<ref name="AVG_letter">{{cite web|title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati: His Life and Work|work=Arsha Vidya Newsletter|pages=13–16|location=Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, Coimbatore|date=August 2009|url=https://www.arshavidya.in/Newsletter/Aug09/swamiji-his-life-and-work.pdf|author=Br. Ramaswamy}}</ref> His father's death when he was eight, meant Natarajan had to shoulder a significant portion of family responsibility along with his education. After the completion of his education, Natarajan came to [[Chennai|Chennai (erstwhile Madras)]] for earning a livelihood. Natarajan worked as a journalist for the weekly magazine ''Dharmika Hindu'' (run by T. K. Jagannathacharya) and also for erstwhile Volkart Brothers (now [[Voltas|Voltas Limited]]) for sometime. He also decided to be a fighter pilot at one point and joined the [[Indian Air Force]], but left after six months as he felt suffocated by the regimentation there.<ref name="AVG_letter" /><ref name="AAK_Bhuj" /> In his absence his younger brother MG. Srinivasan took charge of the agricultural fields of the family household and made sure that the family had the income to survive and live peacefully off the income.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati was born as Natarajan in [[Manjakkudi]] in the [[Thiruvarur]] district of Tamil Nadu on 15 August 1930 to Shri Gopala Iyer and Smt Valambal, of a [[Brahmin]] family. He was the eldest of four sons. His early schooling was at the District Board School in Kodavasal. His father died when he was eight years old, which meant Natarajan had to shoulder the responsibility in the family alongside his education.  


===Involvement with Chinmaya Mission===
After the completion of his education at seventeen years of age, Natarajan came to Chennai to earn a livelihood. There he learnt English and began his career as a journalist for the weekly magazine ''Dharmika Hindu'', run by T. K. Jagannathacharya (TKJ). However, owing to nominal income and at the behest of a friend, Rangachari, Natarajan enrolled in the Airforce as a combatant in [[Bangalore]] with the GTS (Ground Training Station). He was underweight and could not qualify but was allowed to continue. He later stated that he aspired to be a pilot. Family duties, namely his father's shraddham (a ceremony performed in honour of a dead ancestor), caused him to leave the Airforce. Above all, he did not like the rigidity. "There was no freedom, I felt they were trying to control my mind. I have never allowed anybody to ever control me at any time, no one. That is why I think I am a Swami."<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Narasimhan |first=Padma |title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati: Traditional Teacher of Brahma Vidya |publisher=T T. Maps and Publications, Madras |year=1990 |isbn=8170531039}}</ref>
Vedānta is a major school of Hinduism that literally refers to the end section of the [[Vedas]], in particular, the [[Upanishad]]s. In 1952, he met [[Swami Chinmayananda]] in [[Madras]].<ref name="AAK_Bhuj"/> Natarajan became interested in [[Vedanta]] after listening to his public talks in the year 1953. He became actively involved with the then newly formed [[Chinmaya Mission]] in various roles and he was made its ''Secretary'' within the first year of its inception. He attended the [[Sanskrit]] classes of P.S. Subramania Iyer, a retired Professor of English. He introduced the mode of chanting the Gita verses that is still followed in the Mission.<ref name="Gita-Chinmaya">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv9nx3pJCMQ  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/xv9nx3pJCMQ| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Gita Chanting by Swami Brahmananda |publisher=Youtube.com |access-date=17 February 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Gita-Arsha">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8cxQ4vzzXw&p=60C837B94014CEEF&playnext=1&index=3 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715220119/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8cxQ4vzzXw&p=60C837B94014CEEF&playnext=1&index=3| archive-date=2015-07-15 | url-status=dead|title=Gita Chanting by Swami Paramarthananda |publisher=Youtube.com |date=23 December 2009 |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="Sandeep-Chaitanya">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN3U-V0q8XY  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/NN3U-V0q8XY| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Swami Sandeep Chaitanya's Gita Yagnam |publisher=Youtube.com |date=20 December 2007 |access-date=17 February 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


Swami Chinmayananda instructed Natarajan to set up Chinmaya Mission's Madurai branch, which he was able to fulfill. In 1955 Natarajan accompanied Swami Chinmayananda to Uttarakashi and helped him in the preparation of a Gita manuscript for publication. In Uttarakashi, he met Chinmayananda's guru, [[Tapovan Maharaj]], who advised him, 'You have a duty to yourself which is also important. Stay here. Do ''japa'', meditate and study.' Natarajan could not take up that offer at that point in time. However, he promised Swami Tapovan Maharaj that he would be able to come after one year and he did. Natarajan returned to Madras and took up the editorship of 'Tyagi,' a fortnightly magazine of Chinmaya Mission. Upon the advice of Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan shifted to [[Bengaluru]] (erstwhile [[Bangalore]]) in 1956 and continued to edit Tyagi which was also moved to Bengaluru (erstwhile [[Bangalore]]). During his stay there, Natarajan joined the Sanskrit College in Chamrajpet and had the privilege of studying one on one with Prof. Veeraraghavachariar.<ref name="AVG_letter" />
Natarajan resumed his career as a journalist with 'Dharmika Hindu' magazine before joining a news agency, 'The Lens' run by Shri Rajagopal.<ref name=":0" /> He also worked for the erstwhile [[Volkart Brothers]] (now Voltas Limited).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150925/nation-current-affairs/article/hinduism-saw-renaissance-swami-dayananda-saraswatis-times | title=Hinduism saw renaissance in Swami Dayananda Saraswati's times | date=25 September 2015 }}</ref> In his absence, his younger brother M.G.Srinivasan took charge of the agricultural fields of the family household and ensured that the family had income to live.<ref name="Narasimhan 2017">{{ cite book | last=Narasimhan | first=Padma | title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati: Teacher of Teachers | publisher=[[Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust]] | publication-place=Chennai | year=2017 | isbn=978-93-80049-88-5 | pages=30–48 }}</ref>


Oftentimes, before Swami Chinmayananda gave public talks, Natarajan would open with discourses expounding messages from the Bhagavad Gita. Some of these talks have been transcribed and later published by the [[Chinmaya Mission]].<ref name="Gita79" />
=== Involvement with Chinmaya Mission ===


===Sannyasa===
Natarajan was interested in [[Vedanta]]. After listening to the public talks of [[Chinmayananda Saraswati|Swami Chinmayananda]] in the year 1952, Natarajan was involved with the [[Chinmaya Mission]] in various roles and was appointed secretary of the Mission within the first year of its inception. He attended sanskrit classes of P.S. Subramania Iyer, a retired Professor of English. It was Iyer who introduced the meter of chanting the [[Bhagavad Gita]] verses that was initially followed by Chinmaya Mission centres, and is followed even today by all the [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|Arsha Vidya]] centres amongst other centres as well.<ref name=":0" />
In 1961, with the permission of Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan went to study under Swami Pranavananda at [[Gudivada]] (near [[Vijayawada]]) to clarify many of his doubts on [[Vedanta]] and [[self-enquiry]]. The stay with Swami Pranavananda helped Natarajan learn one thing clearly – that Vedanta is a ''[[pramana]]''  (means of knowledge) to know the truth of the Self. In Natarajan's own words,
{{quote|I saw the Swami giving direct knowledge to the people he was teaching. This resolved all my conflicts. My problems with Vedanta had been my mistaken notion that it was a system.<ref name="AVG_letter" />}}


This critical shift in his vision about Vedanta impelled Natarajan to once again study the [[Shastra|sāstra]] with Sankara's commentaries. On [[Shivrathri|śivarātri]] day, March 4, 1962,<ref name="AAK_Bhuj"/> he was given [[Sannyasa|Sanyasa]] by Swami Chinmayananda and was given the name Swami Dayananda Saraswati.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati - A brief biography|author=Avinashilingam, N.|publisher=Arsha Avinash Foundation|url=https://arshaavinash.in/index.php/download/swami-dayananda-saraswati-a-biography-print-edition-by-n-avinashilingam/|date=Jan 2020|access-date=2021-04-15}}</ref><ref name="AAK_Bhuj">Glimpses of Swami Dayananda Saraswati's life. Arsha Adhyayan Kendra, Bhuj, Gujarat, INDIA. {{YouTube|dU201y28Zh8|Video commemorating Swami Dayananda's 7 December 2008 visit to Bhuj}}</ref> In 1963 he went to [[Mumbai|Mumbai, (erstwhile Bombay)]] to the newly inaugurated Sandeepany Sadhanalaya of Chinmaya Mission, where he undertook the responsibility of editing the magazine of the mission ''Tapovan Prasad''. In addition, Swami Dayananda taught chanting of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads to the students of Sandeepany.
Swami Chinmayananda entrusted Natarajan with the responsibility to set up Chinmaya Mission's Madurai branch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swami Dayanand Saraswati |url=https://www.hinduscriptures.in/gurus/modern-thinkers/swami-dayanand-saraswati |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.hinduscriptures.in}}</ref> In 1955, Natarajan accompanied Swami Chinmayananda to [[Uttarkashi|Uttarakashi]] and helped him in the preparation of a Gita manuscript for publication. In Uttarakashi, he met Swami Chinmayananda's Guru, Tapovan Maharaj, who advised him, 'You have a duty to yourself which is also important. Stay here, meditate and study.' Natarajan could not take up that offer at that point in time. However, he promised Swami Tapovan Maharaj that he would return after one year to study with him and he did. Natarajan returned to Madras and took up the editorship of ''Tyagi'', a fortnightly magazine of Chinmaya Mission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dayananda Saraswati - Bhagavatha |url=https://nama.co.in/keerthana/bhagavatha_detail.php?bhaid=MjMx |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=nama.co.in}}</ref> In 1956, on the advice of Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan shifted to [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]] and continued to edit ''Tyagi'' which was also moved to Bengaluru. During his stay, Natarajan joined the Sanskrit College in Chamrajpet and studied with Prof. Veeraraghavachariar.<ref name="Narasimhan 2017" />


In November 1963 Swami Dayananda undertook a study-pilgrimage to Rishikesh and stayed in a grass hut in Purani Jhadi now known as Dayananda Nagar. He spent three years there, studying [[Brahma Sutras|Brahma{{nbsp}}Sutras]] under Swami Tarananda Giri at the Kailash Ashram.<ref>[http://kailasaahram.com kailasaahram.com]</ref>
=== Sannyasa ===


=== Further involvement with, and split, from the Mission ===
In 1961, with the permission of Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan went to study under Swami Pranavananda at [[Gudivada]] to clarify his doubts on Vedanta and self-enquiry. The stay with Swami Pranavananda helped Natarajan learn that Vedanta is a [[Pramana|Pramāna]] (a means of knowledge) to know the truth of the Self. In Natarajan's own words,<ref name=":0" />
Around 1967, due to the ill health of Swami Chinmayananda, the Mission approached Swami Dayananda to give public talks and lectures. Accordingly, between 1967 and 1970, Swami Dayananda traveled to different towns and cities in India spreading the knowledge of Gita and the Upanishads.


In 1971, Swami Dayananda agreed to conduct a long-term teaching program at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai and formulated a curriculum that would systematically unfold the vision of Vedanta. Between 1972 and 1979, Swami Dayananda conducted two 2 1/2 - year residential Vedanta courses in Mumbai. In his words, 'At Sandeepany the teaching is traditional and rigorous. What would take a ''Sadhu'' in the Himalayas nine years to learn, the students at Sandeepany learned in two-and-half years.'<ref name="AVG_letter" /><ref name="AAK_Bhuj" />
{{Blockquote
|text=I saw the Swami giving direct knowledge to the people he was teaching. This resolved all my conflicts. My problems with Vedanta had been my mistaken notion that it was a system.
}}


At the request of students in the United States, in 1979 Swami Dayananda established and taught a three-year Vedanta course for the Chinmaya Mission at Sandeepany West in [[Piercy, California]].<ref name=":0" />
This shift in his vision about Vedanta impelled Natarajan to study the [[Shastra]] with Sankara's commentaries. In 1962, he was given [[Sannyasa]] by Swami Chinmayananda and named Swami Dayananda Saraswati. In 1963, he went to Mumbai, to the newly inaugurated Sandeepany Sadhanalaya of the [[Chinmaya Mission]], where he undertook the responsibility of editing the magazine of the mission ''Tapovan Prasad''. In addition, Swami Dayananda taught chanting of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads to the students of Sandeepany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati |url=https://www.tititudorancea.com/z/swami_dayananda_saraswati.htm |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.tititudorancea.com}}</ref>


In July 1982, Swami Dayananda decided to leave Chinmaya Mission. He felt a strong incompatibility between his growing role in, essentially, management of a multinational spiritual organization, and his desires to live a simpler spiritual life as an itinerant monk. The split had been a long time in the making, having been a topic of discussion between Swami Dayananda and Swami Chinmayananda for some time.<ref name="HT">{{Cite news|date=October 31, 1983|title=Swami Dayananda Renounces Chinmaya Mission West: Changes and Challenges Ahead|volume=5|page=2|work=[[Hinduism Today]]|issue=4|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/220854666|access-date=September 3, 2021|id={{ProQuest|220854666}}}}</ref>
In November 1963, Swami Dayananda undertook a study-pilgrimage to [[Rishikesh]] and stayed in a grass hut in Purani Jhadi now known as Dayananda Nagar. He spent three years there, studying Brahma Sutras under Swami Tarananda Giri at the Kailash Ashram.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Redirect | url=https://dolatiaschan.com/4/5737255 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323225937/https://dolatiaschan.com/4/5737255 | access-date=2025-01-16 | archive-date=2023-03-23}}</ref>


The timing of Swami Dayananda's departure created problems for the Mission. He had just graduated nearly 60 Vedanta teachers from Sandeepany West two weeks before his departure, nearly all of whom left Chinmaya Mission to follow Swami Dayananda once he left. Swami Dayananda's departure, wrote a journalist in October 1983, ''Hinduism Today'', "created a tidal wave of shock that washed across the international Chinmaya Mission shores, and has only recently weakened enough to not be an emotion-charged topic of the international Mission's monthly magazine's letters to the editor."<ref name="HT" /> In an interview shortly after his departure, Swami Dayananda did not comment on Chinmaya Mission but emphasized that he was "a simple teacher spreading the universal truths of Vedantic self-knowledge."<ref name="HT" />
=== Public talks ===


===Arsha Vidya Gurukulam===
Around 1967, due to the declining health of Swami Chinmayananda, the Mission approached Swami Dayananda to give public talks and lectures. Between 1967 and 1970, Swami Dayananda travelled to different towns and cities in India spreading the teachings of Gita and the Upanishads. In 1971, Swami Dayananda agreed to conduct a long-term study program at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, [[Powai]], Mumbai and formulated a curriculum that would unfold the vision of Vedanta.


{{Main|Arsha Vidya Gurukulam}}
Between 1972 and 1979, Swami Dayananda conducted two three-year residential Vedanta courses in Mumbai. In his words,<ref name=":0" />


After leaving Chinmaya Mission in 1982, Swami Dayananda returned to India. He continued to spread the message of Advaita Vedanta through public talks and lectures and formally established a centre of learning at Rishikesh called&nbsp;[[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam#Ashram|Arsha Vidya Pitham]] which is also called the Swami Dayananda Ashram. He explained that “Arsha” means “from the rishis”, “vidya” means “knowledge” and “pitham”, “a centre of learning”. Further he explained that “arsha vidya, the knowledge that has come from the rishis, is not a mystic tradition. It is not a set of beliefs sustained by an organisation. The knowledge has survived without organisation and without hierarchical structure, through an unbroken line of teacher to student”. <ref name="Balaji11" />
{{Blockquote
|text=''At Sandeepany the teaching is traditional and rigorous. What would take a Sadhu in the Himalayas nine years to learn, the students at Sandeepany learned in two-and-half years.''
}}


Responding to the request of students and disciples, Swami Dayananda established the [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam]] at Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, USA in 1986 wherein a three-year residential course was completed in 1990.<ref name="Dayananda 60th">{{cite book|title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati: The traditional teacher of Brahma vidya|year=1990|publisher=T.T. Maps & Publications|location=Chennai, India|isbn=81-7053-103-9|author=Dayananda Saraswati|author2=Mala Mukherjee |author3=Padma Narasimhan }}</ref><ref name="Balaji11">{{cite book|title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati (Contributions & Writings)|year=2011|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|location=Chennai, India|isbn=978-93-80049-46-5|author=Sheela Balaji}}</ref>
In 1979, Swami Dayananda established a three-year study program at Sandeepany West in [[Piercy, California|Piercy]], California. In 1982, he returned to India and continued to spread the message of the Upanishads through public talks and lectures.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}


In 1990, he established another ''Arsha Vidya Gurukulam'' at Anaikatti, near Coimbatore, back in his home state of [[Tamil Nadu]] in India.<ref name="Balaji11" />
=== Final days ===


Swami Dayananda along with his students have taught ten long term Vedanta Courses (eight in India and two in the United States).{{when|date=April 2021}} More than 200 of his students from these programs are now teaching [[Vedanta|Vedanta, Sanskrit]] and [[Pāṇini|Panini]]an grammar in India and around the world. <ref name="Dayananda 60th" /><ref name="Handbook of Sanyasi Disciples">{{cite book|last=Saraswati|first=Swami Dayananda|title=Handbook of Arsha Vidya Sanyasi Disciples|year=2010|publisher=Sruti Seva Trust|location=Anaikatti, Coimbatore, India}}</ref><ref name="AVG Teachers">{{cite web|title=Arsha Vidya Teachers|url=http://www.arshavidya.org/Teachers.html}}</ref><ref name="Swami Viditatmananda">{{cite web|title=Adhyatma Vidya Mandir|url=http://tattvatirtha.org}}</ref><ref name="Swami Paramarthananda">{{cite web|title=Vedanta Vidyarthi Sangha|url=http://vedantavidyarthisangha.org/}}</ref><ref name="Swami Tatadmananda">{{cite web|title=Arsha Bodha Center|url=http://www.arshabodha.org/}}</ref><ref name="Vijay Kapoor">{{cite web|title=Arsha Vidya Center|url=http://arshavidyacenter.org/}}</ref><ref name="Gloria Arieira">{{cite web|title=Vidyamandir-Brazil|url=http://vidyamandir.org.br/}}</ref>
Swami Dayananda Saraswati died by the banks of the Ganga, surrounded by his devotees and students in the late evening of 23 September 2015. He had been ailing for some weeks and been in and out of hospitals for some time. He was 85 years of age. Swamiji's last rites were performed in the traditional manner as befitting a renunciate. He was buried in a grave, known as "bhu" samadhi, to the loud chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras. Many dignitaries, Hindu leaders and his students were there to pay their final respects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-26 |title=Last rites of Swami Dayanand performed in Rishikesh |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/last-rites-of-swami-dayanand-performed-in-rishikesh/story-YmQrB8AvtQxr7alltf9F9N.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>  


In 2014, ''[[Gurukulam (film)|Gurukulam: One Without a Second]]'', an [[avant-garde]] documentary featuring residents and teachers of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Anaikatti in Tamil Nadu, India had a limited release.
== Arsha Vidya Centres ==


===Shishyas (students)===
=== Teaching ===
The most well-known student of Swami Dayananda Saraswati is [[Narendra Modi]], prime minister of India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modis-spiritual-guru-swami-dayanand-dies-at-87-1221043|title=PM Narendra Modi's Spiritual Guru Swami Dayanand Dies at 87|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=September 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name=personal>{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/09/24/swami-dayanand-giri-dies_n_8186990.html |title=PM Narendra Modi Says His Spiritual Guru Swami Dayanand Saraswati's Death Is A 'Personal Loss' | first=Prajakta | last=Hebbar | work=[[HuffPost]] | date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>  Other students include [[Anantanand Rambachan]], a professor of religion at [[St. Olaf College]], [[Minnesota]] (USA), and Vasudevacharya, previously Dr. Michael Comans, former faculty member in the Department of Indian Studies at the [[University of Sydney]]. A number of his [[shishya]]s (i.e., students) are from a [[Western world|Western]] background. Atma Chaitanya, otherwise known as Ira Schepetin, was the first of these.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yoga-vidya.org/english/yogis/|title=Yogi index|publisher=Yoga Vidya|access-date=2021-03-31}}</ref> Radha (Carol Whitfield, Ph.D.) an early student of Swami Dayananda who was instrumental in establishing Sandeepany West and Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Saylorsburg USA,&nbsp;has established Arsha Kulam in California, a centre dedicated to the traditional teaching of Advaita Vedanta.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arsha Kulam|url=https://arshakulam.org/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129114917/http://www.arshakulam.org:80/ |archive-date=29 January 2007 }}</ref>


The [[sannyasi]] disciples of Swami Dayananda are many in number. Suddhananda Saraswati heads the Dayananda Asram at Rishikesh. Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati heads the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Saylorsburg. Swami Nijananda, Swami Tadrupananda, Swami Paramarthananda, Swami Tattvavidananda, Swami Suddhabodhananda, Swami Pratyagbodhananda, Swami Brahmatmananda, Swami Paramatmananda, Swami Sakshatkrtananda, Swamini Brahmapraksananda, Swamiini Brahmalinananda, Swamini Svatmavidyananda, Swami Sadatmanada, Swami Shankarananda and Swami Santatmananda are some of the senior disciples of Swami Dayananda.<ref>[http://www.srivasudevacharya.org/ ''Sri Vasudevacharya (previously Dr Michael Comans)''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628172721/http://www.srivasudevacharya.org/ |date=28 June 2015 }}</ref>{{refn|group=note|See also [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095540/http://www.srivasudevacharya.org/wp-content/uploads/Advaitapratibodhah_web.pdf ''Advaitapratibodhah''], "Awakening to nonduality," a short treatise in classical style by Vasudevacharya prev. Dr Michael Comans.}}
Swami Dayananda assisted by his senior disciples has taught ten three-year programs (eight in India and two in the United States) and many of his students from these programs are now teaching all over the world. More than two hundred of his Sannyasi disciples are teaching Vedanta and Panini system of grammar. They form the Arsha Vidya Sampradaya.<ref name="Home {{!}} Arsha Vidya Sampradaya">{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Arsha Vidya Sampradaya |url=https://www.arshasampradaya.org/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.arshasampradaya.org}}</ref>


==Other organizations==
=== Institutions ===


===All India Movement for Seva===
Swami Dayananda has established four traditional teaching centres and many more across the globe through his students with a primary focus on teaching Vedanta, Sanskrit and related disciplines. These traditional teaching centres are known as '[[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|Arsha Vidya]]' or 'Arsha Vijnana' (Knowledge of the Rishis). The word 'Arsha' has been used by many of Swami Dayananda's students in naming their facilities to mark their lineage.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://jjkgurukulam.org/guiding-light/ | title=Guiding Light – JJK Gurukulam }}</ref>
{{Main|AIM For Seva}}
In 2000, [[AIM For Seva|All India Movement for Seva]] (AIM for Seva) an [[NGO]] focused on making education and healthcare available to children in rural areas of India.<ref name="AIM for Seva">{{cite web|title=All India Movement for Seva|url=http://www.aimforseva.org}}</ref>


===Millenium Peace Summit===
The four Arsha Vidya teaching centres that Swami Dayananda has established are:
* Arsha Vidya Peetham, Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh 249201, Uttarakhand, India<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Swami Dayananda Ashram In Rishikesh UttarakhandTimings, Facts |url=https://www.chardhamtours.in/uttarakhand/rishikesh/swami-dayananda-ashram_1927.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Char Dham Yatra |language=en}}</ref>
* Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, P.O. Box 1059, Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania 18353, USA<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-21 |title=Arsha Vidya Gurukulam - Info, Timings, Photos, History |url=https://www.templepurohit.com/hindu-temple/arsha-vidya-gurukulam/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=TemplePurohit - Your Spiritual Destination {{!}} Bhakti, Shraddha Aur Ashirwad |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, Coimbatore – 641108, Tamil Nadu, India <ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-11 |title=Arsh Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti becomes IYA Member Institution |url=http://www.yogaiya.in/arsh-vidya-gurukulam-anaikatti-becomes-iya-member-institution/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Indian Yoga Association |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam, Amravati Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 410033, India{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}


In 2000, under the provisions of the [[United Nations]], the '''Millenium World Peace Summit''' a global summit of two thousand of the world's leading religious figures convened. As chairman of the AIM For Seva movement, Swami Dayananda served as one of the ten board members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.millenniumpeacesummit.org/wc_leadership.html|title=Leadership of The World Council of Religious Leaders}}</ref>
These residential centres conduct long-term courses, 1–2-week retreats, weekend study programs and family retreats throughout the year and the subjects taught include the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras and several other related texts of Vedanta. The study also includes the Sanskrit commentary of [[Adi Shankara|Adi Sankara]] on these texts, known as Bhashya. Along with these studies, Sanskrit language is also taught with Panini system of grammar. The Gurukuls also conduct sessions of daily meditation and satsangs. Additionally, yoga, Indian classical music, [[ayurveda]], [[Hindu astrology|jyotisha]] and allied disciplines are also taught.
The summit had several outcomes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.millenniumpeacesummit.org/mwps_outcomes.html|title=Outcomes of the Millennium World Peace Summit}}</ref> Among these were the formation of the [[World Summit of Religious Leaders|World Council of Religious Leaders]], and inclusion of religious leaders of the world in the [[World Economic Forum]]. A year later, in November 2001, a global three-day congress would convene on the Preservation of Religious Diversity. Swami Dayananda led this congress <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/s_ot/s_ot_world_congress.htm|title=Summary of the World Congress for the Preservation of Religious Diversity|date=2016-12-13}}</ref> which resulted in a number of unanimous resolutions on the preservation of religious diversity.
===Acharya Sabha===
In 2003,<ref>{{cite AV media|time=386|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=309KC1DrGEM&t=386s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/309KC1DrGEM| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Short life sketch of Śrī Svāmī Dayānanda Sarasvatī (AVG)}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Dayananda Saraswati brought various monks and matathipatis across India under one umbrella called '''Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha''',<ref name="HDAS">{{cite journal|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/46950288.pdf|title=The Hindu-Jewish relationship and the significance of dialogue|doi=10.25148/etd.FI14050497|author=Bender, Michael Mclean|date=2011-03-30|access-date=2021-04-14}}</ref> otherwise known as HDAS or simply '''Acharya Sabha'''  to represent [[sanatana dharma]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arshasampradaya.org/about/swamiji|title=Arsha Vidya Sampradaya - About Dayananda Saraswati|date=2021-01-02|access-date=2021-03-30}}</ref> The Sabha is an conclave of sanyasins belonging to various ''[[sampradaya]]s'' (i.e. traditions) and is composed of the major [[matha]] of India.<ref name="AAK_Bhuj"/> The Acarya Sabha was recognized as the first time Sanyasis were united under one organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/speakers/swami_dayananda_saraswati|title=About TED Speaker Dayananda Saraswati, Vedantic teacher|publisher=[[TED (conference)|TED]]|date=2008-10-31}}</ref>


By its fourth congregation in 2010, the Sabha had as many as 100 Dharmacharyas from various traditions participating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2010/jan/08/hindu-dharma-acharya-sabha-in-hyd-from-jan-9-158865.html|title=Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha in Hyd from Jan 9|date=2010-01-08|publisher=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> In the same year, Swami Dayananda wrote a statement on the behalf of the Sabha openly condemning the [[caste system]] as a means of unfair discrimination against human beings based on birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hinduamerican.org/press/caste-statement-swami-dayananda-saraswati|title=Statement against Caste-based Discrimination: Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2011-12-17|publisher=[[Hindu American Foundation]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/caste-discrimination-dalits-constitution-of-india-5767377/|publisher=[[The Indian Express]]|title=Opinion: Policy must deal not only with caste-based discrimination, but identity itself|date=2019-06-06|author=Bansal, Alok}}</ref>
Swami Dayananda initiated another centre at his birth place, [[Manjakkudi]], a village in Tamil Nadu, under the aegis of Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET). It manages an arts college, two higher secondary schools and a traditional Veda Pathasala. With the inauguration of the Swami Dayananda Memorial, residential study programmes are conducted by the disciples of Swami Dayananda.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://guidestarindia.org/Summary.aspx?CCReg=9951 | title=GuideStar India }}</ref>


As of 2021, the Sabha remains active and continues to seek protections for Sanatana Dharma and places of worship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/seers-emphasize-protection-of-sanatana-dharma/south/news/2331311.html|title=Seers emphasize protection of sanatana dharma|date=2021-02-28|publisher=[[United News of India]]}}</ref> Presently the chairman of Acharya Sabha is Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, Acharya Mahamandleshwar of Juna [[Akhara]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 10, 2019|first=Manjee|last= Negi|title=NSA Ajit Doval meets Hindu, Muslim religious leaders post Ayodhya verdict on how to maintain peace|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ayodhya-verdict-nsa-ajit-doval-meets-hindu-muslim-religious-leaders-post-ayodhya-verdict-on-how-to-maintain-peace-1617581-2019-11-10|access-date=2021-07-27|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>
Jnanapravaha, a Vedanta study centre, was designed to hand over the legacy of Swami Dayananda Saraswati's teachings at his birthplace in [[Manjakkudi|Manjakuddi]]. It is in this location, students of Vedanta discover the study material and resources necessary to further their knowledge in Advaita Vedanta.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=About Jnanapravaha - JÑĀNAPRAVĀHA - Vedanta Study Centre |url=https://jnanapravaha.in/about-jnanapravaha/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>


===Swami Dayananda Educational Trust===
The teaching centres founded by Swami Dayananda conduct programs for the public to study the knowledge of [[Vedanta]]. There are more than sixty centres in India and across the globe that carry on the tradition of Vedantic teaching under the banner of "[[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|Arsha Vidya]]".


In 2003, Swami Dayananda established the Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET). SDET has been actively promoting the development of his hometown of [[Manjakkudi]] in Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu and surrounding villages through educational initiatives, employment opportunities and community development programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guidestarindia.org/Organisation.aspx?ccreg=9951|title=About The Swami Dayananda Educational Trust Organization}}</ref>
=== Students ===


The educational trust manages the '''Swami Dayananda College of Arts & Science''' of Manjakkudi which was established in 2001. Affiliated with [[Bharathidasan University]], the college has a student body coming from an agricultural background and rural areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sdcollege.edu.in/Home/About|title=About the Swami Dayananda College of Arts and Science}}</ref> The trust also manages two higher secondary schools and a Vedic pathasala.
The media has referred to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India and actor Rajinikanth as disciples of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.<ref name="huffpost.com">{{Cite web |date=2015-09-25 |title=Swami Dayananda - A Jewish Appreciation |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/swami-dayananda-a-jewish-_b_8194504 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> The prominent sannyasi disciples of Swami Dayananda include Swami Suddhananda Saraswati who administered the Swami Dayananda Ashram at Rishikesh. Due to ill health, he later handed over the administration of the Ashram to Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati, who serves as the current head and chief acharya of the ashram. Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati serves as the head and chief acharya at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Swami Sadatmananda Saraswati serves as the head and chief acharya at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Annaikatti, [[Coimbatore]]. Swamini Brahmaprakasananda heads the Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam at [[Nagpur]].


In 2016, the Swami Dayananda Memorial Centre was inaugurated. The Memorial has state-of-the art lecture hall with good audio-video facilities, acoustics and ambience. The Memorial houses the Swami Dayananda Archives, which conserves the teachings in print and digital formats. Students of Vedanta can use the facility for serious study. The Memorial has come to full scale operation where regular residential study programs are conducted by the disciples of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. On August 3 2018, a [[murti]] of Swami Dayananda was installed at the centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aimforseva.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/July-Sep-2018-Newsletter.pdf|title=Highlight of July-Sept 2018 issue: Pujya Swamiji's Murti unveiled|page=4|publisher=Outreach, [[AIM For Seva]]|date=2018}}</ref>
Some of his other senior disciples are Swami Paramarthananda, Swami Tattvavidananda, Swami Suddhabodhananda, Swami Brahmatmananda, Swami Tadatmananda, Swami Paramatmananda, Swami Nijananda, Swami Tadrupananda, Swamini Brahmalinananda, Swami Paripoornananda and Swamini Svatmavidyananda. All teachers from the Arsha Vidya tradition impart the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta around the world to seekers as taught by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.<ref name="Home {{!}} Arsha Vidya Sampradaya" />  


===Interfaith dialogue===
Prominent disciples include Swami Omkarananda Saraswati, who led the Bhuvaneshwari Peetam in Malamelkudi, Pudukottai and was appointed by Swami Dayananda Saraswati to head the Dharma Rakshana Samithi (DRS).
Swami Dayananda has promoted several [[interfaith dialogue]]s.<ref name="Balaji11" /> He has participated in Hindu-Jewish conferences facilitated by the World Council of Religious Leaders under that organizations “Religion One on One” initiative.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}


In 2007, Swami Dayananda along with his ''Acarya Shaba'' invited [[Yona Metzger]], rabbi and former Chief Rabbinate of [[Israel]] to Delhi. In 2008, they reconvened in Jerusalem.<ref name="HDAS" />
Other students include Anantanand Rambachan, a professor of religion at St. Olaf College, Minnesota (USA), and Vasudevacharya, previously Dr. Michael Comans, former faculty member in the Department of Indian Studies at the University of Sydney. Radha (Carol Whitfield, Ph.D.) an early student of Swami Dayananda helped establishing Sandeepany West and Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Saylorsburg USA, Arsha Kulam in California a centre for teaching of Advaita Vedanta.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arsha Kulam |url=https://arshakulam.org/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>


He has also participated in two Hindu-Buddhist summits. The first one organized by the Global Peace Initiative of Women, was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2009 and the second one was organized in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2010.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}
==Associated organisations, activities, and dialogues==


===Restoration of temple practices and worship===
===All India Movement for Seva===
In 1999, Swami Dayananda founded the Dharma Rakshana Samiti,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dharmarakshanasamiti.org |title=dharmarakshanasamiti.org |publisher=dharmarakshanasamiti.org |date=2 September 2010 |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> a body to protect the [[Vedic]] heritage, to preserve the native spiritual culture of India inherited from the [[rishi]]s by continuing the [[parampara]] and to raise awareness among Hindus of their Vedic heritage.<ref name="AVG 2010 Souvenir" />
{{Main|AIM For Seva}}
 
Swami Dayananda has promoted the preservation of ancient cultures and religious and spiritual practices of India that have survived several millennia, yet struggle in modern times due to lack of support. He has started several [[Vedas|Veda]] ''Pathashalas'' (Centers of learning of Vedas) for the preservation of Vedas and [[Agama (Hinduism)|Agamas]] to prevent their rapid extinction due to a lack of infrastructure for learning.<ref name="AVG 2010 Souvenir">{{cite journal|last=Swaminathan|first=V|title=An interview with Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati|journal=Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, 24th Anniversary Souvenir|date=15 August 2010|pages=23–48}}</ref>
Swami Dayananda had appointed 35 oduvars in ancient Siva temples and paid them monthly allowance to sing the Panniru Tirumurai, songs explaining [[Saiva Siddhanta]] philosophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arshavidya.in/thirumurai-awareness/|title=Thirumurai awareness}}</ref>
 
Swami Dayananda was instrumental in building five [[Temple car|chariots]] for the [[Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur|Mahalingaswamy Temple]] at Tiruvidaimarudur near Kumbakonam in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.templenet.com/Articles/chariot_revival.html|title=Reviving Tradition Special Feature|date=January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arshasampradaya.org/activities/chariots|title=Construction of Chariots}}</ref>
 
===Litigation===
In 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiafacts.org/can-governments-take-over-the-administration-of-hindu-religious-institutions-vi/|title=Can Governments 'take over' Administration of Hindu Religious Institutions? – VI|author=Deepak, Sai|date=2016-02-05}}</ref> Swami Dayananda filed Writ Petition 476 challenging the Constitutional validity of various provisions of the Hindu Religious Endowments and Institutions Acts in the two states of Tamil Nadu<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lawsofindia.blinkvisa.com/pdf/tamil_nadu/1959/1959TN22.pdf|title=The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959|date=1959}}</ref> and [[Andhra Pradesh]], and the city of [[Pondicherry]]. The case is continuously being deferred at the [[Supreme Court of India]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/167474254/|title=Sh.Dayananda Saraswati Swamiji vs The State Of Tamil Nadu|date=2018-01-12}}</ref> and an outcome remains to be seen as of 2019.
 
Dr. [[Subramanian Swamy]] was impleaded in the  case for the [[Dikshitar|Podu Dīkṣitar]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vijayvaani.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=1897|title= Chidambaram Temple & the Podu Dikshitars|author=Ramesh, TR|date=2011-07-31}}</ref> of the [[Chidambaram Temple]]. When the matter was dismissed at the [[Madras High Court]] in 2009, Dr. Subramanian and the represented appealed to the final court. About 5 years later, on the 6th of January in 2014, the high court's ruling was overturned at the Supreme Court of India, which resulted in the release of government control over the affairs of the temple.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/courting-god-the-supreme-court-attempts-to-rescue-indias-temples-2730860.html|title= Courting god: The Supreme Court attempts to rescue India's temples |author=Bhaskar, RN|date=2018-09-12|publisher=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref>
 
Dr. Subramanian is also litigating the defense and protection of '''Ram Sethu''' at the behest of Swami Dayananda, who on April 20, 2008 organized for the release of Subramanian’s book, ''Ram Setu: a Symbol of National Unity''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/pdf/1372|doi=10.4000/samaj.1372|title=Hindu Nationalism and the (Not So Easy) Art of Being Outraged: The Ram Setu Controversy|journal=South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal|date=2008-12-31|author=[[Christophe Jaffrelot]]|issue=2}}</ref> In 2020, the Supreme Court of India motioned to consider designating the so-called [[Adam's Bridge]] as a national heritage site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-to-consider-swamys-plea-for-giving-ram-sethu-national-heritage-status-after-3-months/article30631682.ece|title=SC to consider Swamy's plea for giving Ram Sethu national heritage status after 3 months|date=2020-01-23|author=Pandya, Jay|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> In 2021, a former [[vice chancellor]] from [[Alagappa University]] motioned to the court that the '''Ram Sethu''' does not meet the requirements of an [[ancient monument]] under the law, and the top court has no power to declare it a [[national monument]], on the basis of the claim that the Adam's Bridge is not a permanent structure, and that its geological features are subject to change.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ram-setu-not-an-ancient-monument-former-v-c-tells-sc/article33805549.ece|title= Ram Setu not an ancient monument, former V-C tells SC|date=2021-02-11|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> However, in his original statement, Swami Dayananda argued that the bridge is a natural formation, and as such it should be preserved as a [[natural monument]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Swamy's book on Ram Sethu released|publisher=[[Organiser (magazine)|The Organizer]]|date=2008-05-04|author=Rath, Deepak Kumar}}</ref> <!-- url for organizer article is blacklisted: https://www.organiser.org/archives/dynamic/modules6c54.html?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=235&page=9 -->
 
==Publications==
===Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust===
 
A registered non-profit charitable organization in India since 21 February 2005, the '''Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust''' (AVRPT) is the single-source for editing and publishing Swami Dayananda's writings, granted in writing by himself.<ref name="ABOUTAVR">{{cite web|url=https://avrpt.com/about-swamiji.htm|title=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust: The single-source Centre for Swamiji's writings}}</ref> The AVRPT office is located at the Srinidhi Apartments in [[Mylapore]], Chennai. The trust publishes Swami Dayananda's works in multiple formats. A variety of Swami Dayananda Saraswati's lectures, talks and discourses have been published in the form of printed books, audio, video, e-book and USB card drives.
''Teachings of Swami Dayananda'', available for Android<ref>{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avrpt.teachingsofswamidayananda|title=Google Play Store:Teachings of Swami Dayananda}}</ref> and iOS<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teachings-of-swami-dayananda/id807400667|title=App Store: Teachings of Swami Dayananda}}</ref> devices provides access to some free books and lectures and a marketplace to purchase the publications for digital access.
 
 
Prior to 2005, Swami Dayananda has used other publishers, namely the ''Sri Gangadhareswar Trust'' of the [[Arsha Vidya Gurukulam#Ashram|Arsha Vidya Pitham]], and ''Vision Books''. Additionally, the ''Arsha Avinash Foundation'' was established in 2014 with the blessing of the Swami, to publish books on Indian culture, Sanskrit and other topics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arshaavinash.in/index.php/about-us|title=About the Arsha Avinash Foundation|access-date=2021-04-15|author=Avinashilingam, N.}}</ref>


===Biographies===
In addition to teaching, Swami Dayananda has initiated various philanthropic efforts. He founded the All India Movement for Seva (AIM for Seva) in the year 2000, with the vision of transforming society through a network of service, to bridge the urban-rural divide, thereby, empowering every person to contribute to the progress of the nation. The focus was on value-based education and reaching out to the children of rural India through a network of Chatralayams (Free student hostels) and schools. Swamiji proposed not alienate the child during their schooling and that parents are required initially to attend the school until the child is comfortable in the environment away from home.


Several biographies<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arshaavinash.in/index.php/books-on-pujya-swamiji/|title=Books on Pujya Swamiji}}</ref> of the Swami's life have been written in multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Sanskrit and Kannada.
In 2002, a major project witnessing growth in 2023 was initiated by Swami Dayanandaji. Located in [[Sriperumbudur]] in Tamil Nadu, "Swami Dayananda Krupa Home" provides lifetime therapy and support to men and children with developmental delays.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-30 |title=AIM for Seva Krupa Home |url=https://enabled.in/wp/aim-for-seva-krupa-home/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=enabled.in |language=en-US}}</ref> Awarded consultative status with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) by the United Nations in 2005,<ref>{{Cite web |title=NGO Committee Recommends Six Organizations for Special Consultative Status with Economic and Social Council, Defers Two Applications |url=https://unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2005/ngo569.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=United Nations : Information Service Vienna |language=en}}</ref> this organisation is focused on serving people in the remote, rural areas of India, in the areas of education and health care.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indicanews.com/2022/12/03/from-silicon-valley-to-indias-remotest-tribal-areas-aim-for-sevas-work-has-impacted-thousands/ | title=From Silicon Valley to India's remotest tribal areas, AIM for Seva's work has impacted thousands - indica News | date=3 December 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Seva Begins in Your Heart and AIMS Brings Hope to a Rural Child {{!}} Indo American News |url=https://www.indoamerican-news.com/seva-begins-in-your-heart-and-aims-brings-hope-to-a-rural-child/ |access-date=2023-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Unravelling the life of a visionary |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/unravelling-life-visionary-2311197 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>


Two biographies are published by AVRPT. The first, ''Teacher of Teachers''<ref name=":0">{{cite book|isbn=978-93-80049-88-5|title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati: Teacher of Teachers|date=1990|author=Narasimhan, Padma|url=https://www.avrpt.com/teacher-of-teachers.htm}}</ref> was published in 1990 to commemorate the Swami's 60th birthday. The second, ''Contributions and Writings'' (2011),<ref name="Balaji11" /> was written by  [[Sheela Balaji]], who serves as a managing trustee for the publication trust.<ref name="ABOUTAVR" />
=== Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust ===
The Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust (AVRandPT) is the source for Swami Dayananda's teaching and writings. It is a registered non-profit organisation since 21 February 2005, and is head-quartered in Mylapore, Chennai. AVRandPT publishes Swamiji's teachings, covering his decades of classes, public lectures and short and long term courses. These are available in printed book form, audio, video, ebook formats and on card pen drives. The trust has also created a mobile app, "Teachings of Swami Dayananda", which is available for Android and iOS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arsha Vidya Research & Publication Trust |url=https://www.avrpt.com/all-titles.htm |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.avrpt.com}}</ref>


===Bhagavad Gita===
=== Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha ===
In 2000, as an initiative of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, an apex body of Hindu religious heads of the various [[Sampradaya|Sampradayas]] was created and convened by Swami Dayananda Saraswati's efforts. A congregation of the heads of various traditions meet, discuss contemporary issues concerning Hinduism and provide leadership and service to the society and country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha – The Voice of Collective Consciousness |url=https://hindudharmaacharyasabha.org/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>


As a proponent of Advaita Vedanta, Swami Dayananda wrote several books and essays on the topic of the [[Bhagavad Gita]]. The largest of these publications is the '''Bhagavad Gītā Home Study''' course,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arshavidyacenter.org/resources/bhagavad-gita-home-study/|title= Bhagavad Gita Home Study - Arsha Vidya Center|website=arshavidyacenter.org|access-date=2021-04-12}}</ref> in which the teaching of Bhagavad Gita is unfolded. His many talks on the Bhagavad Gita have been compiled into over 3,000 pages in its fourth edition, with the editorial assistance from his numerous Sanskrit scholars and students. A corresponding Bhagavad Gita Home Study program goes on year-round, with participation from groups in many countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.<ref name="AVG Gita Study Groups">{{cite web|title=Bhagavad Gita Home Study Groups|url=https://arshavidya.org/home-study-course/|website=arshavidya.org|access-date=2021-04-12}}</ref>
=== Dharma Rakshana Samiti ===
In 1999, Dharma Rakshana Samiti was started by Sri Dayananda Saraswati to preserve Hinduism, its vision and way of life as the spiritual culture of India. Swamiji recognised that Hinduism, in present times, needs to be protected and preserved by its adherents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharma_Rakshana_Samithi Smt. Kasturba Nimchand Shah P. Muthyalu Chetty Vivekananda Vidyalaya Junior College, Perambur, Chennai |url=https://www.sknspmcvv.org/Dharma_Rakshana_Samithi.aspx |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.sknspmcvv.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.dharmarakshanasamiti.org/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.dharmarakshanasamiti.org}}</ref>
=== Inter-religious dialogue and international forums ===
Swami Dayananda has supported several inter-religious dialogues. He has participated in Hindu-Jewish conferences facilitated by the World Council of Religious Leaders under that organisation's "Religion One on One" initiative.<ref name="huffpost.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hindu and Jewish Religious Leaders Sign Declaration |url=https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/news/hindu-and-jewish-religious-leaders-sign-declaration |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=hwpi.harvard.edu |language=en}}</ref> He had also participated in two Hindu-Buddhist summits. The first one, organised by the ''Global Peace Initiative of Women'', held in [[Phnom Penh]], Cambodia, in 2009 and the second one was organised in [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka, in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati Obituary (2015) - New York, NY - New York Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/swami-dayananda-saraswati-obituary?pid=175952151 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref>


Swami Dayananda also published '''Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā''' in 2007,<ref name="Daya07">{{cite q|Q108660034}}</ref> a verse-by-verse translation of the Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit and English. Self-described as a "ready reference,"<ref name="Daya07"/> this translation was last updated in 2014 for its fourth edition and is under 300 pages.
Sri Swami Dayananda has participated and contributed to a number of other international forums including:
* United Nations gathering of NGOs in 1980
* UNESCO Seoul Global Convention in September, 1995
* United Nations 50th Anniversary Celebration in October, 1995
* Millennium World Peace Summit in New York, September 2000
* Initiated the International Congress for the Preservation of Religious Diversity – in Delhi, November 2001
* The Conference on the Preservation of Sacred Sites in Taipei in June, 2002
* Initiated the World Council for Preservation of Religious Diversity in Bangkok June, 2002
* The Global Peace Initiative of Women in Geneva, October 2002
* Initiated a Hindu-Christian dialogue with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, October 2002
* Youth Peace Summit in Nairobi 2003


A list of Swami Dayananda's works on the Bhagavad Gita follows.
=== Restoration of temples, practices and worship ===
Swami Dayananda has promoted the preservation of ancient cultures, religious and spiritual practices of India that have survived several millennia yet struggle in modern times due to lack of support. He has started several Veda Pathashalas (Centers of Learning of Vedas) for the preservation of [[Vedas]] and [[Agama (Hinduism)|Agamas]] to prevent their extinction due to a lack of infrastructure for learning.<ref>{{Citation |title=Swami Dayananda Veda Pathashala (Kodavasal) | date=3 March 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceBSsu66YLY |access-date=2023-12-13 |language=en}}</ref>


* Bhagavad Gita Home Study
Swami Dayananda had appointed 35 oduvars in ancient Siva temples and paid them monthly allowance to sing the "Panniru Tirumurai", songs explaining Saiva Siddhanta philosophy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-09-23 |title=Swami Dayananda Saraswati passes away |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/swami-dayananda-saraswati-dead/article7682135.ece |access-date=2023-12-13 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* Eight Significant Verses of Bhagavad Gītā<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dayananda.org/pdf/Eight_Significant_Verses_of_BG.pdf|title=Eight Significant Verses of the Bhagavad Gītā|work=16th Anniversary Souvenir|publisher=Arsha Vidya Gurukulam|date=2002}}</ref>
* Moments with Krishna (Essays: 7)
* Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā<ref name="Daya07"/>
* Talks on Meditation<ref>{{cite book|lccn=2004329040|title=Talks on meditation|location=Pondicherry|publisher=Arsha Vidya Bhavan|date=2002|oclc=56096414|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/talks-on-meditation/oclc/56096414}}</ref>
* The Bhagavad Gita in Nineteen Talks<ref name="Gita79">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Bhagavad_Gita_in_Nineteen_Talks/OwtjAQAACAAJ?hl=en|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=1979|publisher=Central Chinmaya Mission Trust|title=The Bhagavad Gita in Nineteen Talks}}</ref>
* The Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita<ref>{{Cite book|author=Dayananda Saraswati|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Teaching_Of_The_Bhagavadgita/K1VmAAAACAAJ?hl=en|title=The teaching of the Bhagavad Gita|date=1989|publisher=Vision Books|isbn=9788170943952}}</ref><ref>[http://www.visionbooksindia.com/details.asp?isbn=8170943957 The Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita - Vision Books]</ref>
* The Value of Values<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Value_of_Values/5HveAAAACAAJ?hl=en|title=The Value of Values|date=1993|author=Dayananda Saraswati|isbn=9781882325023|publisher=Arsha Vidya Gurukalam}}</ref>
* Vision of Gita: Ten Essential Verses of Bhagavad Gita


===Vedanta===
Swami Dayananda helped building five chariots for Sri Mahalingaswamy Temple at [[Thiruvidaimarudur|Tiruvidaimarudur]] near Kumbakonam in 2010 at a cost of more than five crore rupees and provided funds for the annual chariot festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Revival of an ancient Temple Tradition |url=http://www.templenet.com/Articles/chariot_revival.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=www.templenet.com}}</ref>


A number of [[bhashya]] (i.e., commentaries) on the topic of Vedanta itself have been consolidated. Three of these have been designated as prakaraṇa ({{Lang-sa|प्रकरण}} or  [[treatise]]) that expound on the tradition of Vedanta.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avrpt.com/tattvabodhah.htm|title=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust by Subject: prakaraṇa series}}</ref>:
Swami Dayananda Saraswati filed a Writ Petition (W.P. 476/2012) before the Supreme Court of India challenging the Constitutional validity of various provisions of the Hindu Religious Endowments and Institutions Acts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry. This matter is now pending before the Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-04-28 |title=SC to hear 'freedom to temples' plea on July 13 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/sc-to-hear-freedom-to-temples-plea-on-july-13/article8535012.ece |access-date=2023-12-13 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


* Tattvabodhaḥ<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Tattvabodha%E1%B8%A5/r5x5MwEACAAJ?hl=en|title=Tattvabodhaḥ|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2012|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9789380049434|oclc=808316510|lccn=2012336303}}</ref>
He supported Dr. [[Subramanian Swamy]] to defend and protect Ram Sethu when the Union Government wanted to create a channel breaking it. He helped Dr. Subramanian Swamy implead in the Chidambaram Temple Case in the year 2009. Though the Podu Dikshitars and Dr. Subramanian Swamy lost the case in the Chidambaram Temple matter before the Madras High Court, their appeals were allowed by the Supreme Court which by its judgment, dated 06-Jan-2014 threw the Government out of the Chidambaram Sri Natarajar Temple, by setting aside the judgments passed by the Madras High Court. The Supreme Court's Judgment in the Chidambaram Temple Case came as a boost for retrieving Hindu temples from Government control.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}
* Sādhana-pañcakam<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/S%C4%81dhana_pa%C3%B1cakam/7YywnQAACAAJ?hl=en|title=Sādhana-pañcakam|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2015|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9789380049847|oclc=957723569}}</ref>
* [[Vivekachudamani]]<ref>{{cite book|isbn=978-93-80049-93-9|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|title=Vivekachudamani|url=https://avrpt.com/vivekachudamani.htm}}</ref>


Swami Dayananda has published translations of three [[upanishads]] in 2 volumes each:
== Books ==


* [[Kena Upanishad|Kenopaniṣad]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.avrpt.com/upanisad-kenopanisad.htm|editor=Swami Tadatmananda|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|isbn=978-81-906059-2-2|date=1998|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|title=Kenopaniṣad}}</ref>
A non-exhaustive list of his books include:{{columns-list|colwidth=28em |* ''Can We?''
* [[Mandukya Upanishad|Mundakopaniṣad]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/UkEMOwAACAAJ|isbn=978-81-903636-3-1|date=2006|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|title=Mundakopaniṣad|editor=Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati}}</ref>
* ''Conversion is Violence''
* [[Taittiriya Upanishad|Taittirīya Upaniṣad]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Taittir%C4%ABya_Upani%E1%B9%A3ad/pHBctAEACAAJ|editor=Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati|isbn= 9789380049854|date=2006|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|title=Taittirīya Upaniṣad}}</ref>
* ''Gurupurnima''
* ''Do All Religions Have the Same Goal?''
* ''Danam''
* ''Japa''
* ''Moments With Krishna''
* ''the True Teacher''
* ''Hinduism and Its Uniqueness''
* ''Purnamadah Purnamidam''
* ''Dialogues With Swami Dayananda''
* ''Discourses On Important Topics''
* ''Action and Reaction''
* ''Crisis Management''
* ''Exploring Vedanta''
* ''Freedom''
* ''Freedom from Fear''
* ''Freedom from Helplessness''
* ''Freedom from Sadness''
* ''Freedom from Stress''
* ''Freedom in Relationship''
* ''Friendship: The Essence of Vedic Marriage''
* ''Fundamental Problem''
* ''in the Vision of Vedanta''
* ''Insights''
* ''Introduction to Vedanta: Understanding the Fundamental Problem''
* ''Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita''
* ''Vision of Gita''
* ''Kenopanishad''
* ''Mundakopanishad'' (2 volume set)
* ''Taittiriya Upanishad'' (2 volume set)
* ''Mandukya Upanishad'' (4 volume set)
* ''Knowledge and Action: The Two Fold Commitment''
* ''Living Versus Getting On''
* ''Mahavakya Vichara''
* ''Morning Meditation Prayers''
* ''What's Meditation?''
* ''Living Intelligently''
* ''Successful Living''
* ''Discovering Love''
* ''Value of Values''
* ''Need for Cognitive Change''
* ''Vedic View and Way of Life''
* ''Need for Personal Reorganisation''
* ''Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya''
* ''Personal Re-Engineering in Management''
* ''Personnel Management''
* ''Prayer Guide''
* ''Problem is You, the Solution is You''
* ''Purpose of Prayer''
* ''Sadhana and the Sadhya''
* ''Sadhana Pancakam''
* ''Satyam and Mithya''
* ''Self-Knowledge''
* ''Sri Rudram''
* ''Sri Dakshinamurt Stotram''
* ''Drk-Drsya-Viveka''
* ''Vivekachudamani: Talks On 108 Selected Verses''
* ''Vishnusahasranama: With Translation and Commentary''
* ''Tattvabodha''
* ''Stress-Free Living''
* ''Surrender and Freedom''
* ''Talks and Essays'' (Vol. i)
* ''Talks and Essays'' (Vol. ii)
* ''Talks and Essays'' (Vol. iii)
* ''Talks On "Who Am I?"''
* ''Talks On Meditation''
* ''Teaching Tradition of Advaita Vedanta''
* ''Understanding Between Parents and Children''
* ''Vedanta 24 X 7''
* ''Wedding Ceremony Based On Hindu Concepts''
* ''What You Love is the Pleased Self''
* ''Yoga of Objectivity''
* ''You Are the Whole''}}


The rest are as follows:
=== Books about Sarawati ===
 
* ''Teacher of Teachers'' – biography by Padma Narasimhan
* [[Brahma Sutras|Brahmasūtram (Catussūtrī)]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Brahmasūtram (Catussūtrī)|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Brahmas%C5%ABtram_Catuss%C5%ABtr%C4%AB/oDIztAEACAAJ?hl=en&kptab=overview|date=2016|isbn= 9789380049878|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati}}</ref>
* ''Contributions and Writings'' – biography by Sheela Balaji
* Exploring Vedanta: An Inquiry Into the Significant Sentence ([[Śraddhā]] [[Bhakti]] [[Dhyāna in Hinduism|Dhyāna]] Yogād Avaihi" and "Ātmānaṁ Cet Vijānīyāt)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Exploring_Vedanta/Ua1IAQAAIAAJ|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2007|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre|isbn=9788190363648|title=Exploring Vedanta}}</ref>
* In the Vision of Vedanta: Talks by Swami Dayananda Saraswati
* Introduction to Vedanta – Understanding The Fundamental Problem<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Introduction_to_Vedanta/CArangEACAAJ?hl=en|title=Introduction to Vedanta: understanding the fundamental problem|date=1999|isbn=9788170940371|publisher=Vision Books}}</ref><ref>[http://www.visionbooksindia.com/details.asp?isbn=8170942896 Vision Books - Introduction to Vedanta]</ref>
* [[Mahāvākya]] Vichara
* Sādhana & Sādhya: An Overview of Vedanta (Public Talks Book 7)<ref>{{Cite book|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9789380049762|date=2014|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|url=https://avrpt.com/public-talks-sadhana-sadhya.htm|title=Sādhana & Sādhya|oclc=957767020}}</ref>
* Talks on Vivekachudamani (108 Selected Verses)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XaYOtAEACAAJ|date=1997|publisher=Sri Gangadhareswar Trust|title=Talks on Vivekachudamani|isbn=9780558978532}}</ref>
* Teaching Tradition of Advaita Vedanta<ref>{{cite book|isbn=9788190605946|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2009|title=Teaching Tradition of Advaita Vedanta|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust}}</ref>
* Vedanta 24 x 7<ref>{{cite book|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|date=2007|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|title=Vedanta 24 x 7|isbn=9788190420365}}</ref>
 
===Ishvara===
 
Swami Dayananda has given talks on the topic of God, called [[Ishvara]] in Sanskrit.  He has said that time and space is not separate to Ishvara and that Ishvara is both the maker and the material of all that exists just as a spider creates a web and can take back the web. Hence the world and the environment should not be destroyed but revered as being Ishvara. The environment is not something to be conquered. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Dayananda|first=Swami|title=Isvara in One's Life|publisher=Sri Gangadhareswar trust|year=2001|location=Rishikesh, India}}</ref>
 
=== Music ===
Swami Dayananda had an interest in music, and published a number of original compositions as ''Compositions of Swami Dayananda'' in 2010.<ref>{{cite book|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2010|title=Compositions of Swami Dayananda|url=https://avrpt.com/others-compose-dayananda.htm|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9789380049182|oclc=701283958}}</ref>
 
He has provided commentaries and translations of the following hymns.
 
* [[Dakshinamurti Stotra|Sri Dakshinamurti Stotram]]<ref>{{cite book|isbn=978-93-80049-94-6|title=Sri Dakshinamurti Stotram|url=https://avrpt.com/stotra-dakshinamurti-stotram.htm|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust}}</ref>
* [[Shri Rudram|Śrī Rudram]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/%C5%9Ar%C4%AB_Rudram/GTBBMwEACAAJ?hl=en|date=2010|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9789380049069|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|title=Śrī Rudram}}</ref>
In 1980, Swami Dayananda wrote ''Bhosambho Sivasambho'',<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Oriental Records|title=Bhajans of Swami Dayananda Saraswati|url=https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CHIAAOSwBqpdrjtb/s-l1600.jpg|website=i.ebayimg.com|access-date=2021-04-12}}</ref> his most well known composition. More commonly known as ''Bho Shambo'', this most renowned [[Revati (raga)|revati rāga]] to Shiva is used by people from many different traditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avrpt.com/compositions-of-swami-dayananda.htm|website=avrpt.com|date=2020-09-23|access-date=2021-04-12|title=AVRPT - Pujya Swamiji's Compositions}}</ref>
 
Additionally, ''Salutations to Rudra'' was written by [[Sheela Balaji]] in 2008,<ref>{{cite book|author=Balaji, Sheela|title=Salutations to Rudra|url=https://avrpt.com/others-salutations-rudra.htm|isbn=9789380049823|date=2008}}</ref> based on Swami Dayananda's expositions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arshavidya.in/Newsletter/Jun09/arsha-vidya-research-publication-centre.pdf|title=Arsha Vidya Newsletter|date=June 2009}}</ref> <!-- Balaji - Rudra dated 2008 per item IHL548 of Exotic India  -->
 
===Prayer===
 
A number of works have been published on prayer, [[bhakti]] and specific [[mantra]]s.
 
* [[Murti#Role in worship|Dīpārādhanā]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://avrpt.com/stotra-diparadhana.htm|isbn=9788190605908|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2008|title=Dīpārādhanā|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust}}</ref>
* Morning Meditation Prayers
* [[Japa]]
* [[Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya|Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya]]
* Prayer Guide<ref>{{cite book|url=https://avrpt.com/stotra-prayer-guide.htm|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9788190605915|title=Prayer Guide|date=2009|oclc=768399177|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati}}</ref><ref name="AVMISC"/>
* [[Shanti Mantras#Brihadaranyaka and Ishavasya Upanishads|Purnamadah Purnamidam]]
* The Purpose of Prayer
 
=== Miscellanea ===
 
A non-exhaustive list of various books, transcriptions of given talks and essays by Swami Dayananda follows, in alphabetical order.<ref name="AVMISC">{{cite web|url=https://arshavidya.org/arshavidya/wp-content/uploads/Arsha-Souvenir-Book-2020-web.pdf|title=Arsha Souvenir Book 2020|date=2020|website=arshavidya.org}}</ref><ref name="AVG Bookstore">{{cite web|title=Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Bookstore - Swami Dayananda Books|url=https://books.arshavidya.org/index.php?route=product/category&path=18_46&limit=100|access-date=2021-04-18|website=books.arshavidya.org}}</ref>
 
* Action and Reaction<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Action_and_Reaction/vh7NPgAACAAJ?hl=en|date=2007|isbn= 9788190420341|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre|title=Action and Reaction|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati}}</ref>
* Can We? (Essays: 6)
* [[Religious conversion|Conversion]] Is Violence
* Crisis Management<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Crisis_Management/_jY5MwEACAAJ?hl=en|title=Crisis Management|date=2011|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|isbn=9788190420389}}</ref>
* [[Dāna|Dānam]] (Essays: 4)
* Dialogues With Swami Dayananda
* Discourses on Certain Important Topics<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/discourses-on-certain-important-topics/oclc/237014104|publisher=Chennai : K. Gangadhara|oclc=237014104|title=Discoures on certain important topics|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati}}</ref>
* Do all Religions have the same goal? (Essays: 1)
* Examples Come Alive<ref name="AVMISC"/>
* Freedom
* Freedom from Fear
* Freedom from Helplessness<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Freedom_from_Helplessness/pETWtgAACAAJ?hl=en|date=2007|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre|isbn=9788190363600|title=Freedom from Helplessness}}</ref>
* Freedom from Sadness
* Freedom from Stress
* Freedom in Relationship<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Freedom_in_Relationship/1hYRuQAACAAJ?hl=en|date=2008|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre|isbn= 9788190420372|title=Freedom in Relationship}}</ref>
* Friendship (The Essence of Vedic Marriage)
* The Fundamental Problem
* [[Guru Purnima|Gurupurnima]] (Essays: 3)
* Hinduism ...its uniqueness
* Insights<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Insights/-dCwtgAACAAJ?hl=en|title=Insights|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=2007|isbn= 9788190363693|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre}}</ref>
* Knowledge and Action – The Two Fold Commitment
* Living Versus Getting On
* Need for Cognitive Change
* The Need for Personal Reorganisation<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Need_for_Personal_Reorganisation/oKu_YgEACAAJ?hl=en|date=2008|isbn= 9788190420327|title=The Need for Personal Reorganization|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre}}</ref>
* Personal Re-engineering in Management
* Personnel Management
* The Problem Is You, The Solution Is You
* Public Talks 1: Living Intelligently<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Public_Talks_1/zA1mPgAACAAJ?hl=en|title=Public Talks 1|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre|isbn= 9788190363617|date=2006|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati}}</ref>
* Public Talks 2: Discovering Love & Successful Living<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Publick_Talks_2/Y6ldPgAACAAJ?hl=en|title=Public Talks 2|publisher=Arsha Vidya Centre|isbn= 9788190363624|date=2006|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati}}</ref>
* [[Ramayana]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/084RamayanaSwD084/001-Ramayana-SwD-001.mp3|title=92 hours of Swami Dayananda Talks on Ramayana|access-date=2021-04-17}}</ref>
* [[Satya|Satyam]] and [[Maya (religion)|Mithya]]
* Self-Knowledge
* Stress-free Living<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Stress_free_Living/Zw03MwEACAAJ?hl=en|date=2011|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|isbn=9788190605939|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|title=Stress-free Living}}</ref>
* Surrender and Freedom
* Talk on emotional maturity<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Talks_on_emotional_maturity/jl9mngEACAAJ?hl=en|title=Talks on emotional maturity|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|publisher=Sri Gangadhareswar Trust|date=1990}}</ref>
* Talks and Essays (Vol.I)
* Talks and Essays (Vol.II)
* Talks and Essays ( Vol. III)
* Talks on "Who Am I ?"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Talks_on_Who_Am_I/iIzCngEACAAJ?hl=en|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|title=Talks on "Who Am I?"|publisher=Sri Gangadhareswar Trust|date=1998}}</ref>
* Understanding Between Parents and Children
* The True Teacher<ref>{{cite book|title=The True Teacher|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|date=June 2014|isbn=978-93-80049-79-3|url=https://www.avrpt.com/essays-the-true-teacher.htm}}</ref>
* Vedic View and Way of Life<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Vedic_View_and_Way_of_Life/LYFUywAACAAJ?hl=en|title=Vedic View and Way of Life|date=2009|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|isbn=9789380049007|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust}}</ref>
* [[Vishnu Sahasranāma|Viṣṇusahasranāma]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Swami Dayananda Saraswati|title=Visnusahasranama|date=2006|asin=B00TXH67U8|oclc=296275147|publisher=Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust|url=https://www.discoveratma.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Teaching-of-Vi%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%87usahasran%C4%81ma-Final.pdf}}</ref>
* Wedding Ceremony Based on Hindu Concepts
* What is Meditation? Meditation Series: 2
* What You Love Is The Pleased Self
* Yoga of Objectivity
* You Are the Whole


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Sivananda Saraswati|Swami Sivananda]]
* [[Sivananda Saraswati|Swami Sivananda]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
* [https://www.avrpt.com/ Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust]
* [https://www.sdet.in/ Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET)]
* [https://arshaavinash.in/ Arsha Avinash Foundation: free books and resources on Swami Dayananda, Sanskrit, Vedanta and Hindu philosophy]
* [https://www.advaita.org.uk/teachers/dayananda.htm Advaita Vision, ''Traditional Teachers - Dayananda'']
<!-- Swami Paramarthananda ( https://arshavidya.org/tribute-by-swami-paramarthananda/ ) classes were linked, but the site is no more: http://www.vedantavidyarthisangha.org/web/  -->


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saraswati, Dayananda}}
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[[Category:20th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
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[[Category:21st-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:21st-century Hindu religious leaders]]

Latest revision as of 15:09, 9 March 2026


This article is about the founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. For other uses, see Swami Dayananda (disambiguation).


Swami Dayananda Saraswati
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His Holiness Swami Dayananda Saraswati, from the private collection of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam.
Personal
Born
Natarajan Gopala Iyer

(1930-08-15)15 August 1930
Manjakkudi, Tamil Nadu, India
Died23 September 2015(2015-09-23) (aged 85)
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
ReligionHinduism
NationalityIndian
Founder ofArsha Vidya Gurukulam
AIM For Seva
Swami Dayananda Educational Trust
PhilosophyAdvaita Vedanta
Religious career
Website{{URL|example.com|optional display text}}

Swami Dayananda Saraswati (15 August 1930 – 23 September 2015) was a renunciate monk of the Hindu Saraswati order of sannyasa. He was also known as Pujya Swamiji and was a traditional teacher of Advaita Vedanta.[1] He was the founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulams in Pennsylvania, USA; Rishikesh, Uttarakhand and Coimbatore Tamil Nadu, India. He was also the spiritual Guru of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, (the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India), for his service to the nation in the field of spirituality in 2016.[2]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Swami Dayananda Saraswati was born as Natarajan in Manjakkudi in the Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu on 15 August 1930 to Shri Gopala Iyer and Smt Valambal, of a Brahmin family. He was the eldest of four sons. His early schooling was at the District Board School in Kodavasal. His father died when he was eight years old, which meant Natarajan had to shoulder the responsibility in the family alongside his education.

After the completion of his education at seventeen years of age, Natarajan came to Chennai to earn a livelihood. There he learnt English and began his career as a journalist for the weekly magazine Dharmika Hindu, run by T. K. Jagannathacharya (TKJ). However, owing to nominal income and at the behest of a friend, Rangachari, Natarajan enrolled in the Airforce as a combatant in Bangalore with the GTS (Ground Training Station). He was underweight and could not qualify but was allowed to continue. He later stated that he aspired to be a pilot. Family duties, namely his father's shraddham (a ceremony performed in honour of a dead ancestor), caused him to leave the Airforce. Above all, he did not like the rigidity. "There was no freedom, I felt they were trying to control my mind. I have never allowed anybody to ever control me at any time, no one. That is why I think I am a Swami."[1]

Natarajan resumed his career as a journalist with 'Dharmika Hindu' magazine before joining a news agency, 'The Lens' run by Shri Rajagopal.[1] He also worked for the erstwhile Volkart Brothers (now Voltas Limited).[3] In his absence, his younger brother M.G.Srinivasan took charge of the agricultural fields of the family household and ensured that the family had income to live.[4]

Involvement with Chinmaya Mission[edit | edit source]

Natarajan was interested in Vedanta. After listening to the public talks of Swami Chinmayananda in the year 1952, Natarajan was involved with the Chinmaya Mission in various roles and was appointed secretary of the Mission within the first year of its inception. He attended sanskrit classes of P.S. Subramania Iyer, a retired Professor of English. It was Iyer who introduced the meter of chanting the Bhagavad Gita verses that was initially followed by Chinmaya Mission centres, and is followed even today by all the Arsha Vidya centres amongst other centres as well.[1]

Swami Chinmayananda entrusted Natarajan with the responsibility to set up Chinmaya Mission's Madurai branch.[5] In 1955, Natarajan accompanied Swami Chinmayananda to Uttarakashi and helped him in the preparation of a Gita manuscript for publication. In Uttarakashi, he met Swami Chinmayananda's Guru, Tapovan Maharaj, who advised him, 'You have a duty to yourself which is also important. Stay here, meditate and study.' Natarajan could not take up that offer at that point in time. However, he promised Swami Tapovan Maharaj that he would return after one year to study with him and he did. Natarajan returned to Madras and took up the editorship of Tyagi, a fortnightly magazine of Chinmaya Mission.[6] In 1956, on the advice of Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan shifted to Bengaluru and continued to edit Tyagi which was also moved to Bengaluru. During his stay, Natarajan joined the Sanskrit College in Chamrajpet and studied with Prof. Veeraraghavachariar.[4]

Sannyasa[edit | edit source]

In 1961, with the permission of Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan went to study under Swami Pranavananda at Gudivada to clarify his doubts on Vedanta and self-enquiry. The stay with Swami Pranavananda helped Natarajan learn that Vedanta is a Pramāna (a means of knowledge) to know the truth of the Self. In Natarajan's own words,[1]

I saw the Swami giving direct knowledge to the people he was teaching. This resolved all my conflicts. My problems with Vedanta had been my mistaken notion that it was a system.

This shift in his vision about Vedanta impelled Natarajan to study the Shastra with Sankara's commentaries. In 1962, he was given Sannyasa by Swami Chinmayananda and named Swami Dayananda Saraswati. In 1963, he went to Mumbai, to the newly inaugurated Sandeepany Sadhanalaya of the Chinmaya Mission, where he undertook the responsibility of editing the magazine of the mission Tapovan Prasad. In addition, Swami Dayananda taught chanting of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads to the students of Sandeepany.[7]

In November 1963, Swami Dayananda undertook a study-pilgrimage to Rishikesh and stayed in a grass hut in Purani Jhadi now known as Dayananda Nagar. He spent three years there, studying Brahma Sutras under Swami Tarananda Giri at the Kailash Ashram.[8]

Public talks[edit | edit source]

Around 1967, due to the declining health of Swami Chinmayananda, the Mission approached Swami Dayananda to give public talks and lectures. Between 1967 and 1970, Swami Dayananda travelled to different towns and cities in India spreading the teachings of Gita and the Upanishads. In 1971, Swami Dayananda agreed to conduct a long-term study program at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai and formulated a curriculum that would unfold the vision of Vedanta.

Between 1972 and 1979, Swami Dayananda conducted two three-year residential Vedanta courses in Mumbai. In his words,[1]

At Sandeepany the teaching is traditional and rigorous. What would take a Sadhu in the Himalayas nine years to learn, the students at Sandeepany learned in two-and-half years.

In 1979, Swami Dayananda established a three-year study program at Sandeepany West in Piercy, California. In 1982, he returned to India and continued to spread the message of the Upanishads through public talks and lectures.[citation needed]

Final days[edit | edit source]

Swami Dayananda Saraswati died by the banks of the Ganga, surrounded by his devotees and students in the late evening of 23 September 2015. He had been ailing for some weeks and been in and out of hospitals for some time. He was 85 years of age. Swamiji's last rites were performed in the traditional manner as befitting a renunciate. He was buried in a grave, known as "bhu" samadhi, to the loud chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras. Many dignitaries, Hindu leaders and his students were there to pay their final respects.[9]

Arsha Vidya Centres[edit | edit source]

Teaching[edit | edit source]

Swami Dayananda assisted by his senior disciples has taught ten three-year programs (eight in India and two in the United States) and many of his students from these programs are now teaching all over the world. More than two hundred of his Sannyasi disciples are teaching Vedanta and Panini system of grammar. They form the Arsha Vidya Sampradaya.[10]

Institutions[edit | edit source]

Swami Dayananda has established four traditional teaching centres and many more across the globe through his students with a primary focus on teaching Vedanta, Sanskrit and related disciplines. These traditional teaching centres are known as 'Arsha Vidya' or 'Arsha Vijnana' (Knowledge of the Rishis). The word 'Arsha' has been used by many of Swami Dayananda's students in naming their facilities to mark their lineage.[11]

The four Arsha Vidya teaching centres that Swami Dayananda has established are:

  • Arsha Vidya Peetham, Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh 249201, Uttarakhand, India[12]
  • Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, P.O. Box 1059, Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania 18353, USA[13]
  • Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, Coimbatore – 641108, Tamil Nadu, India [14]
  • Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam, Amravati Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 410033, India[citation needed]

These residential centres conduct long-term courses, 1–2-week retreats, weekend study programs and family retreats throughout the year and the subjects taught include the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras and several other related texts of Vedanta. The study also includes the Sanskrit commentary of Adi Sankara on these texts, known as Bhashya. Along with these studies, Sanskrit language is also taught with Panini system of grammar. The Gurukuls also conduct sessions of daily meditation and satsangs. Additionally, yoga, Indian classical music, ayurveda, jyotisha and allied disciplines are also taught.

Swami Dayananda initiated another centre at his birth place, Manjakkudi, a village in Tamil Nadu, under the aegis of Swami Dayananda Educational Trust (SDET). It manages an arts college, two higher secondary schools and a traditional Veda Pathasala. With the inauguration of the Swami Dayananda Memorial, residential study programmes are conducted by the disciples of Swami Dayananda.[15]

Jnanapravaha, a Vedanta study centre, was designed to hand over the legacy of Swami Dayananda Saraswati's teachings at his birthplace in Manjakuddi. It is in this location, students of Vedanta discover the study material and resources necessary to further their knowledge in Advaita Vedanta.[16]

The teaching centres founded by Swami Dayananda conduct programs for the public to study the knowledge of Vedanta. There are more than sixty centres in India and across the globe that carry on the tradition of Vedantic teaching under the banner of "Arsha Vidya".

Students[edit | edit source]

The media has referred to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India and actor Rajinikanth as disciples of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.[17] The prominent sannyasi disciples of Swami Dayananda include Swami Suddhananda Saraswati who administered the Swami Dayananda Ashram at Rishikesh. Due to ill health, he later handed over the administration of the Ashram to Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati, who serves as the current head and chief acharya of the ashram. Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati serves as the head and chief acharya at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Swami Sadatmananda Saraswati serves as the head and chief acharya at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Annaikatti, Coimbatore. Swamini Brahmaprakasananda heads the Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam at Nagpur.

Some of his other senior disciples are Swami Paramarthananda, Swami Tattvavidananda, Swami Suddhabodhananda, Swami Brahmatmananda, Swami Tadatmananda, Swami Paramatmananda, Swami Nijananda, Swami Tadrupananda, Swamini Brahmalinananda, Swami Paripoornananda and Swamini Svatmavidyananda. All teachers from the Arsha Vidya tradition impart the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta around the world to seekers as taught by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.[10]

Prominent disciples include Swami Omkarananda Saraswati, who led the Bhuvaneshwari Peetam in Malamelkudi, Pudukottai and was appointed by Swami Dayananda Saraswati to head the Dharma Rakshana Samithi (DRS).

Other students include Anantanand Rambachan, a professor of religion at St. Olaf College, Minnesota (USA), and Vasudevacharya, previously Dr. Michael Comans, former faculty member in the Department of Indian Studies at the University of Sydney. Radha (Carol Whitfield, Ph.D.) an early student of Swami Dayananda helped establishing Sandeepany West and Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Saylorsburg USA, Arsha Kulam in California a centre for teaching of Advaita Vedanta.[18]

Associated organisations, activities, and dialogues[edit | edit source]

All India Movement for Seva[edit | edit source]

Main article: AIM For Seva

In addition to teaching, Swami Dayananda has initiated various philanthropic efforts. He founded the All India Movement for Seva (AIM for Seva) in the year 2000, with the vision of transforming society through a network of service, to bridge the urban-rural divide, thereby, empowering every person to contribute to the progress of the nation. The focus was on value-based education and reaching out to the children of rural India through a network of Chatralayams (Free student hostels) and schools. Swamiji proposed not alienate the child during their schooling and that parents are required initially to attend the school until the child is comfortable in the environment away from home.

In 2002, a major project witnessing growth in 2023 was initiated by Swami Dayanandaji. Located in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, "Swami Dayananda Krupa Home" provides lifetime therapy and support to men and children with developmental delays.[19] Awarded consultative status with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) by the United Nations in 2005,[20] this organisation is focused on serving people in the remote, rural areas of India, in the areas of education and health care.[21][22][23]

Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust[edit | edit source]

The Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust (AVRandPT) is the source for Swami Dayananda's teaching and writings. It is a registered non-profit organisation since 21 February 2005, and is head-quartered in Mylapore, Chennai. AVRandPT publishes Swamiji's teachings, covering his decades of classes, public lectures and short and long term courses. These are available in printed book form, audio, video, ebook formats and on card pen drives. The trust has also created a mobile app, "Teachings of Swami Dayananda", which is available for Android and iOS.[24]

Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha[edit | edit source]

In 2000, as an initiative of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, an apex body of Hindu religious heads of the various Sampradayas was created and convened by Swami Dayananda Saraswati's efforts. A congregation of the heads of various traditions meet, discuss contemporary issues concerning Hinduism and provide leadership and service to the society and country.[25]

Dharma Rakshana Samiti[edit | edit source]

In 1999, Dharma Rakshana Samiti was started by Sri Dayananda Saraswati to preserve Hinduism, its vision and way of life as the spiritual culture of India. Swamiji recognised that Hinduism, in present times, needs to be protected and preserved by its adherents.[26][27]

Inter-religious dialogue and international forums[edit | edit source]

Swami Dayananda has supported several inter-religious dialogues. He has participated in Hindu-Jewish conferences facilitated by the World Council of Religious Leaders under that organisation's "Religion One on One" initiative.[17][28] He had also participated in two Hindu-Buddhist summits. The first one, organised by the Global Peace Initiative of Women, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2009 and the second one was organised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2010.[29]

Sri Swami Dayananda has participated and contributed to a number of other international forums including:

  • United Nations gathering of NGOs in 1980
  • UNESCO Seoul Global Convention in September, 1995
  • United Nations 50th Anniversary Celebration in October, 1995
  • Millennium World Peace Summit in New York, September 2000
  • Initiated the International Congress for the Preservation of Religious Diversity – in Delhi, November 2001
  • The Conference on the Preservation of Sacred Sites in Taipei in June, 2002
  • Initiated the World Council for Preservation of Religious Diversity in Bangkok June, 2002
  • The Global Peace Initiative of Women in Geneva, October 2002
  • Initiated a Hindu-Christian dialogue with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, October 2002
  • Youth Peace Summit in Nairobi 2003

Restoration of temples, practices and worship[edit | edit source]

Swami Dayananda has promoted the preservation of ancient cultures, religious and spiritual practices of India that have survived several millennia yet struggle in modern times due to lack of support. He has started several Veda Pathashalas (Centers of Learning of Vedas) for the preservation of Vedas and Agamas to prevent their extinction due to a lack of infrastructure for learning.[30]

Swami Dayananda had appointed 35 oduvars in ancient Siva temples and paid them monthly allowance to sing the "Panniru Tirumurai", songs explaining Saiva Siddhanta philosophy.[31]

Swami Dayananda helped building five chariots for Sri Mahalingaswamy Temple at Tiruvidaimarudur near Kumbakonam in 2010 at a cost of more than five crore rupees and provided funds for the annual chariot festival.[32]

Swami Dayananda Saraswati filed a Writ Petition (W.P. 476/2012) before the Supreme Court of India challenging the Constitutional validity of various provisions of the Hindu Religious Endowments and Institutions Acts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry. This matter is now pending before the Supreme Court.[33]

He supported Dr. Subramanian Swamy to defend and protect Ram Sethu when the Union Government wanted to create a channel breaking it. He helped Dr. Subramanian Swamy implead in the Chidambaram Temple Case in the year 2009. Though the Podu Dikshitars and Dr. Subramanian Swamy lost the case in the Chidambaram Temple matter before the Madras High Court, their appeals were allowed by the Supreme Court which by its judgment, dated 06-Jan-2014 threw the Government out of the Chidambaram Sri Natarajar Temple, by setting aside the judgments passed by the Madras High Court. The Supreme Court's Judgment in the Chidambaram Temple Case came as a boost for retrieving Hindu temples from Government control.[citation needed]

Books[edit | edit source]

A non-exhaustive list of his books include:

  • Can We?
  • Conversion is Violence
  • Gurupurnima
  • Do All Religions Have the Same Goal?
  • Danam
  • Japa
  • Moments With Krishna
  • the True Teacher
  • Hinduism and Its Uniqueness
  • Purnamadah Purnamidam
  • Dialogues With Swami Dayananda
  • Discourses On Important Topics
  • Action and Reaction
  • Crisis Management
  • Exploring Vedanta
  • Freedom
  • Freedom from Fear
  • Freedom from Helplessness
  • Freedom from Sadness
  • Freedom from Stress
  • Freedom in Relationship
  • Friendship: The Essence of Vedic Marriage
  • Fundamental Problem
  • in the Vision of Vedanta
  • Insights
  • Introduction to Vedanta: Understanding the Fundamental Problem
  • Teaching of the Bhagavad Gita
  • Vision of Gita
  • Kenopanishad
  • Mundakopanishad (2 volume set)
  • Taittiriya Upanishad (2 volume set)
  • Mandukya Upanishad (4 volume set)
  • Knowledge and Action: The Two Fold Commitment
  • Living Versus Getting On
  • Mahavakya Vichara
  • Morning Meditation Prayers
  • What's Meditation?
  • Living Intelligently
  • Successful Living
  • Discovering Love
  • Value of Values
  • Need for Cognitive Change
  • Vedic View and Way of Life
  • Need for Personal Reorganisation
  • Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
  • Personal Re-Engineering in Management
  • Personnel Management
  • Prayer Guide
  • Problem is You, the Solution is You
  • Purpose of Prayer
  • Sadhana and the Sadhya
  • Sadhana Pancakam
  • Satyam and Mithya
  • Self-Knowledge
  • Sri Rudram
  • Sri Dakshinamurt Stotram
  • Drk-Drsya-Viveka
  • Vivekachudamani: Talks On 108 Selected Verses
  • Vishnusahasranama: With Translation and Commentary
  • Tattvabodha
  • Stress-Free Living
  • Surrender and Freedom
  • Talks and Essays (Vol. i)
  • Talks and Essays (Vol. ii)
  • Talks and Essays (Vol. iii)
  • Talks On "Who Am I?"
  • Talks On Meditation
  • Teaching Tradition of Advaita Vedanta
  • Understanding Between Parents and Children
  • Vedanta 24 X 7
  • Wedding Ceremony Based On Hindu Concepts
  • What You Love is the Pleased Self
  • Yoga of Objectivity
  • You Are the Whole

Books about Sarawati[edit | edit source]

  • Teacher of Teachers – biography by Padma Narasimhan
  • Contributions and Writings – biography by Sheela Balaji

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Narasimhan, Padma (1990). Swami Dayananda Saraswati: Traditional Teacher of Brahma Vidya. T T. Maps and Publications, Madras. ISBN 8170531039.
  2. ↑ "PM Narendra Modi's Spiritual Guru Dayanand Saraswati Gets Padma Bhushan". NDTV. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Hinduism saw renaissance in Swami Dayananda Saraswati's times". 25 September 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Narasimhan, Padma (2017). Swami Dayananda Saraswati: Teacher of Teachers. Chennai: Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust. pp. 30–48. ISBN 978-93-80049-88-5.
  5. ↑ "Swami Dayanand Saraswati". www.hinduscriptures.in. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Dayananda Saraswati - Bhagavatha". nama.co.in. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Swami Dayananda Saraswati". www.tititudorancea.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Redirect". Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Last rites of Swami Dayanand performed in Rishikesh". Hindustan Times. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Home | Arsha Vidya Sampradaya". www.arshasampradaya.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Guiding Light – JJK Gurukulam".
  12. ↑ "Swami Dayananda Ashram In Rishikesh UttarakhandTimings, Facts". Char Dham Yatra. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Arsha Vidya Gurukulam - Info, Timings, Photos, History". TemplePurohit - Your Spiritual Destination | Bhakti, Shraddha Aur Ashirwad. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Arsh Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti becomes IYA Member Institution". Indian Yoga Association. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "GuideStar India".
  16. ↑ "About Jnanapravaha - JÑĀNAPRAVĀHA - Vedanta Study Centre". 10 November 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Swami Dayananda - A Jewish Appreciation". HuffPost. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "Arsha Kulam". Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "AIM for Seva Krupa Home". enabled.in. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "NGO Committee Recommends Six Organizations for Special Consultative Status with Economic and Social Council, Defers Two Applications". United Nations : Information Service Vienna. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "From Silicon Valley to India's remotest tribal areas, AIM for Seva's work has impacted thousands - indica News". 3 December 2022.
  22. ↑ "Seva Begins in Your Heart and AIMS Brings Hope to a Rural Child | Indo American News". Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Unravelling the life of a visionary". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Arsha Vidya Research & Publication Trust". www.avrpt.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha – The Voice of Collective Consciousness". Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "Dharma_Rakshana_Samithi Smt. Kasturba Nimchand Shah P. Muthyalu Chetty Vivekananda Vidyalaya Junior College, Perambur, Chennai". www.sknspmcvv.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  27. ↑ "Home". www.dharmarakshanasamiti.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "Hindu and Jewish Religious Leaders Sign Declaration". hwpi.harvard.edu. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Swami Dayananda Saraswati Obituary (2015) - New York, NY - New York Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  30. ↑ Swami Dayananda Veda Pathashala (Kodavasal), 3 March 2017, retrieved 13 December 2023
  31. ↑ "Swami Dayananda Saraswati passes away". The Hindu. 23 September 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Revival of an ancient Temple Tradition". www.templenet.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "SC to hear 'freedom to temples' plea on July 13". The Hindu. 28 April 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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