The Arya Samaj of Aryavart
Colonel Olcott, President of the Theosophical Society of New York, calls our attention to the following rules of the Arya Samaj, which, he says, under the directions of its revered chief, the Swamee Dya Nand Saraswati, Pandit, have been translated from the Sanskrit by the learned Fellow and Brother, Shyamaji Crishnavarma, Pandit, for public information. He adds that “the time appearing auspicious, the Theosophical Society has affiliated with the great and noble brotherhood of the Ayra Samaj, in whose member ship are included many of the best minds and the profoundest scholars among the Hindus, and has established a Vedic Section. Its members are already at work founding schools, delivering lectures, holding public assemblages, translating the Vedas, the Saddharshana Chintanika (or six schools of Indian philosophy), etc,, publishing newspapers, and otherwise carrying on an active crusade against idolatry and superstition in whatever creed or country they may be found. Admitted to fraternal co-operation in this holy work, the Theosophical Society, in behalf of the Ayra Samaj, appeals for the zealous support of its Fellows, and the good-will of every lover of truth and virtue and enemy of ecclesiastical tyranny.” The following are the rules of the Ayra Samaj, translated from the Sanskrit for the information of Western Theosophists:—
1. AUM. It is necessary that Arya Samajas be established for the benefit of all people.
2. The four texts of the Vedas shall be received and regarded as containing within themselves all that is necessary to constitute them an extraordinary authority in all matters relating to human conduct; and the Bramanas, beginning with the Shatapatka, the six Angas or the limbs of the Vedas, beginning with the Shiksha; the four Upvedas, the six Darshanas or the Schools of Philosophy, and the 1,127 Lectures on the Vedas, called Shakhas, or the branches, shall be accepted as exponents of the meaning of the Vedas, as well as of the history of the Aryas. So far as these shall concur with the views of the Vedas, they shall be considered as an ordinary authority.
3. In the metropolis of every country a principal Samaja shall be established. All other Samajas shall be branches and sub-branches of the principal, and in all things subject to its authority; while the principal Samaja itself shall, in every department, be under the control of the supreme Arya Samaja of Aryavart.
4. The management of the branch Samajas shall be in accordance with that of the principal in each country.
5. The principal Arya Samajas shall, subject to the approval of the parent Arya Samaja and its direct chiefs, publish various books in and from the Sanskrit and modern languages, as well as issue as its organ a weekly paper under the title of the Arya Prakasha (of the place in which it is published); and in order to disseminate as widely as possible a knowledge of the truth, this paper shall be regularly circulated among the members and the different branches.
6. Each Samaja shall have a president and a secretary, and persons of either sex shall be admissible as members.
7. It shall be the duty of the president to generally direct and be responsible for the proper management of the affairs of the Samaja, and the secretary shall conduct the correspondence, and keep a written record of its proceedings.
8. Any person of unblemished character, who shall be nominated by two members of good standing, will be eligible for membership with the Samaja.
9. After having made proper provision for the daily wants of his family, it shall be the duty of each member to exert himself for the prosperity of the Samaja with even more zeal than he would devote to his domestic interests; while the ascetics—or those who aspire to adept-ship—must necessarily consecrate themselves entirely to its service.
10. Meetings of the Samajas shall, once in each week, be held in some convenient and appropriate place.
11. At the weekly meetings questions and answers shall be peacefully and impartially exchanged among the members, and a lecture shall be delivered with an interpretation of Vedic hymns. Before and after the lecture, songs treating of the divine All, true religious philosophy, good morals, and sound precepts shall be sung according to the Samaveda custom, and, when possible, with musical accompaniments.
12. Every member will be expected, of his own free will, to contribute one per cent, of his monthly income, and the money thus obtained shall be devoted to the support of the Arya Samaja, and its weekly paper, as well as a school which it shall establish and conduct under the name of the Aryavidyalaya (of the place in which it is situate). Contributions shall not, however, be limited to this amount, for, as in giving, a member shall be working for the good of humanity in general, and not for the advancement of any sect or the propagation of unphilosophical and undemonstrated dogmas of human origin, the more he shall willingly bestow, the greater will be the merit to which he shall attain.
13. In all cases, the Samaja shall acknowledge and show its appreciation of the efforts of individual members for the promotion of its interests.
14. Adoration, prayer, and devotion shall be offered by the members to one God only, abstracted from all idea of shape and form, and without any second, as embodied in the Vedas.
15. The Samaja shall observe, in strict accordance with Vedic forms, all Sanskaras (ceremonies), beginning with the Nishika (pre-natal), and ending with the Antyeshti (funeral).
16. In the schools of the Samajas persons of each sex shall be received and instructed in the true knowledge contained in the philosophy of the Vedas and the works of the ancient sages—Arshagrantha.
17. The objects of the Samaja are twofold—the correction and elevation of the temporal and spiritual condition of its people, and the good of humanity in general.
18. As it is the Vedas only which teach doctrines which can bear the test of logical examination and scientific demonstration, and they alone which are propounded by the founders of the Arya Samaja, therefore it is required that every member shall follow out, so far at least as lies in his power, the religious practices contained in these, and these only. No tenets of other so-called religions which conflict therewith shall be deemed as of any authority whatever.
19. The Samaja shall embrace every opportunity of sending forth in all directions, upon lecturing tours, such of its members as are deserving of confidence and qualified to instruct in the Vedic philosophy.
20. So far as the means of the Samaja shall permit, schools shall be established in different places to impart instruction to persons of each sex. In these schools males and females shall be separately taught, and all instructors and servants shall be of the same sex as the pupils.
21. The principal Samaja shall have control over the work, the schools, and the expenditure of all money belonging to the various branches, and in the distribution of the latter shall have due regard to their several interests.
22. The president and members must invariably treat one another with great love and respect for the good of the Samaja, laying aside all party spirit, malice, anger, and all disorganising vices.
23. The examination of all worldly affairs shall be conducted with strict impartiality, so that from every proposition truth may be extracted and justice may prevail among the members.
24. Any member who shall strictly follow these rules shall be classed in the first section, and be regarded as fitted for the holy life and the reception of the highest truths of the Vedic philosophy: those who adhere to them partially shall form the second section; while any member who refuses to openly declare his connection with the Samaja, and neglects to live according to these rules, shall thereby forfeit his membership. This rule must be enforced with strict impartiality, and judgment rendered only by members possessing the highest confidence of the Samaja.
25. Every member of a Samaja will be expected (if necessary even at the expense of his fortune and his life) to use his utmost endeavours to defend the rights, elevate the position, and extend the influence of the Arya Samaja and everything connected with it.
26. Whenever practicable, members must employ or serve their fellow-members to the exclusion of any one not belonging to the Samaja, and a due regard must, in all such cases, be had to the duties and rights of master and servant.
27. At the celebration of a marriage, at the birth of a child, or the solemnization of a funeral, as well as when a member is in any way highly benefited, it is expected that a donation of money will be made to the Samaja. The observance of this rule is of the highest importance.
28. No amendment, alteration, or addition can be made to these rules without notice given previous to the day upon which the matter shall be brought before the Samaja.
Editor's notes
Sources
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London Spiritualist, No. 320, October 11, 1878, p. 180