Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (1824–1883)

Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was an Indian philosopher, social reformer, and the founder of the Arya Samaj, a reform movement within Hinduism that aimed to revive the Vedic way of life. Born on February 12, 1824, in a small village called Tankara in present-day Gujarat, India, Dayanand was originally named Mool Shankar by his parents, who were devout Brahmins. His early life was steeped in religious traditions, and he was trained in the teachings of Hindu scriptures.