Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of New Delhi, India with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Hours which are past midnight are suffixed with next day date. In Panchang day starts and ends with sunrise.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (1824-1883 C.E.) was a great social reformer, Vedic scholar and the founder of Arya Samaj. According to the Gregorian calendar, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was born on February 12, 1824, in Tankara, Gujarat. Therefore, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is celebrated every year on February 12 to mark his birth anniversary. As per the Purnimanta Hindu Panchang, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was born on Phalguna Krishna Dashami. In the Amanta Panchang, this day falls on Magha Krishna Dashami. However, the day of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is the same in both Panchangs, and only the name of the month differs depending on the Panchang.
The childhood name of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was Mulshankar. Maharishi Dayanand was born in a religious Brahmin family. According to a well-known account of his life, during his adolescence, on the occasion of Shivaratri, he saw a mouse climbing on the Shivalinga in a temple at night and eating the offerings. This incident raised many questions in his mind about idol worship and religious beliefs. This episode is mainly described in his traditional biographies. The death of close relatives in the family also led him to ponder the mystery of life and death.
To find answers to the questions that arose in his mind, Mulshankar left home in search of truth and knowledge. After taking sannyasa, he became famous as Swami Dayanand Saraswati. During his journey of learning, he reached Mathura, where he received education from Swami Virjanand, a great Sanskrit and Vedic scholar. Under his guidance, he made an in-depth study of the Vedas, Upanishads, grammar and Vedic literature.
On the occasion of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti, various institutions of Arya Samaj organise yajna, Vedic mantra recitation, lectures, seminars and programmes based on the life and teachings of Maharishi Dayanand. Among his major works, Satyarth Prakash is especially studied, and his ideas on social reform are also remembered.
Maharishi Dayanand created a widespread awakening in the fields of Vedic dharma, education, social reform and self-respect in the 19th century. His religious thought was mainly based on the supreme authority of the Vedas. For this reason, his ideological movement is often expressed through the call "Go back to the Vedas". He travelled to many regions of the country, delivered public lectures and held debates with scholars on various religious and social subjects.
Satyarth Prakash holds a prominent place among the most famous works of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. The first edition of Satyarth Prakash was published in the year 1875. In this book, he presented his views on God, the Vedas, education, society, dharma, karma, rebirth and various religious beliefs.
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in the year 1875 in Bombay, present-day Mumbai. The aim of Arya Samaj was to propagate Vedic principles and to remove the social inequalities and evil practices prevalent in society at that time. Over time, Arya Samaj became an influential movement for education and social reform in many parts of India, especially North India.
According to the Hindu calendar, Guru Ravidas was born on Magha Purnima. That's why his birth anniversary is celebrated every year on Magha Purnima. Guru Ravidas was a famous saint of the Bhakti Movement. Guru Ravidas is also known as Raidas, Rohidas and Ruhidas.
A complete list of all Indian festivals and holidays is given on this page. This list contains all public, national, regional and religious holidays. In addition, the given list also includes Bank Holidays, Islamic Holidays, Christian Holidays, and other important observances.
