ĀRya SamāJ

A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism

a Hindu reform movement founded in 1875 by Dayānanda (1824–83) with the motto ‘Back to the Vedas’, but under the influence of some liberal modern ideas, resulting from European type education introduced to India.

Although respecting caste distinctions, Dayānanda denied their religious status and introduced the ‘rite of purification’ (śuddhi) for readmission into Hinduism of converts to other religions. This developed into a wider śuddhi movement for low caste and outcast communities, giving them equal status with higher caste Hindus in religious matters, but it has not had a universal success, because of the resistance of high caste Hindus.