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Light of Truth Satyarth Prakash: Maharishi Dayanand
The Light of Meaning of the Truth" or The Light of Truth) is a 1875 book written originally in Hindi by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, a renowned religious and social reformer and the founder of Arya Samaj. It is considered one of his major scholarly works. The book was subsequently revised by Swami Dayanand Saraswathy in 1882 and has now been translated into more than 20 languages including Sanskrit and several foreign languages like English, French, German, Swahili, Arabic and Chinese. The major portion of the book is dedicated to laying down the reformist advocacy of Swami Dayanand with the last three chapters making a case for comparative study of different religious faiths.
- GenresPhilosophySpirituality
811 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1875
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 27, 2021
I think that had Dayanand lived long enough to study the works of Watson and Crick under that of Darwin and had he been listening to his conscience instead of following a promise mindlessly, he would have turned into a nonbeliever (as I am). He is very critical. His critical arguments against religious dogma and social taboos in the second half of the book are very attractive. Attractive but not rational enough. Attractive, yeah!
In this book, he utterly rejects anything and everything that contradict the Vedas and common sense. Also, he does a remarkable job at reinterpreting the Vedas to suit common sense (like claiming that Surya, Agni, Vayu, Indra, etc. are the features of that one formless-supreme-entity). Although many of the views he supported lack evidence (to name a few: retention of semen makes one mentally and physically strong, knowledge has spread throughout the globe from India, Vedas are infallible, etc.), his intense criticism of orthodox and heterodox religions of India (including vaishnavism) as well as the Christianity and Islam are pretty cozy to read and funny to contemplate upon (notice, I didn't say they are analytically rigorous). For instance, he argues thus, If your god is 'merciful' and 'loves you' why did he order to kill animals and infidels. He openly rejects Ramayana's and Mahabharata's claim that Rama and Krishna were divine avatara, and promotes that they were merely good humans. He regards all Puranas (including the celebrated Bhagavata and Shiva Purana) work of nuts. He approaches quite rationally at that front but analytically, his arguments are not rigorous enough. Being an atheist, I personally enjoyed his criticisms with waves of laughter. On a social and political note, he has literally copied all lines and para of Manu Smriti, though making effort to keep out the casteist ideology that the latter perpetrated. Dayanand was a social reformer afterall.
This book contains the founding principles of Arya Samaj, then a social reformist organisation, and now only a nationalist one. The book has 14 chapters. First 10 establish the ideas Dayanand promoted and the latter 4 (covering the second half) are wholly critical. The whole book is in QandA format.
Also, note that Dayanand is counted among the top six conservative reformists of the Indian education system - Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Gandhi, Radhakrishnan, Tagore, and Dayanand.
Easy read! Very easy!
In this book, he utterly rejects anything and everything that contradict the Vedas and common sense. Also, he does a remarkable job at reinterpreting the Vedas to suit common sense (like claiming that Surya, Agni, Vayu, Indra, etc. are the features of that one formless-supreme-entity). Although many of the views he supported lack evidence (to name a few: retention of semen makes one mentally and physically strong, knowledge has spread throughout the globe from India, Vedas are infallible, etc.), his intense criticism of orthodox and heterodox religions of India (including vaishnavism) as well as the Christianity and Islam are pretty cozy to read and funny to contemplate upon (notice, I didn't say they are analytically rigorous). For instance, he argues thus, If your god is 'merciful' and 'loves you' why did he order to kill animals and infidels. He openly rejects Ramayana's and Mahabharata's claim that Rama and Krishna were divine avatara, and promotes that they were merely good humans. He regards all Puranas (including the celebrated Bhagavata and Shiva Purana) work of nuts. He approaches quite rationally at that front but analytically, his arguments are not rigorous enough. Being an atheist, I personally enjoyed his criticisms with waves of laughter. On a social and political note, he has literally copied all lines and para of Manu Smriti, though making effort to keep out the casteist ideology that the latter perpetrated. Dayanand was a social reformer afterall.
This book contains the founding principles of Arya Samaj, then a social reformist organisation, and now only a nationalist one. The book has 14 chapters. First 10 establish the ideas Dayanand promoted and the latter 4 (covering the second half) are wholly critical. The whole book is in QandA format.
Also, note that Dayanand is counted among the top six conservative reformists of the Indian education system - Vivekananda, Aurobindo, Gandhi, Radhakrishnan, Tagore, and Dayanand.
Easy read! Very easy!
November 30, 2018
This books give me clarity about religion. Fundamental of each religion, why they are following and what sort of ritual introduce in our society - such points in depth understanding provided by Swami Dayananda Sarasvati. This book is for those who want's to know about religions and Vedas.
October 6, 2018
Changed my perspective on veda dharma after reading this book
June 16, 2022
You will get true Knowledge about Vedas And Vedic Cultural History. First 10 Chapters are about Vedic Culture, it's Principles & it's history. 11 Chapter is Comparative Study, Criticism & History Of Puranic Religions. 12 Chapter is Comparative Study, Criticism , History of Buddhism & Jainism , 13 Chapter is Criticism of Christanity & 14 Chapter is Criticism Islam.
January 30, 2022
जितना ज्ञान आवश्यक है वह वेदादि सच्छास्त्रों में उपलब्ध है। उनके ग्रहण में सब सत्य का ग्रहण हो जाता है।
अतः सत्य ज्ञान की प्राप्ति के लिए सबसे पहले आर्ष ग्रंथ ही पढ़ने चाहिए।
जल से बाहर के अंग, सत्याचार से मन… विद्या और धर्मानुष्ठान से जीवात्मा… और ज्ञाते बुद्धि पवित्र होती है।
अतः सत्य ज्ञान की प्राप्ति के लिए सबसे पहले आर्ष ग्रंथ ही पढ़ने चाहिए।
जल से बाहर के अंग, सत्याचार से मन… विद्या और धर्मानुष्ठान से जीवात्मा… और ज्ञाते बुद्धि पवित्र होती है।
February 12, 2022
If you want to seek ultra clarity what Vedas would offer to humanity. What is the difference between Dogma/religion and Dharma. Then this book is for you. In my opinion every hindu should read it. The book would lead to study of various other books.
I would say it is indeed a treasure.
I would say it is indeed a treasure.
March 29, 2020
I didn't like the format it was written otherwise an awesome book. If you are patient and strict with it.
July 23, 2022
More of religious bigotry that truth coming to light.
February 6, 2023
best knowledge. awakened
June 2, 2025
this book start like marriage manual and ends like political propaganda
February 22, 2025
Book review: Satyarth Prakash by Maharishi Dayanand Sarswati
This is not just an ordinary Book but a tool which can open your eyes and mind, it has the power to make you mently strong, fearless and it will develope your logical and critical critical thinking.
Although it's content is Spiritual and you may think it's outdated and not useful in today's time, but if you have pasions to read it till end you are sure to wake up in a new world of clarity and understanding.
Writing style: its written in a format where you will need to put a little effort to understand and leave all your pre conceived notions aside and read it with a fresh mind.written in Q/A format.
It recommend that adopt what is given in vedas and gives zest of vedas in simple languag.
From very beginning it will tell you about GOD and explanations of different names.
Then you will be able to learn about lifestyle followed in Vedic Era, from birth to death and beyond.
And then from 11th chapters onwards it will start challenging your beliefs and learnings with strong logics.
What hapens when you read this book :
You read it ,
You unlearn all irrational beliefs which are prominent in the name of religious Practices
Become a new you with clarity and now you will not waste your precious time, money and energy on these so called religious Practices.
Strongly critical book
This is not just an ordinary Book but a tool which can open your eyes and mind, it has the power to make you mently strong, fearless and it will develope your logical and critical critical thinking.
Although it's content is Spiritual and you may think it's outdated and not useful in today's time, but if you have pasions to read it till end you are sure to wake up in a new world of clarity and understanding.
Writing style: its written in a format where you will need to put a little effort to understand and leave all your pre conceived notions aside and read it with a fresh mind.written in Q/A format.
It recommend that adopt what is given in vedas and gives zest of vedas in simple languag.
From very beginning it will tell you about GOD and explanations of different names.
Then you will be able to learn about lifestyle followed in Vedic Era, from birth to death and beyond.
And then from 11th chapters onwards it will start challenging your beliefs and learnings with strong logics.
What hapens when you read this book :
You read it ,
You unlearn all irrational beliefs which are prominent in the name of religious Practices
Become a new you with clarity and now you will not waste your precious time, money and energy on these so called religious Practices.
Strongly critical book
June 3, 2016
Original Hindi version is quite difficult to tread thru. This book while is good for getting critical review of all religions Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity, Pauranic-Hinduism, etc, is still heavily biased towards Vedic- Hinduism.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews