Satyarth Prakash

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AUM or OM is considered by the Arya Samaj to be the highest and most proper name of God.

The Satyarth Prakash was written by Swami Dayanand, the founder of Arya Samaj. During the Middle Ages of Indian history, many faiths and sects sprang up in religious and social spheres of Hindu Society. They drifted away from the teachings of the Vedas and attached greater significance to their founders and their preachings. From then onwards polytheism commenced. Great differences developed among the different sects and divided and weakened Hindu society. The caste system based on birth became strong and gave rise to further fragmentation. Superstition, ignorance and blind faith spread and caused the degradation of the Hindu religion and society.

It was at this time that Swami Dayanand wrote the Satyarth Prakash in order to spread the knowledge of the Vedas and to educate people on the true qualities of God. The Satyarth Prakash contains exposition and clarifications of Vedic principles. Some of the important topics in the Satyarth Prakash are worship one God, explanation of the main principles of the Vedas, the relationship between Religion and Science and between devotion and intellect, elimination of the caste system and of different religious beliefs for the strengthening of society, eradication of superstitions, false notions and meaningless customs, shunning narrow-mindedness and promoting brotherhood of man. ^[1]

[edit] Contents of Satyarth Prakash

The book, written in 1875, contains fourteen chapters, the contents of which are detailed below:

Chapter	Content
1	The first chapter is an exposition of “Om” and other names of God.
2	The second chapter provides guidance on the upbringing of children.
3	The third chapter explains the life of of Brahmacharya (bachelor), the duties and qualifications of scholars and teachers, good and bad books and the scheme of studies.
4	Chapter 4 is about marriage and married life.
5	Chapter 5 is about giving up materialism and starting to carry out community service.
6	Chapter 6 is about Science of Government
7	Chapter 7 is about Veda and God.
8	Chapter 8 deals with Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution of the Universe.
9	Chapter 9 deals with knowledge and ignorance, and emancipation and bondage.
10	Chapter 10 deals with desirable and undesirable conduct and permissible and forbidden diet.
11	Chapter 11 contains criticism of the various religions and sects prevailing in India.
12	Chapter 12 deals with the Charvaka, Buddha (Buddhist) and Jain religions.
13	Chapter 13 has his views on Christianity (the Bible).
14	Chapter 14 has his views on Muhammadism (Qur’an).