The book was originally written in Hindi by Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 CE. The third chapter explains the life of Brahmacarya (bachelor), the duties and qualifications of scholars and teachers, good and bad books and the scheme of studies.Ĭhapter 4 is about marriage and married life.Ĭhapter 5 is about giving up materialism and starting to carry out community service.Ĭhapter 6 is about Science of Government.Ĭhapter 8 deals with Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution of the Universe.Ĭhapter 9 deals with knowledge and ignorance, and emancipation and bondage.Ĭhapter 10 deals with desirable and undesirable conduct and permissible and forbidden diet.Ĭhapter 11 contains criticism of the various religions and sects prevailing in India.Ĭhapter 12 deals with the Charvaka, Buddha and Jainism (Agamas)(his views)Ĭhapter 13 deals with Christianity.(his views) The second chapter provides guidance on the upbringing of children. The first chapter is an exposition of “ Om” and other names of God. The book contains fourteen chapters, the contents of which are detailed below: Chapter Some of the important topics in the Satyarth Prakash include worship of 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 the brotherhood of man.

The book advocates Vedic monism based on Advaita Vedanta. The Satyarth Prakash contains exposition and clarifications of Vedic principles. It was at this time that Swami Dayanand wrote Satyarth Prakash in order to spread the knowledge of the Vedas and to educate people on the true qualities of God. The word Hindu is a Persian word, used by the Muslims and the renaming of the Vaidic religion to 'Hindu' demonstrates the level of weakening to the Vaidic faith. The word Hindu does not appear anywhere in the Vedic texts or even the Bhagavad Gita. The word Hindu is an improper word or misnomer- the correct word is Vaidic Dharma or Sanathana Dharma, a religion based upon the Vedas. Like with any aging society without reforms, the customs gave way to superstition and ignorance wherein practice superseded reason and the spread of blind faith threatened degradation of 'Hindu' society. The caste system based on birth became strong and gave rise to further fragmentation. Great differences developed among the different sects and divided and weakened Hindu society.

Their practitioners slowly migrated away from the teachings of the Vedas attaching greater significance to their founders and their preachings. During the Middle Ages of Indian history, many faiths and sects sprang up in religious and social spheres of Hindu society.

Satyarth prakash pdf