Socio-Religious Movements in Maharastra and South-India (19th Century)
Prarthana Samaj, ( “Prayer Society” Sanskrit was used), (bombay)
Hindu reform society established in Bombay in the 1860s. In purpose it is similar to, but not affiliated with, the more widespread Brahmo Samaj and had its greatest sphere of influence in and around India’s Mahārāshtra state. The aim of the society is the promulgation of theistic worship and social reform, and its early goals were opposition to the caste system, the introduction of widow remarriage, the encouragement of female education, and the abolition of child marriage.
the society never required members to give up caste, idol worship, or the traditional religious sacraments. Early leaders of the movement were M.G. Ranade , who was a prominent social reformer and a judge of the Bombay High Court, and R.G. Bhandarkar, a noted scholar of Sanskrit.
Activities of the Prarthana Samaj include study groups, the support of missionaries, a journal, night schools for working people, free libraries, women’s and student associations, and an orphanage. Its members were instrumental in the organization of other important social-reform movements that arose at the turn of the century, including the Depressed Classes Mission Society of India and the National Social Conference. Like that of the Brahmo Samajand the Arya Samaj, the success of the Prarthana Samaj in restoring Hindu self-respect was an important factor in the growth of Indian nationalism.
Arya Samaj (Bombay)
Between 1869 and 1873, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a native of Gujarat, made his first attempt at reform in India. This attempt took the form of the establishment of "Vedic Schools" or "gurukuls" which put an emphasis on Vedic values, culture and religion to its students.
The Vedic Schools represented the first practical application of Swami Dayanand’s vision of religious and social reform. students were not allowed to perform traditional idol worship at the school, and were instead expected to perform sandhya (a form of meditative prayer
Hindu reform society established in Bombay in the 1860s. In purpose it is similar to, but not affiliated with, the more widespread Brahmo Samaj and had its greatest sphere of influence in and around India’s Mahārāshtra state. The aim of the society is the promulgation of theistic worship and social reform, and its early goals were opposition to the caste system, the introduction of widow remarriage, the encouragement of female education, and the abolition of child marriage.
the society never required members to give up caste, idol worship, or the traditional religious sacraments. Early leaders of the movement were M.G. Ranade , who was a prominent social reformer and a judge of the Bombay High Court, and R.G. Bhandarkar, a noted scholar of Sanskrit.
Activities of the Prarthana Samaj include study groups, the support of missionaries, a journal, night schools for working people, free libraries, women’s and student associations, and an orphanage. Its members were instrumental in the organization of other important social-reform movements that arose at the turn of the century, including the Depressed Classes Mission Society of India and the National Social Conference. Like that of the Brahmo Samajand the Arya Samaj, the success of the Prarthana Samaj in restoring Hindu self-respect was an important factor in the growth of Indian nationalism.
Arya Samaj (Bombay)
Between 1869 and 1873, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, a native of Gujarat, made his first attempt at reform in India. This attempt took the form of the establishment of "Vedic Schools" or "gurukuls" which put an emphasis on Vedic values, culture and religion to its students.
The Vedic Schools represented the first practical application of Swami Dayanand’s vision of religious and social reform. students were not allowed to perform traditional idol worship at the school, and were instead expected to perform sandhya (a form of meditative prayer