Arya Samaj

The Arya Samaj, the "society of the noble", a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in Bombay in 1875: one formless God, whose highest name is Om; the four Vedas the only infallible scripture; no images, the Puranas set aside, and Rama and Krishna honoured as great men, not as God come down. Its ten principles are its charter. It worships around the fire. Each Sunday morning the samaj meets in a plain, carpeted hall with a havan kund at its centre and Om on the wall: Sandhya and the Gayatri mantra, the havan, with the week's sponsoring family seated at the kund and everyone chanting the Vedic mantras and offering ghee and herbs into the flames, bhajans, a sermon on a Vedic theme by the acharya or a visiting scholar, and lunch, given by the same family. With no deity to wake, dress or feed, there are no daily rites and no visitors coming for darshan; people come for the service and go home after lunch, and attendance is steady through a year of fewer, plainer festivals (Diwali above all, the night Dayananda died). The samskaras are its work, by the Vedic rites of his book: namings, the sacred thread (given to girls too), havans at home, and weddings, which couples of different castes, or none, seek out. Its priesthood is by learning, not birth, and women serve as priests. In America it's small, some forty to sixty samajs in two streams that rarely mix: North Indian (often Punjabi) samajs federated in the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of America, founded in Detroit in 1991, and Indo-Caribbean, mostly Guyanese, samajs around New York, in the United Arya Samaj Federation; sermons are in Hindi at the first and in English at the second. Each samaj is independent, with an elected committee whose elections are fought over, and the wider bodies run conventions, camps and priests' training but direct no one. Education is its pride. Practice varies from samaj to samaj, and the research note marks what's unverified.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it and what sets its faith apart; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

Faith	Hinduism
Its words	samaj, Vedic temple, yagya shala; the acharya leads the havan; the pravachan; Sunday; the Vedas
Worship	sacrament focus, chanted, low formality (0.33 of 1); seated on floor
Music	organ discouraged; gospel organ discouraged; piano discouraged; band discouraged; brass discouraged; handbells discouraged; chant expected
The room's sound	likes a ringing room (organ and choir)
Its year	arya samaj; full observance; fasts none
Leans	neutral on moral questions, neutral on economic ones
Polity	congregational; leaders come by call; property local
Leaders	one leader, bivocational, trained by course of study; marriage any
Belonging	moderate commitment, none discipline, admitted by board
Giving	tithing not emphasised; collected by plate, online; also rentals
Way of life	alcohol abstinence, dress modest, sabbath relaxed, meat vegetarian

The week's services

Day	Time	Service	Led by	People look for it
Sunday	10:00 am	Sunday havan (in Hindi, then preeti bhoj, free to all, 60 minutes)	the acharya	expected

Leader: an acharya. With none (a vacancy, or no one hired), the services are still held, but each costs everyone at it 0.10; on sabbatical a supply acharya stands in ($800 a month) for a little less.
Preeti bhoj: after the havan on Sunday, free to all: everyone there eats, visitors too, and nobody is asked for a donation. A household sponsors each, members taking turns, giving its cost and a fifth more; with none, the congregation pays. It needs a stove and a cook from the volunteers for each 40 there (the sponsors cook too); those it can't feed go without (−0.02), and when it can't be held, or is dropped, its regulars miss it (−0.04).
Weddings: at 10:00, on any day (a Sabbath kept is passed over).
Its table: vegetarian: meals cost 0.85× as much.

Rites

Havan at home (on request, +0.03 to those there, $101 from the household, asked for 0.35 times a year by a household, at home (90 minutes and half an hour's journey each way)): The Arya Samaj's priest comes to a member's home for a havan on a birthday, a housewarming, an anniversary or a death: a portable copper kund on the floor, the family and their guests seated round it, the Vedic mantras chanted and ghee and samagri offered at each svaha, with a short talk and a meal after. No image is worshipped. The family gives the priest dakshina, and the samaj its fee.
Naming ceremony (on request, +0.03 to those there, $101 from the household, asked for 0.04 times a year by a household, 75 minutes): A baby's naming (namakarana; chhatti in a Caribbean family), weeks or months after the birth: the priest worships Ganesha and the household's deities, a fire is lit, and the name, chosen with the birth star in mind, is whispered in the baby's ear and said aloud. Often joined with the first solid food (annaprashan) when the child is six months old. Held at the Vedic temple or at home, at the samaj's listed price.
Sacred thread ceremony (on request, +0.04 to those there, $251 from the household, asked for 0.03 times a year by a household, 180 minutes): The upanayana, a boy's second birth into Vedic learning, most often between eight and sixteen: his head is shaved or his hair cut, he is invested with the sacred thread (yajnopavita) across his left shoulder, and the priest or his father teaches him the Gayatri mantra under a cloth; then he begs alms from his mother and the guests. Kept mostly by families of the traditionally twice-born castes; an Arya Samaj gives the thread to girls too, and to anyone who would study the Vedas. A half-day rite at the Vedic temple, at the samaj's listed price.
Car puja (on request, +0.01 to those there, $51 from the household, asked for 0.12 times a year by a household, 20 minutes): A new car blessed in the samaj's car park (vahana puja): the priest chants for the family's safety on the road, draws a swastika or Om in turmeric and kumkum on the bonnet, ties a garland or a sacred thread to the mirror, and lemons are set under the tyres for the car to roll over. Not done in cold, snow or rain. Quick and cheap, at the listed price.
Hindu wedding (on request, +0.03 to those there): A Hindu wedding (vivaha) before the sacred fire: Ganesha worshipped first, the bride given by her parents (kanyadaan), the couple's hands joined, offerings into the fire, the seven steps (saptapadi) or the circling of the fire that make the marriage, and the mangalsutra or sindoor; two to three hours in the morning at the hour the priest has found auspicious, with the families' music and a meal after. An Arya Samaj gives the plain Vedic form, valid whatever the couple's caste; an Indo-Caribbean family keeps its own customs around it, the maticore the day before. The samaj charges its listed price, and the priest's dakshina besides.
Antyesti (on request, +0.02 to those there): The last rites: the body washed and dressed at the funeral home, prayers and a havan led by the priest there, and cremation at a commercial crematorium, the eldest son or the nearest kin starting the fire (pressing the button, in America). The ashes are taken to a river, or sent to India. The samaj holds what follows: prayers and a meal on the tenth or thirteenth day (das gaat and terahi in a Caribbean family), and a memorial havan; the anniversary comes round each year.

Joining

Joining: a content regular is received as a member after about 4 weeks.
Joining age: 18.
Kinds of belonging: members (votes, may hold office); the satsang; received by its board.
What it means: being received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home at each of its great days (at most once a month) for ten years.

Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

How it's given: the dan, by a plate passed at each main service, and giving online. A visiting household puts $5 to $25 in the plate. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
Tithing isn't emphasised: people give 10% less.
Rites asked for: households book 4 rites at the prices it lists, from $51 to $251 (below), members half as often again as regulars; the fees go to the dakshina line, in place of a flat stipend.
Renting space: its congregations are known for it, so tenants pay 15% more.
Fundraisers: any it allows (below).
Owed above: nothing.

The acharya, the staff, and who decides

How the acharya comes: advertised and called: the management committee votes.
Paid: part time, alongside other work (a bivocational leader).
Candidates: scarce: two apply, and a search takes four months longer; trained by a course of study (less skilled; they ask 90%); women among them (about a third); most married.
Tenure: settled, then may be called elsewhere.
Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Bivocational acharya ($22,000–$38,000; cares for 75)
- Associate acharya ($42,000–$62,000 + $15,000 benefits, full time; cares for 100 more)
- Hindi and Vedic classes coordinator (unpaid; from the members; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Samaj secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
- Samaj manager ($40,000–$70,000 + $12,000 benefits, full time; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once); cares for 30 more)
Its boards: the management committee (deciding, over everything).
Renovations: The management committee votes.
New construction: The members vote, consulting the management committee.
Calling a leader: The management committee votes.
Who votes: members, 16 and over.

Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

Ministries of its own: Bhajan group, Sanskrit and language classes, Seniors' satsang, Seva meals, Yoga for the neighbourhood.
Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Health clinic, Preschool, Youth group.
Fundraisers of its own: Diwali mela, Shila campaign.
Shared fundraisers it may hold: Auction, Bake sale, Car wash, Rummage sale.
Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, Dance classes, Parties and receptions, Weddings in the dining hall.
Outreach: invitation Sunday, literature (from a reading room or an office) (Community → Evangelism).
Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): A horse in the street, The trustees' election.
Dilemmas its code of life brings: A raffle for the roof, A recruiter asks for the hall, Champagne at the reception.

What the building needs

required Havan kundWorship is the havan: offerings of ghee and herbs into the sacred fire with Vedic hymns, around the kund at the centre of the hall.
required Shoe rackShoes come off, and hands are washed, before the hall where everyone sits on the carpet round the fire.
required kitchenThe Arya Samaj asks every samaj for one.
forbidden Murti shrineArya Samaj worships without images: God, it teaches, has no form.
expected LecternScripture is proclaimed from an ambo or lectern near the altar.
discouraged Drum kitA band and drum kit do not belong in this tradition's worship.
discouraged Hammond organA gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged Upright pianoA piano doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged Pipe organAn organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.

What people here feel

Architectural style: Colonial brick +0.052; Modern synagogue +0.034; Gurdwara +0.028; Japanese temple +0.016; Islamic +0.01; Shinto shrine +0.01; Chinese temple +0.004; Dravidian temple -0.002; Nagara temple -0.002; Thai temple -0.002; Jain marble -0.008; Gothic -0.014.
Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
Acoustics: it wants a ringing room, about 2.8 seconds of reverberation: stone, plaster, a high ceiling. Up to ±0.05.
The pravachan lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the acharya's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.

How each pravachan lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

Gratitude+0.015
Hope & Comfort+0.015
Karma and Dharma+0.015
Lessons of the Ramayana+0.015
Service as Worship+0.015
Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter by Chapter+0.015
The Light of the Vedas+0.015
The Upanishads+0.015
What the Festival Means+0.015
Care for Creation-0.02
Faith & Family-0.02
Faith of Our Fathers-0.02
Healing for All-0.02
Interfaith Understanding-0.02
Reading Scripture in Context-0.02
Resisting Temptation-0.02
Swords into Ploughshares-0.02
Welcome the Stranger-0.02
Racial Justice & Reconciliation-0.03
Radical Inclusion-0.03
Sanctity of Life-0.03
Social Justice Call-0.03

Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

Item	Fit	Rule
Seating
Box pew	-0.333
Floor sheets	0
Meeting bench	no fit
Oak pew	no fit
Row of chairs	+0.333
Liturgical furniture
Columbarium niches	-0.333
Havan kund	+0.5	required Worship is the havan: offerings of ghee and herbs into the sacred fire with Vedic hymns, around the kund at the centre of the hall.
Incense burner	0
Lectern	no fit	expected Scripture is proclaimed from an ambo or lectern near the altar.
Murti shrine	-1	forbidden Arya Samaj worships without images: God, it teaches, has no form.
Navagraha shrine	-1
Pulpit	no fit
Music
Drum kit	-0.333	discouraged A band and drum kit do not belong in this tradition's worship.
Electronic organ	-1
Grand piano	-1
Hammond organ	-1	discouraged A gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Handbell table	-1
Pipe organ	-0.667	discouraged An organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Sound system	-0.333
Temple bell	0
Upright piano	-1	discouraged A piano doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Decor
Banner	0
Diyas	no fit
Eternal flame	no fit
Gopuram	0
Great dome	-0.333
Marigold garlands	0
Memorial plaque	no fit
National flag	0
Shikhara	0
Small dome	no fit
Stained glass window	-0.333
Vimana	0
Furnishings
Alms box	no fit
Coffee pot	no fit
Commercial coffee pot	no fit
Computer	no fit
Crib	no fit
Desk	no fit
Desk chair	no fit
Folding table	no fit
Full-length mirror	no fit
Head scarves	0
Hundi	0
Pangat mats	0
Pillar	-0.333
Projection screen	+0.333
Shoe rack	+0.5	required Shoes come off, and hands are washed, before the hall where everyone sits on the carpet round the fire.
Vestment cabinet	-0.333
Wooden table	no fit
Utility
A/V rack	no fit
Camera	no fit
Cast-iron boiler	no fit
Central air conditioner	no fit
Commercial HVAC plant	no fit
Commercial stove	no fit
Congregation van	no fit
Ductless heat pump	no fit
Electric wall heater	no fit
Gas furnace	no fit
Hearing loop	no fit
Lift	no fit
Packaged heat pump	no fit
Plumbing stack	no fit
Ramp	no fit
Shuttle bus	no fit
Sink	no fit
Solar panels	no fit
Stairs	no fit
Toilet	no fit
Used school bus	no fit
Wall camera	no fit
Window air conditioner	no fit
Grounds
Dhvajastambha	0
Evergreen tree	no fit
Flower bed	no fit
Fountain	no fit
Garden bench	no fit
Hedge	no fit
Playground	no fit
Shade tree	no fit

Sources

Arya Samaj, Wikipedia (link)
Swami Dayanand Sarasvati and the ten principles (from aryasamaj.com), Frances Pritchett, Columbia University (link)
Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America (link)
Arya Samajists Observed 140th Arya Samaj Foundation Day, aryasamaj.com e-news (2015) (link)
Arya Samaj Greater Houston (Vedic Cultural Centre) (link)
Greater Atlanta Vedic Temple Society, Pluralism Project archive (link)
In Richmond Hill, Celebrations Merge, Baruch College (link)
Arya Samaj in Trinidad and Tobago, Wikipedia (link)
Arya Samaj in Guyana, Wikipedia (link)