Swami Dayananda Saraswati was a Hindu spiritual teacher and founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, an institution for the study of Vedanta, the ancient Indian philosophy based on the Vedas. He was born on September 22, 1930, in a small village in the state of Gujarat, India. His given name was Ajay Mittal, but he later took the spiritual name Dayananda, which means "one who rejoices in the knowledge of the Self."
Swami Dayananda was a student of the Vedas from a young age and was deeply influenced by the teachings of Adi Shankara, a famous Hindu philosopher who lived in the 8th century. He dedicated his life to spreading the teachings of Vedanta and helping people realize the ultimate truth of their own divinity.
Swami Dayananda was known for his rigorous and systematic approach to the study of Vedanta. He believed that the Vedas, which are the oldest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism, contain the ultimate truth about the nature of reality. He taught that the ultimate goal of human life is to realize this truth and to live in accordance with it.
Swami Dayananda was also a strong advocate for the traditional Vedic way of life. He believed that the modern world had strayed too far from the ancient wisdom of the Vedas and that people needed to rediscover this wisdom in order to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Swami Dayananda traveled extensively throughout India and the world, giving lectures and conducting seminars on Vedanta. He also established numerous institutes and ashrams for the study of Vedanta, including the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, which he founded in 1976.
Swami Dayananda passed away on September 23, 2015, at the age of 84. Despite his death, his teachings continue to inspire and guide people around the world who seek to understand the ultimate truth of their own existence.