Virajanand Dandeesha

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Swami Virajananda (Kalikrishna Bose) (b. 1873), activist in the Hindu reform movement.

Swami
Virajanand
Dandeesha
Personal
Born1778
Vedic
Religious career
GuruPurnanand Giri
Disciples
  • Dayanand Saraswati
Influenced by

Virajanand Dandee Swami (1778 – 14 September 1868), also known as the Blind Sage of

Vedic literature
.

Early life

Virajanand was born in

small pox. Soon thereafter his father, who had initiated him into the rudiments of Sanskrit
learning died. Leaving him to the mercy of his elder brother and sister-in-law at very young age. As they did not treat him well, the temperamental Virjanand soon left their home.

His wanderings took him to

Rishis). Soon, he began to master other branches of Sanskrit literature
, and also took up teaching others.

Virjanand left for

Maharaja of Alwar came across him and was greatly impressed. On the invitation of the Maharaja, he went to Alwar where he stayed for some time. At the request of the Maharaja, he wrote "Shabda-Bodh", the manuscript of which is still treasured in the library at Alwar. From Alwar, Virjanand went to Soron and from there to Mathura
.

Pathshala in Mathura and Dayanand

At Mathura he established a pathshala (school) to which students flocked from all over the country. The expenses of the pathshala were met by donations from the Rajput Princes and no fees were charged from the pupils.

Incidentally, at about the same time,

Dayanand Saraswati had been wandering all over the country in search of a guru. Dayanand came across a monk, Poornashrama Swamy. He heard the story of Dayanand`s wanderings and told him, "There is only one man on this earth who can fulfill your desire, and that man is Virajananda Dandeesha. He lives in Mathura." Thus, in 1860, Dayanand traveled to Mathura to meet Virjanand. In their first meeting, Virjanand inquired about his objective and education. Upon learning that he had studied 'Kaumudi' and 'Saraswatha', two famous texts on Sanskrit grammar, he asked Dayanand to throw them into the river Yamuna
and then come back.

Dayanand gladly surrendered himself at the feet of the great master. Virjanand was a very hard task master and he expected a very high standard of diligence and discipline from his students. Even though he was blind, he could clear all doubts of his disciples, quoting verbatim passages from scriptures.

Dayanand underwent a rigorous training under Virjanand. As

gurudakshina
, Virjanand extracted a promise from Dayanand that he would devote his life for the revival of Hinduism. He would work to spread "Arsha" literature and knowledge of Vedas in the country. With his extraordinary devotion and sense of service, Dayanand soon became his most beloved and also the most renowned disciple.

Death and legacy

Virjanand died on 14 September 1868, at the age of 90. On 14 September 1971, the

Post and Telegraph Department of India released a stamp in his honor depicting the Swami in a sitting posture.[1]

References

  1. ^ "Swami Virjanand". www.istampgallery.com. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
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