In the meantime (1872 - 1875) in Punjab due to Schisms in Adi Brahmo
Samaj at Calcutta, a new variant of Adi Brahmoism called Arya Samaj
began to take root. While traveling its founder Swami Dayanand
came into close and extended contact with Raj Narayan Bose,
Debendranath Tagore etc. Swami Dayanand closely studied Tagore's book
Brahmo Dharma,
a comprehensive manual of religion and ethics for Adi Dharma, while in
Calcutta. The bone of contention between these two Samaj's was over the
authority of the Vedas - whose authority the Adi Dharma reject and hold to be inferior works, whereas Arya Samaj hold Vedas to be divine revelation.
Despite this difference of opinion, however, it seems that the members
of the Brahmo Samaj and Swami Dayanand parted on good terms, the former
having publicly praised the latter’s visit to Calcutta in several
journals and the latter having taken inspiration from the former’s
activity in the social sphere. |
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