Pandit Shiv Narayan Agnihotri (20 December 1850 – 3 April 1929) was a Hindu social reformer who emerged as a leading member of the Brahmo Samaj (Society of God), a Hindu reform movement. He broke from Brahmoism in 1886 to form his own religious group, the Dev Samaj (Divine Society).[2]
Religious Philosopher, public speaker, writer, journalist
Known for
Founder and Guru of the Dev Samaj, formerly a Brahmo Samaj leader
Born into a family of Brahmins in Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh, Agnihotri entered the Thompson College of Engineering in Roorkee at the age of sixteen.[3] In 1873, he settled in Lahore where he took up a position as a drawing master at the Government School and joined the Brahmo Samaj, quickly rising as a major figure within the movement.[4] In 1882, he resigned from his teaching position to commit himself fully to the movement,[5] As a Brahmo Samaj leader, Agnihotri engaged in theological disputes with the Arya Samaj movement and in polemical exchanges especially with its founder Dayanand Saraswati.[6] Though he opposed the latter as a Brahmo Samaj proponent, his own eventual dissatisfaction with its ideology resulted in ideological friction with other Brahmo leaders which, by 1887, led to a complete break with the movement.[7]
On 16 February 1887 Agnihotri founded the Dev Samaj, rejecting Brahmo rationalism and drawing on the concept of the Guru as an enlightened soul as its central tenet, while retaining elements of Brahmo reformism.[8] Combining a strict moral code with social radicalism, Agnihotri advocated vegetarianism, the social integration of castes, the education of women, widow remarriage and the elimination of child marriage. Adultery, polygamy and other 'unnatural crimes' were outlawed and hard work was stressed with members being urged to lead a useful life and shun excessive ceremonial expenses.[9]
The Dev Samaj followed the philosophy Propounded by the founder in 4 religious texts named as Dev Shastra volumes 1 to 4 and on the person of its Guru, Agnihotri, who held all doctrinal authority.[10] Though initially upholding the worship of God, from 1892 Agnihotri advocated dual worship of himself and God claiming a status of near divinity.[11] He asserted that he had attained the highest possible plane of existence and that eternal bliss could only be attained with his guidance.[12] While retaining the nature of a cult, by 1895 the Society underwent a new development and became essentially non-theistic in its ideology when Agnihotri rejected the worship of God and taught instead that the Religious Philosophy as written in the Dev Shastra volume 1 to 4 and Guru were for attention for its members.[13]
Agnihotri was active as a writer and journalist and was a dramatic speaker.[14] His main target of criticism remained the Arya Samaj and he was able to produce a large volume of propagandist literature throughout his life.[15] His teachings gained influence mostly among educated Hindus in the Punjab who came to view him as their Guru. The Dev Samaj peaked in early twentieth-century Punjab as a "Science Grounded Religion" with 3,597 members in 1921, but declined following Agnihotri's death in 1929.[16]
^Kenneth W. Jones (1976). Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab. University of California Press. p. 115. ISBN0-520-02920-8.
^Johnson, W. J. "Agnihotri, Pandit Shiv Narayan ", A Dictionary of Hinduism, Oxford University Press 2009, Oxford Reference Online, accessed June 25, 2021 (requires subscription)
^Kenneth W. Jones (1989). Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3 (reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 103–104. ISBN9780521249867.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1989). Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3 (reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 104. ISBN9780521249867.
^"Shiv Narayan Agnihotri". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1976). Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab. University of California Press. p. 115–117. ISBN0-520-02920-8.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1976). Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab. University of California Press. p. 115. ISBN0-520-02920-8.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1989). Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3 (reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 104. ISBN9780521249867.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1989). Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3 (reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 105. ISBN9780521249867.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1976). Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab. University of California Press. p. 116. ISBN0-520-02920-8.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1976). Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab. University of California Press. p. 118. ISBN0-520-02920-8.
^"Shiv Narayan Agnihotri". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1976). Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab. University of California Press. p. 119. ISBN0-520-02920-8.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1989). Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3 (reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 104–106. ISBN9780521249867.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1976). Arya Dharm: Hindu Consciousness in 19th-century Punjab. University of California Press. p. 115. ISBN0-520-02920-8.
^Kenneth W. Jones (1989). Socio-Religious Reform Movements in British India, Volume 3 (reprint ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 104–106. ISBN9780521249867.
shiv, narayan, agnihotri, pandit, december, 1850, april, 1929, hindu, social, reformer, emerged, leading, member, brahmo, samaj, society, hindu, reform, movement, broke, from, brahmoism, 1886, form, religious, group, samaj, divine, society, born20, december, 1. Pandit Shiv Narayan Agnihotri 20 December 1850 3 April 1929 was a Hindu social reformer who emerged as a leading member of the Brahmo Samaj Society of God a Hindu reform movement He broke from Brahmoism in 1886 to form his own religious group the Dev Samaj Divine Society 2 Shiv Narayan AgnihotriBorn20 December 1850Akbarpur Kanpur Dehat Uttar Pradesh Died3 April 1929Lahore PunjabNationality IndiaOther namesSatyanand Agnihotri 1 Occupation s Religious Philosopher public speaker writer journalistKnown forFounder and Guru of the Dev Samaj formerly a Brahmo Samaj leaderBorn into a family of Brahmins in Akbarpur Uttar Pradesh Agnihotri entered the Thompson College of Engineering in Roorkee at the age of sixteen 3 In 1873 he settled in Lahore where he took up a position as a drawing master at the Government School and joined the Brahmo Samaj quickly rising as a major figure within the movement 4 In 1882 he resigned from his teaching position to commit himself fully to the movement 5 As a Brahmo Samaj leader Agnihotri engaged in theological disputes with the Arya Samaj movement and in polemical exchanges especially with its founder Dayanand Saraswati 6 Though he opposed the latter as a Brahmo Samaj proponent his own eventual dissatisfaction with its ideology resulted in ideological friction with other Brahmo leaders which by 1887 led to a complete break with the movement 7 On 16 February 1887 Agnihotri founded the Dev Samaj rejecting Brahmo rationalism and drawing on the concept of the Guru as an enlightened soul as its central tenet while retaining elements of Brahmo reformism 8 Combining a strict moral code with social radicalism Agnihotri advocated vegetarianism the social integration of castes the education of women widow remarriage and the elimination of child marriage Adultery polygamy and other unnatural crimes were outlawed and hard work was stressed with members being urged to lead a useful life and shun excessive ceremonial expenses 9 The Dev Samaj followed the philosophy Propounded by the founder in 4 religious texts named as Dev Shastra volumes 1 to 4 and on the person of its Guru Agnihotri who held all doctrinal authority 10 Though initially upholding the worship of God from 1892 Agnihotri advocated dual worship of himself and God claiming a status of near divinity 11 He asserted that he had attained the highest possible plane of existence and that eternal bliss could only be attained with his guidance 12 While retaining the nature of a cult by 1895 the Society underwent a new development and became essentially non theistic in its ideology when Agnihotri rejected the worship of God and taught instead that the Religious Philosophy as written in the Dev Shastra volume 1 to 4 and Guru were for attention for its members 13 Agnihotri was active as a writer and journalist and was a dramatic speaker 14 His main target of criticism remained the Arya Samaj and he was able to produce a large volume of propagandist literature throughout his life 15 His teachings gained influence mostly among educated Hindus in the Punjab who came to view him as their Guru The Dev Samaj peaked in early twentieth century Punjab as a Science Grounded Religion with 3 597 members in 1921 but declined following Agnihotri s death in 1929 16 See also EditBrahmo Samaj Hindu reform movements Dayananda SaraswatiReferences Edit Kenneth W Jones 1976 Arya Dharm Hindu Consciousness in 19th century Punjab University of California Press p 115 ISBN 0 520 02920 8 Johnson W J Agnihotri Pandit Shiv Narayan A Dictionary of Hinduism Oxford University Press 2009 Oxford Reference Online accessed June 25 2021 requires subscription Kenneth W Jones 1989 Socio Religious Reform Movements in British India Volume 3 reprint ed Cambridge University Press p 103 104 ISBN 9780521249867 Kenneth W Jones 1989 Socio Religious Reform Movements in British India Volume 3 reprint ed Cambridge University Press p 104 ISBN 9780521249867 Shiv Narayan Agnihotri www britannica com Retrieved 25 June 2021 Kenneth W Jones 1976 Arya Dharm Hindu Consciousness in 19th century Punjab University of California Press p 115 117 ISBN 0 520 02920 8 Kenneth W Jones 1976 Arya Dharm Hindu Consciousness in 19th century Punjab University of California Press p 115 ISBN 0 520 02920 8 Kenneth W Jones 1989 Socio Religious Reform Movements in British India Volume 3 reprint ed Cambridge University Press p 104 ISBN 9780521249867 Kenneth W Jones 1989 Socio Religious Reform Movements in British India Volume 3 reprint ed Cambridge University Press p 105 ISBN 9780521249867 Kenneth W Jones 1976 Arya Dharm Hindu Consciousness in 19th century Punjab University of California Press p 116 ISBN 0 520 02920 8 Kenneth W Jones 1976 Arya Dharm Hindu Consciousness in 19th century Punjab University of California Press p 118 ISBN 0 520 02920 8 Shiv Narayan Agnihotri www britannica com Retrieved 25 June 2021 Kenneth W Jones 1976 Arya Dharm Hindu Consciousness in 19th century Punjab University of California Press p 119 ISBN 0 520 02920 8 Kenneth W Jones 1989 Socio Religious Reform Movements in British India Volume 3 reprint ed Cambridge University Press p 104 106 ISBN 9780521249867 Kenneth W Jones 1976 Arya Dharm Hindu Consciousness in 19th century Punjab University of California Press p 115 ISBN 0 520 02920 8 Kenneth W Jones 1989 Socio Religious Reform Movements in British India Volume 3 reprint ed Cambridge University Press p 104 106 ISBN 9780521249867 External links Edit Devsamaj Official Website http WWW DEVSAMAJ COM 1 2 The Sikh Encyclopedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shiv Narayan Agnihotri amp oldid 1129521768, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
