---
title: "Arya Samaj: Dayananda's Hindu Reform Movement"
description: "The Arya Samaj, founded in 1875 by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, is vital for UPSC studies on caste, shuddhi, and education in Hindu reform."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/arya-samaj"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded in 1875 by Swami Dayananda Saraswati that rejected idolatry and priestly authority while affirming the infallibility of the Vedas.
- How does the Arya Samaj differ from the Brahmo Samaj?
- What was the shuddhi movement and why was it significant?
- What role did the Arya Samaj play in education?
- Did the Arya Samaj reject the caste system?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded in 1875 by Swami Dayananda Saraswati that rejected idolatry and priestly authority while affirming the infallibility of the Vedas.

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In 1923, Swami Shraddhanand launched the Arya Samaj's shuddhi campaign to reconvert the Malkana Rajputs of western United Provinces, reclaiming thousands to Hinduism and intensifying communal tensions in north India.

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