Vedic Light, nurtured in Britain


Arya Samaj London has officially existed since 1976 although Arya Samajists have been active in the London region since 1890s. We are very proud of our long British heritage and being an integral part of faith communities in London and providing essential services to those communities.


At Arya Samaj London, we proudly stand at the confluence of two great legacies: the timeless spiritual wisdom of the Vedas and the enduring civic virtues of British heritage. Our foundation is Vedic — a commitment to truth, equality, reason, and compassionate service. But our identity is also proudly British, shaped by a culture that values free thought, fairness, inclusivity, and community spirit.


What is Arya Samaj?


Arya Samaj stands for a return to truth, simplicity, and ethical living grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Vedas. It promotes a caste-free, non-idolatrous, and rational interpretation of Hinduism, where every individual—regardless of birth—is entitled to spiritual dignity, education, and moral growth. Founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, it champions values such as gender equality,

universal brotherhood, and selfless service (seva), while rejecting superstition and blind ritual. Rooted in monotheism and reason, Arya Samaj believes in uplifting humanity through truth (Satya), knowledge (Vidya), and action (Karma)—making it a vibrant force for personal transformation and social reform in the modern world.

Arya Samaj is a global phenomenon that attracts the young and old alike, sometimes from other religions, for its simple, logical and contemporary thinking on God, spirituality and values of life.

Arya Samaj was founded on April 7th, 1875 in Bombay, India by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. The purpose was to move the Hindu Dharma away from all the fictitious beliefs and go back to the teachings of Vedas. Arya Samaj rejects all forms of ritualistic superstition such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimage and animal sacrifice, as well as all forms of social oppression such as the caste system, untouchability, child labour and child marriage.

It proclaims equal entitlement under the law between men and women, strives to reduce poverty and to protect the weak and the disadvantaged, denounces the consumption of meat as well as the use of intoxicants and recreational drugs, and promotes healthy community, family and private life in tune with the cycles of nature.

The Arya Samaj stresses the universal and comprehensive nature of Vedic Knowledge and it's capacity to rejuvenate and redeem a troubled and wearied humanity. This capacity rests above all else in that its emphasis is upon the correct understanding and worship of the one true God, who is the Supreme personification of Existence, Intelligence and Bliss.



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  • Ten Principles of Arya Samaj
    1. God is the primary source of all true knowledge and all that is known by its means
    2. God is Omnipresent, Formless, Almighty, Just Merciful, Blissful, Unborn, Infinite, Beginnningless, Unchangeable, Support of All, Lord of All Pervading, Omniscient, Fearless, Eternal, Holy and Creator of the Universe. To Him alone worship is due
    3. Vedas are the scriptures of all true knowledge. It is the paramount duty of all Aryas to read them, teach them, recite them and hear them being read. 
    4. All persons should always be ready to accept the truth and renounce untruth
    5. All acts ought to be performed in the conformity to Dharma i.e after consideration of right and wrong
    6. The prime objective of Arya of Samaj is to do good to the world  i.e. To ameliorate physical, spiritual and social conditions of all men
    7. All ought to be treated with love, justice, righteousness and due regard to their merits.
    8. Ignorance ought to be dispelled and knowledge disseminated. 
    9. No person should remain content with his own well-being but he should his well-being in the well-being of others
    10. In all matters affecting the well-being of the society the individual should subordinate his personal liking's. In matters affecting him alone he should enjoy the freedom of action

  • Swami Dayanand Saraswati

    Swami Dayanand Saraswati, one of the greatest leaders ever to emerge from India, founded the Arya Samaj in 1875. 


    Dayanand's mission was not to start or set up any new religion but to ask humankind for Universal brotherhood as spelt out in the Vedas. 


    Throughout his known adult life, Swami's main message was 'Back to the Vedas'. By this, Swami Dayanand meant that Hindus should stop practising beliefs such as idol worship, caste, polytheism, pantheism, untouchability,child marriages, forced widowhood and many other practices which he felt were wrong. He wanted Hindus to go back to the roots of their relgion, the Vedas. 

  • Vedic Knowledge

    OM is a sacred sound and is omnipresent in almost all the major cultures of our world. It represents the infinite, the all encompassing, the whole world, the truth, the ultimate reality, the finest essence, the cause of the Universe, the essences of life, the Brahman, the Atman, the vehicles of deepest knowledge, and Self Knowledge


    VED SUDHA


    Atma (Soul) resides in a body and is immortal. It leaves the body on death to a new abode. Atma is without any desire of worldly attainments and is prefect and contented. Atma is happy when an individual does good deeds.


     A person who understands that atma is immortal, firm, mature and undecaying does not fear death. 


    The mind is the cause of bondage and salvation. Here bondage means the cycle of birth and death and salvation is freedom from this cycle. Life is full of problems, obstacles and temptations. These often divert people from the right path. Those with determination and zeal can reach their destination. This is evident from the history of Mahabharata and the role of Lord Krishna.


    The mind is very powerful and is engaged in determination and resolution of ideas. If it is properly controlled it can produce desired results. The mind gets information of the events by the sense organs and passes it to the soul. The mind is active and agile and has to be kept under control to prevent it going astray.


    The Sun pervades all the three regions: earth, middle region and the upper region. With its rays it upholds the earth. In the same manner a great Vedic scholar who has mastery of the Vedas and is virtuous upholds the masses with his sermons.


    Wise Rishis with full knowledge and meaning of the Vedas illuminated big cities with noble and virtual thoughts. Maharishi Swami Dayanand Sarswati preached the true meaning of the Vedas in the face of opposition from many pandits and pujaris.  


    Professor Dr Gajender Panda (From India)


    In the world there are all types of people: honest and dishonest and good and evil. One should keep company with good and honest people. Those who follow the path of righteousness do good to the society and themselves. Those who befriend these people gain knowledge and develop good qualities. 


    Teachers and gurus should be knowledgeable, have pleasing temperament without any ego and should always do good deeds. The should avoid anger and violence. It is important for these people to give knowledge and not information to their pupils. The pupils should be taught to be good and law abiding citizens. Such societies and countries will be peaceful and will prosper and flourish. The citizens will do good deeds without the expectations of rewards. 


    Pandit Yashwantlall Chooromonay


    Bhrama (God) is the ultimate reality and atma (soul) is the reality as well as the truth in that it exists in human body. One can enjoy life with the help of the senses. Atma leaves the body at death and finds a place in a new body. 


    Atman does the seeing, the hearing, the smelling, the tasting, the touching and the thinking. Atma passes through many animal lives. These lives are caalled "Bhog Yonis". The animals cannot think but react mechanically on instinct. Thinking is an aptitude of human beings. When atma enters the human life, the causual law is replaced by the "Karmic" law. Human life is called "Karma Yoni". "Karma" is a spiritual counterpart of the physical law of cuase and effect. Whatever happens in the present time is the manifestation of the "karmic" forces of the past. 


    Always accquire true knowledge (Vidya) and dispel ignorance (Avidya). This is the teaching of Swami Dayanand Sarswati.