First war of independence: 1857

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<b>Champion of Indian Nationalism</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A few days later five revolutionary leaders arrived at Neel Parbat looking for “the mahatma from Abu Shail.” ( Maharishi Dayanand had for many years practised yoga at Shail).

The five revolutionary leaders were-

 Nana Sahib, and his brother Bala Sahib

 Ajimullah Khan

 Tantaya Tope

 Vir Kuar Singh of Jagdishpur

These five leaders discussed in great detail the motives for the liberation of India, thus resolving many of their doubts and misgivings. In reply to one question from Nana Sahib Dayanand Ji had this to say- <b>“ No foreign power has the right to rule another country. The English are foreigners. Their prosperity depends on exploiting India… They are like killer animals forcibly ruling over India. India doesn’t want this. To rob India of its love for honesty, goodness, and its ancient tradition is a sin of the worst order and to tolerate it an even greater sin. When the soul of India will cry out “We don’t want the English.” only then the English will be compelled to give up their hold on India. In a similar manner his fore- vision to a reply to one question from Ajimullah proved cent % correct.</b> He said-

“Once again, in future, the result of national revolution cannot but be auspicious. This revolution will come a hundred years from the Battle of Plassey. Then the revolution will continue for a further hundred years. Victory is inevitable. A lot of sacrifices are yet to be made.”

Ajimullah Khan asked another question, “In what manner can we, with secrecy, spread the word of people revolt among the civilian population and the military. We seek your counsel on this matter.”

Advising on the mode of spreading the message of revolution among the civilians and the military, Dayanand explained,<b> “I have already stated of the very ancient Sanatan tradition. To spread the message among the military and civilians the symbols of lotus flower and chapati (thin unleavened bread) are to be used
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->It is very evident from the above that Maharishi Dayanand had, for the 1857 revolution, started an organisation of the clerics (Sadhus). The focal point of the organisation was the yoga Maya Mandir in Delhi. This organisation roused national consciousness in all of India, rural and urban. But its most important contribution was the dissemination of the message of the impending revolution planned for the 31st. May to all the military cantonments. Under the pretext of prayer meetings, the priests of various orders would arrive at a military cantonment with flowers, incense etc. and in the course of prayer meetings, explain to the soldiers that the cartridges they were using had been polished with a mixture of cows’ and pigs’ fat with a view to destroying Hindu and Moslem religions and culture. <b>Having given this information, a lotus flower was passed from hand to hand, under the pretext that it was Prasad. With the lotus flower in hand the soldiers took their vow for the revolution. </b>Maharishi Dayanand was in constant touch with these groups of clerics and would himself personally journey from place to place. On one occasion, seated under a banyan tree in front of a military camp at Berakhpur, Maharishi Dayanand was doing yogic resonance. <b>When the Indian soldiers at the camp learnt of his presence, they came out and met him and asked him many questions on the use of cow and pig fat on cartridges. This was the time when Mangal Pandey first established contact with Dayanand Ji and received his blessings</b>.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->