Dayananda Saraswati (1823-1883), a great sage and the founder of Arya Samaj, was born at Morvi in
Gujarat. He was a fearless reformer. Moolashankar was his original name. After he joined the order of Swami Poornananda, a sanyasi, and initiated with holy orders he got the name as Swami Dayananda Saraswati.
He was a social reformer and religious leader of the highest caliber. He was an adamant follower, exponent and practitioner of the Vedas. He condemned idol worship, untouchability, child marriage, and the low station of women, which he said were not sanctioned by the Vedas.
