Arya Samaj, 2000 - Stamp, First Day Cover and Brochure

The Department of Posts, India issued a commemorative stamp on Arya Samaj founded by Swami Dayanand Sarasvati (1824-1883) on 05.04.2000. The stamp bears Sanskrit inscription at two places. One is “ॐ” (aum) and the other “तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय” (tamaso mā jyotir gamaya). “तमसो मा......" is repeated on the postmark. The imprint ॐ in three mātrās denotes the Supreme Truth, the non-dual Brahman. The invocation “तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय” (tamaso mā jyotir gamaya) means -- "Lead me from darkness to light". This is a mantra from one of the principal Upanishads viz., the Bṛhadāraṇyaka, 1.3.28 which forms part of the Śukla-Yajurveda. 

 



On the First Day Cover is the famous quote -- “कृण्वन्तो विश्वमार्यम्” -- from the Ṛgveda, 9.63.5. When translated it conveys the meaning “Let's make the universe noble”.*

 









The original verse:-

इन्द्रं वर्धन्तो अप्तुरः कृण्वन्तो विश्वमार्यम् |
अपघ्नन्तो अराव्णः |
indraṃ vardhanto apturaḥ kṛṇvanto viśvamāryam
apaghnanto arāvṇaḥ

                 

*Arya Samaji tr.