Q. Which of the following statements is incorrect with respect to Arya Samaj:
Answer: It was founded later than Ramakrishna Mission.
Notes: Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. He criticised haughty priest class and denounced idol worship, caste system, etc. He was opposed to the prevalent caste practices and popular Hinduism as preached by Brahmins. He also favoured the study of western sciences. So, option a is correct. Ramakrishna Mission was started by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 to carry out humanitarian relief work, whereas, Arya Samaj was founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. So, option b is incorrect. Dayanand Saraswati went through the Vedas which he regarded as the fountain of all knowledge. He rejected all later religious thoughts if they conflicted with the Vedas. He believed that ignorant and selfish priests had perverted the Hindu religion with the aid of the Puranas which he said were full of false teachings. So, statement c is correct. Dayanand Saraswati believed in the infallibility of Vedas. But, he believed that the Vedas, though revealed by God to mankind, hence, infallible, was to be interpreted by human beings themselves individually. He believed that one had to use human reason to interpret the true meaning of Vedas. So, option d is correct.