The Arya Samaj Movement, revivalist in form though not in content, was the result of a reaction to Western influences.  

• Its founder, Dayananda Saraswati or Mulshankar (1824-1883) was born in the old Morvi state in Gujarat in a brahmin family.  

• He wandered as an ascetic for fifteen years (1845-60) in search of truth.  
• The first Arya Samaj unit was formally set up by him at Bombay in 1875 and later the headquarters of the Samaj were established at Lahore. 

Source: Spectrum’s A Brief History of Modern India.