The teachings of Swami Dayanand reached Guyana in the early 1900s but it was the arrival of missionary Bhai Parmānand in 1910 that led to the growth of Arya Samaj throughout the Colony. The Ārya Samāj doctrine rejects the idea of caste and the exclusive role of brahmins as religious leaders. The movement preaches monotheism and opposition to the use of images in worship as well as many traditional Hindu rituals. Establishment In 1921 the first Ārya Samāj was formed and the movement continued to gain impetus as more people started to appreciate the Vedic teachings. The arrival of a second Vedic missionary, Pandit Mehtā Jaimīnī in 1929 led to centralised control and organisation of the Ārya Samāj. Other missionaries arrived in 1935, and in 1936 Pandit Bhaskarānand arrived and remained in Guyana for ten years organising the various Samājs. The American Aryan League, the parent body for all the Ārya Samājs in the country, was established in 1937 and registered under the friendly societies ordinance in 1938. A building to house the headquarters of the League was also established. Pandit Usharbudh Arya arrived in 1955 and one of his greatest contributions was the establishment of the Ārya Vīr Dāl, an organization meant for the youth. Pandit Usharbudh Arya was so active in his social work across Guyana that his Ashram was established at the Mahaicony River. The then Burnham Government viewed the Vid Dal movement and Pandit Arya as paramilitary efforts to bolster the East Indians in Guyana. Pandit Arya was asked to leave Guyana by the Government. Consolidation In 1975 the Ārya Samāj in Guyana had 40,000 members, with 35 Ārya Samāj branches affiliated to the American Aryan League. In 1968 the American Aryan League also assumed the name Guyana Arya Pratinidhi Sabha. In 1969 this organisation had received official recognition of the government of the new independent state of Guyana led by Forbes Burnham. Regular prayer meetings were held at the various meeting halls. There was a council of priests, Arya Pracharak Mandal, which ensured that the activities of the Samaj were conducted in accordance with the scriptures. In 1973, the Ārya Vīr Dāl was revived. Now it received the name Guyana Aryan Youth League as well. It coöperated with the parent body in the achievement of its objectives and played a major part in organising weekly services. The American Aryan League also ran a primary and