What is Sanatana Dharma?

 

Sanatana Dharma (धर्मः सनातनः)  is the name of what is now popularly called Hinduism or Hindu Dharma. Sanatana Dharma represents much more than just a religion; rather, it provides its followers with an entire worldview, way of life and with a coherent and rational view of reality.

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We can have references to Sanatana Dharma in Ramayana, Manu Smriti, etc.

Valmiki Ramayana

कृते च प्रतिकर्तव्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः।
सोऽयं त्वत्प्रतिकारार्थी त्वत्तः सम्मानमर्हति ।।  5.1.114।।

 

When a service is done, a return service needs to be rendered. This is an ancient tradition. Such this ocean who wants to do a return service to the Raghu dynasty, is suitable for respect by you."

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Manu-Smriti

सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयान्न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम् ।
प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ 4.138 ॥

He shall say what is true; and he shall say what is agreeable; he shall not say what is true, but disagreeable; nor shall he say what is agreeable, but untrue; this is the eternal law.

 

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However, the earliest reference can be seen in Rig Veda.  However, in Rig Veda, being a treasure of pure spiritual ideas, Sanatana Dharma was used to refer some spiritual dos and don'ts for a spiritual aspirant.

 

It has nothing to do with Social justice or oppression of any class of people.

 

Rig Veda 3.3.1.

 वैश्वानराय पर्थुपाजसे विपो रत्ना विधन्त धरुणेषु गातवे |

अग्निर्हि देवानम्र्तो दुवस्यत्यथा धर्माणि सनता न दूदुषत् ||

 To honour Vaiśvānara of broad visage, our inspired words offer him treasures so that he goes upon strong supports.

Since immortal Agni befriends the gods,  and therefore never breaks their everlasting laws.

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We have to remember that the original Vedic Sanskrit word for of old/eternal is sanatā but not sanātana, which is a word in Classical Sanskrit.

 

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The rishis of Rig Veda, who composed the Riks, in general, convey their ideas on spirituality in an esoteric sense only, but not in a direct manner. 

 

Observe the interpretation given below:

“Agni, Vaiśvānara of broad visage and friend of Gods, will support strongly and bestow treasures (wisdom/SELF REALISATION), on the spiritual seeker, who will not deviate from the everlasting laws”.

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The sayings of Rig Vedic Rishis are not only esoteric but will be very cryptic.  Hence, we do not find what the everlasting laws or rules are, which should be followed by a spiritual seeker for attaining SELF REALISATION, in Rig Veda.

We can find those dos and don'ts in Taittiriya Upanishad.

 

Sloka : 1.11.1

शिष्यानुशासनम्

वेदमनूच्याचार्योन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति ।

सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।

आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः ।

सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् ।

कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् ।

स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् ॥

Commentary of Shri Shankaracharya

The instruction about duties in the text commencing with 'Having taught the Vedas', is meant to indicate that before the realization of Brahman the duties inculcated in the Vedas and Smrtis are to be performed regularly; because the Vedic reference to post instruction  is meant for creating proper tendencies is a man; for in accordance with the Smrti, 'He eradicates sin through austerities, and attains immortality through knowledge', the knowledge of the Self dawns easily on one, who has the proper mental disposition and whose mind is purified.

How does he instruct? The answer is:-

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Satyam vada, speak the truth; satyam, is that which accords with what is grasped through valid means of knowledge and is fit to be uttered; that thing vada, (you) speak.

dharmam cara, practise righteousness. Inasmuch as truth etc. are specifically mentioned, the word dharma (righteousness) is a generic term for all that is to be practised.

Svadhyayat,ma pramadah from study, make no deviation.

ācāryāya priyaṃ dhanamāhṛtya, for the preceptor; having brought, having, offered; the desirable wealth, in exchange for the knowledge;

prajātantuṃ mā vyavacchetsīḥ and having taken a worthy wife with his permission, do not break; the line of progeny; the family line should not be broken.

Satyat na pramaditavyam, there should be no negligence about truth. Inadvertence about truth is tantamount to falsehood. From the force of the word pramada, inadvertence, it follows that a falsehood should not be uttered even through forgetfulness; this is the idea. Else there would have been a mere prohibition of untruthfulness.

Dharmat na pramaditavyam:- Since the word dharma relates to practices to be undertaken, the pramada, inadvertence, consists in not undertaking the practices, that should not be done. That is to say, righteous actions must be undertaken.

kusalat na pramaditavyam Similarly, about an action meant for one's own protection;.

bhūtyai na pramaditavyam  Do not neglect propitious activities. 

Svadhyaya-pravacanabhyam na pramaditvyam:- Svadhyaya is learning, and pravacana is teaching; there should be no carelessness about them. The idea is that they should be regularly practised.