Sanatan Dharma is not dated; it has been and is a dharma forever. The Hindus have received their dharma through revelation, the VEDAS. They hold that the VEDAS are without beginning and without end. It may sound ludicrous to the audience, how a book can be without end or beginning. But by the VEDAS no books are meant. They mean the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons at different times. Just as the law of gravitation existed before its discovery, and would continue to exist if all humanity forgot it, so is with the laws that govern the spiritual world. The moral, ethical and spiritual relations between soul and soul and between individual spirits and the father of all spirits, were there before their discovery, and would remain, even if we forgot them. Looking at it in one way, Hinduism is the relentless pursuit after the TRUTH. As such it is a religion forever. There is only one GOD and ONE TRUTH. The VEDAS proclaim "EKAM SAT, VIPRAH BAHUDHA VADANTI" - There is one TRUTH, only men describe it in different ways.
SANATAN DHARMA
The meaning of Sanatan is eternal. Vedic Dharma can aptly be defined as Sanatan Dharma. In English, Dharma is defined by the word 'religion'. But religion insufficiently describes the vast meaning of Dharma. In fact, the spirit of Dharma is so vast that it includes things related not only to our present incarnation but to the past and the future incarnations as well. According to the definition given in the scriptures:
DHAARNAAT DHARMA
Meaning - Dharma is something that should be borne all the time. Thus, it is the powerful means that saves us from catastrophe and leads to evolution. As for example, Vedas are not only the means to attain comfort in metaphysical world. In fact, Vedas show the path to all round development and prosperity.
MEANINGS OF SANATAN DHARMA
First Meaning:
SANAATANASYA DHARMA ITI SANAATAN DHARMAH ||
But Sanatan cannot be included in any of these two categories. It existed even before the birth of other religions and it exists even today. Sanatan shall exist in future also. Throughout the history, humanity has witnessed rise and fall of scores of religions and sects. But Sanatan has withstood all kinds of upheavals and opposition. Regarding the future of Sanatan, we have to keep in mind, a rule that states that one which has born shall come to an end also. There has never been an exception to this rule nor there shall be one. Even the divine embodiment of God in physical incarnations had to see their end. Thus, even the physical embodiment of the eternal God is not an exception to this rule.
Second meaning:
Sanatan has no beginning and no end. It exists right from the moment of creation of universe to the time of Pralaya (the great deluge). It is Sanatan not because it owes its inception to the eternal God but because it is eternal in itself. It shall exist up to Pralaya and shall not be destroyed even after Pralaya. Then it shall exist in clandestine form. With the beginning of creation afresh then, Sanatan shall again rise into action to protect and prosper the people. But all it doesn't mean to say that all the other religions are false. Every religion aids the human being to its ultimate goal. But since, a single person incepted most of the religions, hence sooner or later they meet an end.
Third meaning :
SADAA BHAVAHA SANAATANAHA, SANAATANAM KAROTI ITI SANAATAN YATI, SANAATAN YATITI SANAATANAHA | SANAATANASHCHASOU DHARMA ITI SANAATAN DHARMAHA ||
Meaning - Sanatan Dharma is eternal not because it owes its inception to the eternal God. It is eternal not because it is indestructible. Sanatan is eternal because all those who have a faith in it themselves become eternal. Sanatan makes its followers eternal. To get this point better, let us think a little more deeply and compare the different nations, which were once super powers in the dawn of history. Greece, Roman, Syrian, Persian, Macedonian, Babylonian, Phoenician, Egyptian were the powerful empires that once held the sway in human history; but none of them exists today. Those empires had everything- wealth, power and huge armies. But they did not had the capacity to make people endurable and hence eternal. And that lack of such a capacity became the cause of their extermination. But India did have such a capacity and hence its religion endured every onslaught and exists even today. No doubt, Sanatan played an important role in keeping our culture alive.Thus, Sanatan has three distinct features. The eternal supreme soul incepted it. It is eternal in itself. It makes its followers eternal. Now a question naturally arises as to the eternal appearance of the followers of Sanatan. Let's explore it in the fourth meaning.
Fourth meaning :
SANAATANAM PARAMATMASWARUPAM PRAAPYATI ITI ||
Meaning - The religion that helps us attain the appearance of eternal soul is Sanatan. Follower of Sanatan abides to the true and holy path and mingles with the eternal, holy, liberated, supreme joyful God. This is the real appearance of Sanatan adopting which ancient India could have progressed so much. But now, we are neglecting it and hence are falling to the path of relegation. Those who act in liberal manner discarding religious path are sure to fall. Even God has said regarding the people:
YAH SHASTRAVIDHIMRITASRINYA VARTATE KAAMKAARTAH | NA SA SIDDHIMVAARNOTI NA SUKHAM NA PARAAMGATIM || TASMAACHCHHASTRAM PRAMAANAM TE KARYAAKARYAVYAVASTATAU | GYAATVA SHAASTRA VIDHAANOKTAM PARM KARTUMIHAARHASI ||
Meaning - Those who neglect the scriptures and act in whimsical way neither attain perfection nor any comfort and salvation. O Arjun! Scriptures dictate the things worth your doing and unworthy of doing.
Even Manu says:
DHARMA EVA HATO HANTI, DHARMO RAKSHATI RAKSHITAH
Meaning - A killed religion kills the people ultimately and a protected religion protects its followers.
DHARM:-
Dharma is the spirit of humanity.
Dharma is the heart to feel humanity.
Dharma is the examiner and investigator of the spiritual faiths.
Dharma relates the reason for creation.
Dharma shows the relation between the regulations and regulator of the creation.
Dharma helps one for introspection.
Dharma is the culture. Dharma is knowledge.
Dharma is fortune and salvation.
Dharma provides eternity.
Jai Sanatan Dharm.
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