What is Sanatana Dharma?

 

What is Sanatana Dharma?

Let’s understand each of the two words seperately and then decipher what “Sanatan Dharma” means.

SANATAN:

A quick Google search of the meaning of “Sanatan” gives the following results:

The word ‘SANATAN’ is an adjective in the Hindi language which means forever /ever-lasting /has always been there /is never ending. Sanatan is not a noun and therefore not a "name" of any religion. It is derived from the Pali word 'SANATANO' which first occurred in the Pali Buddhist Canon. Dhammpada book 1, Yamakavagga verse 5 of the Tipitika says, "Es Dhammo Sanatano." The following is copied and pasted from Google Translate

सनातन

Transliterated version: sanatan.

विशेषण

1. परंपरानुसार चला आता हुआ।

2. परंपरानिष्ठ, ऑर्थोडॉक्स।

3. सदा बना रहनेवाला, शाश्वत, नित्य।

4. अनादि और अनंत (जैसे—ईश्वर की सनातन लीलाएँ)

The Jews say Judaism is sanatano (oldest). The Muslims claim Islam to be sanatano (has always been there). Similarly, the Brahmins claim that their religion /way of life is Sanatano (English: Eternal, Hindi: Sanatan). Can they all be correct?

All religions are eternal/sanatan according to the followers of their adopted religions.

Judaism is sanatan according to the Jews.

Islam is sanatan according to Muslims

Similarly, the Brahmin Dharma is sanatan according to Brahmins.

Plus all other faith systems that claim to be eternal are sanatan according to believers of their respective faiths. Similarly, the religion of the Brahmins (Brahminism) too, is sanatan according to them.

If someone says that their religion/way of life/faith is eternal, the real truth or sanatan, should you just take their word for it without investigation?

Merely labelling/calling something eternal or truth doesn’t necessarily make it eternal or true.

DHARMA:

'Dharma' is a Sanskrit word which originally meant duty (or responsibility) and is still used in this sense by many Hindi speakers (including creators of this word, the Brahmins) but nowadays, although not entirely correct, it is also used as a translation of the word 'religion'. This maybe so because by default religious people consider it their DUTY to act according to their religion.

For example;

The Dharma of the parents is to raise their children in the best possible manner.

The dharma of a pilot is to ensure a safe flight.

The dharma of a wife is to treat her husband like a god (according to some).

The dharma of the student is to learn and respect his teacher.

The dharma of a teacher is to teach.

The dharma of a warrior is to master the art of warfare.

The dharma of tradesman is to trade.

The dharma of a Shudra is to serve the Dwija.

The dharma/duty of followers of a system called Varnashram Dharma (I.e. followers of Varnashram Duties) is ONLY to perform the duties meant for their particular varna (class) and not to perform the duties reserved for those who fall in other varnas.

Since the creation of the Chatur Varna Dharmas (four varna duties), there has only ever been four main dharmas. Namely, the Brahmin dharma (Brahmin duties), Kashatriya dharma ( Kashatriya duties), the Vaishya dharma/duties and the Shudra dharma/duties. All four are obviously different dharmas. All others were varnaless; I.e. No specific dharma/duties were assigned to them for they were simply considered untouchable or the unseeable who survived by doing the jobs no Varanashrami (person with a Varna label), the Sa-Varna would perform.

SO – What is Sanatana Dharma?

ANSWER:

ETERNAL DUTY or ETERNAL RESPONSIBILITY from birth to death (according to the responsibilities of the varna one falls in).

Food for thought: What is the name of the religion that is eternal (ie sanatan)?

If I was the founder of a new religion, I think it would be a brilliant move to simply name it and popularise it as “TRUTH” or “FOREVER LIVING (sanatan)”, so that the non believers would not hesitate to say, “We are not the follower of the TRUTH” and I could boldly claim, “my religion is Truth /the eternal religion”

Author: Shekhar Bodhakar

Also Read:

1.  Is Hinduism a religion or a way of life?

2. What is Hinduism? Can it be defined?

3.  Will Hinduism survive in India?

4. What are the names of the six shastras of Hinduism?

5.  How old are the Vedas?

 

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