What is “Sanātana Dharma”? — Let Us Understand

 

# **What is “Sanātana Dharma”? — Let Us Understand**

These days, the words *“Sanātana”* and *“Sanātana Dharma”* are widely discussed. What exactly is Sanātana Dharma? The following humble attempt is made to explain this important subject for the benefit of all.

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### **Meaning of “Sanātana”**

That which remains *always the same*, that which never undergoes change, is called *Sanātana* (eternal).

For this reason, God (Paramātmā) too is called *Sanātana*, because He is unchanging, immutable, eternal, indestructible, beginningless, and infinite.

God’s knowledge—what He knows—is His natural and eternal attribute. Therefore, His knowledge is eternal.

But we individual souls (jīvātmās), by nature, possess limited knowledge. Whatever we learn through the senses is temporary and conditional; it constantly increases and decreases.

No human being, however great, can ever become omniscient. But God’s knowledge is eternally true, complete, and constant.

In the words of Maharṣi Patañjali:

> **“Tatra niratiśayaṁ sarvajña-bījam.”**

> *(Yoga Sūtra 1.25)*

> “In God lies the unsurpassable seed of omniscience.”

There can be no knowledge greater than God’s knowledge.

Furthermore, God is never absent; He is an eternally existing reality. He exists in all three divisions of time—past, present, and future. Just as day follows night in an ever-fresh cycle, similarly the seeker of Brahma-knowledge continually experiences God’s qualities, actions, and nature in ever-new ways.

Hence, God is called *Sanātana*.

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## **Sanātana Dharma: The Unchanging Law**

That Dharma or law which never changes and always remains the same is called Sanātana Dharma.

The word *Sanātana* appears first in the **Vedas**, the most ancient books known to humanity. In the **Atharvaveda, Book 10, Hymn 8, Mantra 23**, the term is explained:

> **सनातनमेनमाहुरुताद्य स्यात्पुनर्णवः।

> अहोरात्रे प्र जायेते अन्यो अन्यस्य रूपयोः॥**

**Word Meaning:**

*Sanātanam* — eternal, never destroyed, beginningless;

*punar-navah* — ever new;

*ahorātre* — day and night;

*prajāyete* — arise again and again.

**Explanation:**

The profound meaning lies in the words *Sanātanam* (eternal) and *Punar-navah* (ever fresh).

That which is eternal and yet always appears new is Sanātana.

Whatever becomes old, obsolete, or irrelevant with time cannot be Sanātana.

That which remains ever-fresh, ever-relevant, and never loses its meaning—*that* is Sanātana.

Day and night are used as examples. Though day comes every day, each day appears new. Yet the nature of day and night remains unchanged.

Similarly, mathematical truths—such as **2+3=5**, or **the sum of the angles of a triangle is 180°**—never change. They are *Sanātana*.

Thus, Dharma has two forms:

1. **Sanātana Dharma (Eternal Principles):**

   Never-changing universal truths.

2. **Sāmāyika Dharma (Temporary Rules):**

   Those which change with time, place, and circumstance.

   Example: Wearing warm clothes in winter, taking medicine when ill.

Many people mix up fundamental Dharma with customs, rituals, and traditions, causing confusion.

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## **Has Sanātana Dharma become mixed with later practices?**

Over time, many practices, beliefs, rituals, and superstitions have been added to what is *today* called Sanātana Dharma.

Like clean water becoming muddy as it flows, the original purity of Sanātana Dharma has become mixed with later accretions.

Thus, not everything practiced today under the name “Sanātana Dharma” is truly Sanātana.

We must distinguish:

* What is genuinely eternal,

* And what was added later.

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# **Vedic Dharma is the Authentic Sanātana Dharma**

The universal, timeless truths of Sanātana Dharma are found in the **four Vedas**—Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, and Atharvaveda.

These are the oldest scriptures known to humanity and are considered divine revelations.

Manu states:

> **“Pitṛ-devamanuṣyāṇāṁ vedaś cakṣuḥ sanātanam.”**

> *(Manusmṛti 12.94)*

> “The Vedas are the eternal eyes of gods, humans, and ancestors.”

Therefore, only the truths revealed by God in the Vedas are Sanātana. Anything contrary to the Vedas cannot be Sanātana.

Again Manu says:

> **“Dharmaṁ jijñāsamānānāṁ pramāṇaṁ paramaṁ śrutiḥ.”**

> *(Manusmṛti 2.13)*

> “For those who seek to know Dharma, the highest authority is the Veda.”

The Vedas themselves say:

> **“Devasya paśya kāvyaṁ na mamāra na jīryati.”**

> *(Atharvaveda 10.8.32)*

> “Behold the divine knowledge of God—it never dies nor decays.”

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## **The Crisis Today**

Although most Hindus respect the Vedas, very few actually study them with meaning.

Millions of religious people have never seen all four Vedas.

Many sects and religious leaders do not study Vedic literature, because the deities they worship are not mentioned in the Vedas.

The Vedas describe only one Supreme God—formless, infinite, omnipresent, omniscient, unborn, eternal, the giver of karmic fruits.

His main name is **“OM”**, as stated by Patañjali:

> **“Tasya vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ.”**

> *(Yoga Sūtra 1.27)*

> “The uttered symbol of God is ‘OM’.”

If we call ourselves followers of Sanātana Dharma, it is our sacred duty to study the Vedas and ancient Vedic texts with meaning, to understand their principles, and to practice them sincerely.

We must honestly re-examine our sectarian beliefs and reject anything that is:

* Anti-Vedic

* Irrational

* Contrary to the natural order

* Unscientific

* Immoral

* Inhumane

Only then can true religious unity emerge.

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## **Where can unity come from?**

When different sects have:

* Different scriptures

* Different gods

* Different rituals

* Different festivals

* Different dress, symbols, temples, and doctrines

—how can unity arise?

“Unity in diversity” sounds beautiful, but where are its real signs?

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## **Returning to the True Sanātana Dharma**

The original Sanātana Dharma was pure like the waters of Gaṅgā at Gaṅgotrī.

Today we may be mistaking the muddy waters of the Hooghly for the real Gaṅgā.

Our scholars, gurus, and religious leaders must rediscover and teach the real Sanātana Dharma.

That Dharma which everyone has always accepted, and will always accept, is *universal*, and therefore Sanātana.

We must reconsider:

Is what is today called Sanātana Dharma truly Sanātana?

Because Sanātana Dharma is simply another name for **Vedic Dharma**—the universal religion of humanity.

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# **Reviving Sanātana Dharma**

It is time to revive and re-energize the true Sanātana Dharma.

### **Present-day sects:**

**Current sects =

True Sanātana Vedic Dharma + (superstition, rigidity, dogma, sectarianism, unscientific ideas, casteism, exploitation, etc.)**

The stream of Vedic Dharma has been flowing since the beginning of creation.

But the stones of sectarianism placed in the Middle Ages have obstructed its flow.

To remove these obstacles, we must:

* Overcome sectarianism

* Remove false and anti-Vedic beliefs

* Break narrow walls built in the name of religion

* Unite all of humanity as one family

When the Vedic stream flows unobstructed, Sanātana Dharma will again rise—and it alone is capable of bringing welfare to the whole world.

As the Yajurveda declares:

> **“Nānyaḥ panthā vidyate’yanāya.”**

> *(Yajurveda 31.18)*

> “There is no other path for attaining the highest goal.”

Reproduced by Dr. Vivek Arya