Sanatana Dharma

 Sanatana - that which is ancient. The implication of this term can fall under two categories: the obvious and the suggestive. The obvious meaning indicates that the self is not new (nutanah) but it is ancient and therefore we as students of Brahma-vidya, need not hesitate to accept it, In its suggestiveness, the term Sanathana implies that the self is unconditioned by time and place. Perfection gained, whether it be in India or at the North Pole, in the present generation or in the chaste periods of the Vedic Culture, in all places and at all times, by all seers, in all the religions of the world, the Self-experience at the time of God-realisation, can only be one and the same. 

Lord Narayana created Brahma, and taught him the Vedas. With the help of the Vedas, Brahma began to create. The Upanishads say that the Lord revealed Himself to Brahma and also reveals Himself to those who study the Vedas.

The objective in Sanatana Dharma, according to Swami Satyananda, lies in freeing every atom of existence in its own way from karma and help it achieve its own state of perfection. The Sanatana Dharma is known as the eternal religion because it represents the eternal idea of perfection.

Dharma is often translated as “duty,” “religion” or “religious duty” and yet its meaning is more profound, defying concise English translation. The word itself comes from the Sanskrit root “dhri,” which means “to sustain.” Another related meaning is “that which is integral to something.” For example, the dharma of sugar is to be sweet and the dharma of fire to be hot. Therefore, a person’s dharma consists of duties that sustain him, according to his innate characteristics. Such characteristics are both material and spiritual, generating two corresponding types of dharma:

(a) Sanatana-dharma – duties which take into account the person’s spiritual (constitutional) identity as atman and are thus the same for everyone.

(b) Varnashrama-dharma – duties performed according to one’s material (conditional) nature and specific to the individual at that particular time (see Varnashrama Dharma).

According to the notion of sanatana-dharma, the eternal and intrinsic inclination of the living entity (atman) is to perform seva (service). Sanatana-dharma, being transcendental, refers to universal and axiomatic laws that are beyond our temporary belief systems. Most adherents prefer to call their tradition Sanatana-dharma rather than using the more recent term, “Hinduism,” which they consider has sectarian connotations. (Sometimes another category is added, called sadharana–dharma, general moral rules for everyone.)

“Dharma is sometimes translated as ‘religion’ but that is not exactly the meaning. Dharma actually means ‘that which one cannot give up’ and ‘that which is inseparable from oneself’. The warmth of fire is inseparable from fire; therefore warmth is called the dharma, or nature, of fire. Similarly, sad-dharma means ‘eternal occupation.’ That eternal occupation is engagement in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.”

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Scriptural Passage

“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord.”

Bhagavat Purana 1.2.6

The meaning of Dharma loosely translates as ‘the values that sustain us,’ The meaning of Sanatana Dharma is ‘eternal.’ Dharma is one word that does not have a proper literal translation. Dharma acquired a comprehensive and complex significance that it is impossible to articulate in any other language. Dharma is a combination of ethics and religion. It stands for all the ideals, purposes, influences, institutions, and ways of conduct that shape a person, as an individual, and as a member of society.

The essential characteristic or duty of an object or a living being without its importance is Dharma. For example, the Sun’s luminosity, coolness of the water, and the divine Spark of existence in human beings – all of which relate to Dharma. We can understand the meaning of Dharma at two levels. They are – cosmic and individual.

The four types of dharma are:

1. Born with a gift:

You are born with a gift, like an incredible voice, artistic skills, etc. You know your gift. They have an undeniable gift they came on this Earth to share. Most artists and athletes fall under this category. They were given an incredible voice, the ability to shoot a goal or tell a joke, all skills we celebrate in our society. However, that doesn’t mean they’re set for life. The gift was given to them but it’s up to them to determine what they want to do with it. Some of the best musicians aren’t even playing, not because they’re less talented, but because they did not chase their Dharmas the way that others did.

2. Shaped By Situation:

You have a break-down and share it. “I was on my knees, wondering if God does exist when suddenly a voice came over me and I knew what I came here to do.” These break-down, breakthrough stories are often what you hear from coaches, motivational speakers, and authors, all of who falls under the teacher archetype. From this point of breakdown, you take radical responsibility for your life and transform your worldview with a newfound sense of Purpose to share your realizations with others. Your pain becomes your Purpose, and your mess becomes your message.

3. Shaped By Personal Needs:

You had a need and now are solving it. We often find our Dharmas by serving our own needs and then finding that others need the exact same thing. It doesn’t have to be anything traumatic but something we genuinely needed help in ourselves such as support in the early stages of our business, organic baby wipes, or deliverable Ayurvedic soups. If you have an issue, chances are someone else does too, and they’d love to know your approach to solving it.

4. Shaped By Other’s Needs:

People around you needed something and you found the solution. This is the less talked about way to find your Dharma, but it’s just as important. You don’t personally have to go through an issue in order for it to be your Dharma. What problem can you solve for others? You might be passionate about health because you helped your father versus his diabetes and want to help others do the same. You don’t have to personally have gone through the issue to want to be part of the solution.

You may have a combination of two, maybe even three types of dharma as related to each

According to Vedas there are 33 Gods/Devas. These Gods are separated in the following pattern : 12 + 11 + 8 + 2.

12 is the number of Adityas, 11 are the number of Rudras, 8 is the number of Vasus, 1 is Prajapati, the Master of Gods, and 1 is the Supreme Ruler who is very powerful.

Names of all 33 Vedic deities:

12 Adityas (personified deities) correspond to the 12 Solar months and represent different attributes of social life. The Vedic sages especially venerated the Adityas and Vedas are full of hymns dedicated to Indra, Agni, Surya, Varun and the like. These are:

1. Indra/Shakra (eldest and the undoubted leader of other Adityas)

2. Ansh (due share),

3. Aryaman (nobility),

4. Bhaag (due inheritance),

5. Dhatri (ritual skill),

6. Tvashtar (skill in crafting),

7. Mitra (friendship),

8. Pushan/Ravi (prosperity),

9. Savitra/Parjanya (power of word),

10. Surya/Vivasvan (social law),

11. Varun (fate),

12. Vaman (cosmic law).

8 Vasus are attendant deities of Indra and comprise of eight elemental gods that represent the different aspects of Nature. They are:

1. Anil (Wind),

2. Apas (Water),

3. Antariksh/Dyaus (Space),

4. Dhara (Earth),

5. Dhruv (Pole Star),

6. Anal (Fire),

7. Prabhas (Dawn),

8. Soma (Moon).

11 Rudras:

· 5 abstractions – Ānanda (bliss), Vijñāna (knowledge), Manas (thought), Prāṇa (breath/ life), Vāc (speech),

· 5 names of Śiva – Īśāna (ruler), Tatpuruṣa (that person), Aghora (not terrible), Vāmadeva (pleasant god), Sadyojāta (born at once)

· 1 - Ātmā (spiritual self)

In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the 11 Rudras are represented by ten vital energies (rudra-prana) in the body and the eleventh one being the Ātman (the soul)