Sanātanadharma

By Swami Harshananda

Sanātanadharma literally means ‘the eternal religion’.

Origin of Word Sanātanadharma

The word Hinduism used for the religion is of very recent origin. This religion had no particular name since the most ancient days, because there existed no other religion from which it had to be distinguished. Some scholars of present day like to call it ‘Sanātanadharma.’

Reference of Word Sanātanadharma

This word occurs in the Khānāpur plates of Mādhavavarma assigned to the 6th century A. D. Other sources where it has been used are:

• Matsyapurāna
• Bhāgavata
• Brahmāndapurāṇa

General Meaning

However overall the word does not refer to any specific religion but only to ancient practices of eternal values. Yet, it is possible to apply this word to religion since it reflects the true spirit of religion correctly. The expression dharma has three senses:

1. God
2. Any spiritual discipline that leads to God
3. Duty

‘Sanātana’ means the eternal.

Justification of Appellation

Since the various sādhanas or spiritual disciplines taught by the religion have been proving their efficacy even today, hence sanātana or eternal, ultimately leading to God, the Eternal Truth, it fully deserves the appellation ‘Sanātanadharma’.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Deval Sancheti

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