Why Hinduism is Known as Sanatan Dharma

Traditionally, Hinduism is known as Sanatana Dharma, meaning eternal duty. Many people do not really know what dharma means and why Hinduism is called Sanatana Dharma. Dharma actually means duty. Sanatana Dharma means the eternal duty of God. This Duty of God is shared, not just by Hindus, but by all beings in creation, including gods and the rest of humanity.

Dharma is also used in reference to any set of moral and religious laws and principles that govern religious duty and human conduct upon earth. Hence, in popular usage dharma is often interpreted as morality or religion rather than duty. The essential purpose of dharma is to protect the order and regularity of the world through specific obligatory duties (or actions) in which morality and religion are the means or the guiding factors.

Every living being, and for that matter, every object in the diversity of God’s creation, has a role and a specific duty in God’s manifested universe, without which creation will be incomplete. Thus, Sanatana Dharma, which we popularly understand as Hinduism, is God’s eternal duty shared by all from the highest to the lowest, hear and hereafter.

There is a popular saying in Sanskrit, ‘dharmo rakshita rakshatah,’ which means if you protect your religion or dharma, your dharma will protect you. Now what do we mean by the word dharma? Actually, there is no equivalent to the word dharma either in English or in any other language. In our tradition, the word has many meanings and many connotations. But at the most basic level, dharma means your natural activity or propensity.

For example, in the case of an animal like the dog, its dharma, among other things, is to eat and procreate, to be friendly with human beings, and to bark and bite if it is subjected to intense fear or agitation. The dharma of a snake is to crawl, live in dark places, to store poison in its teeth, and bite its prey or anyone who tries to harm it.

As far as the animals are concerned, their dharma is to fulfill their respective roles in creation, living according to their natural instincts, serving as food to other animals and surviving against threats and harsh nature. Since they lack intelligence, their roles are performed mostly by Nature.

The dharma of gods or divinities is to help people and other living beings and assist God in enforcing His laws, protecting people from evil and maintaining righteousness in the world. When it comes to human beings, we know that we are not mere animals, although some people prefer to live that way. We are rational beings who are endowed with reasoning power, which we call buddhi or discriminating intelligence. We are also endowed with intelligent self-awareness and the ability to direct our will in whatever way we deem fit.

So in the case of human beings, dharma means to live according to their highest nature, controlling their lower nature, animal instincts, natural urges and baser desires. The duty of human beings is to live intelligently, help the beings of lesser intelligence, and nourish those who depend upon them. They are also expected to serve the purpose of creation, do their part in maintaining the order and regularity of the world and society.

A devout Hindu is expected to perform five obligatory duties: nourishing gods, nourishing ancestors, nourishing needy human beings, nourishing other living beings and serving the seers and brahmanas. These are called obligatory duties because their practice leads to harmony, peace, order and regularity. If you analyze carefully, you will realize that all religions aim to accomplish this only: enforce discipline among humans and make them look to the heavens and God to manifest good in their lives. In their own ways, they teach that we should live with a certain sense of moral and spiritual responsibility, curbing our baser instincts and controlling our evil and immoral thoughts. The language and expression may be different but the essential philosophy is the same.

Hence in ancient India, spiritual teachings that were aimed to regulate and define ideal human life, conduct, and obligatory duties were equated with dharma. Following the same tradition, the Jains called their faith Jain Dharma and the Buddhists also called the teachings of the Buddha as Dharma or crudely, Dhamma. All Dharma arises from God only. We do not have to argue which Dharma is the best. Every dharma has its own value, just as every duty. All duties flow from God and all dharmas also flow from Him only. Each caters to certain needs and fulfills certain aims. Every living being who lives upon earth is an embodiment of God’s eternal duty. Therefore, we have to be careful when we speak ill of others or degrade their faith. Agreed that not all duties are equal, but all duties are sacred since they flow from God. However, if we perform actions selfishly for our own end, then we are not performing God’s duties anymore and we become subject to their consequences (karma). Since the actions of animals are guided mostly by Nature, they do not incur karma as much as human beings who are intelligent and who can exercise their will for good or bad. Now what is the higher nature or the true dharma of a human being?

Our dharma also depends upon our births, the circumstances in which we live and the profession we choose to follow. It is better if you choose your profession according to your natural inclination, or what you love most. But if you are unable to do that, whatever may be the profession you choose, you should do it with sincerity, discipline and dedication, as an offering to God, because although we may think ourselves to be independent individuals, we are part of the universe and our actions have a bearing upon others and the world in general. Manifesting the Eternal Dharma in your life Whatever may be the religion or the personal philosophy you follow, make sure that you contribute to peace and harmony and do not disturb yourself or others in harmful and evil ways. According to the Bhagavad Gita, a true yogi does not disturb others nor is disturbed by them. He does not create any ripples in the lives of other people
or beings. He lives peacefully, without imposing himself or trying to control others. He is at peace with everyone. That is the true purpose of yoga.

Avoid thinking and harboring evil and immoral thoughts. Practice yoga and meditation so that you can control the modifications of your mind and experience peace and harmony within yourself. Worship your gods and divinities so that they will be active in your consciousness as well as in the cosmos and express themselves through you. Do your duty, whatever it is, without expectation and with a sense of sacrifice. Fill your mind with positive and spiritual thoughts. Speak the right words, think the right thoughts and do the right deeds.

By Dr. Prafulla Kumar Das

The writer is a Consultant
Radiologist, MRI Center, SCB
Medical College, Cuttack

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