Sanatana Dharma, often referred to simply as Hinduism, is one of the oldest religious traditions in the world. “Sanatana” means eternal, and “Dharma” can be translated as duty, righteousness, or cosmic law. Thus, Sanatana Dharma can be understood as the eternal or timeless way of righteous living, in harmony with the cosmic order.
Sanatana Dharma encompasses a vast body of religious, philosophical, and cultural beliefs and practices that have evolved over thousands of years in the Indian subcontinent. It doesn’t have a single founder or a centralized authority but is rather a diverse and complex tradition with a multitude of texts, rituals, deities, philosophies, and spiritual practices.
Key principles and concepts within Sanatana Dharma include:
Karma: The law of cause and effect, where actions have consequences that affect one’s present and future lives.
Dharma: Moral and ethical duties that individuals must fulfill according to their roles and stages in life (varna and ashrama).
Samsara: The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by one’s karma.
Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of samsara, often seen as the ultimate goal of human life.
Atman and Brahman: The individual soul (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman), which are considered to be one and the same in essence.
Sanatana Dharma includes a wide range of beliefs and practices, from polytheism to monotheism, from ritual worship to meditation and philosophical inquiry. It accommodates various sects, schools of thought (such as Vedanta, Yoga, and Samkhya), and religious practices, making it a highly diverse and inclusive tradition.
While Hinduism is the most common term used to refer to Sanatana Dharma, the latter emphasizes its timeless and universal nature, highlighting its philosophical and spiritual essence beyond any specific historical or cultural context.
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