IDEOLOGY OF SANATAN DHARMA

                                                        (WHAT IS SANATAN DHARMA?)

                                                 DEVELOPS ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

                                                TOWARDS ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

     TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE HUMAN CIVILISATION

 SANATAN DHARMA IS MANAV DHARMA…..                                    

  EVERY MAN ON EARTH IS A SANATANI

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1. Sanatan Dharma is the oldest religion on the earth. It originated and developed in Bharat Varsa and spread to different parts of the world. Presently, growing interest in Sanatan Dharma is seen all over the world. However, its followers face a common question - What is Sanatan Dharma? The present article is an effort to provide a simple answer to above question and understanding of dharma. It will help the followers and other persons interested in it to understand and explain others the basic tenets of Sanatan Dharma.

2. Sanatan dharma is a set of guide lines for sustainable human civilisation on earth. It aims at developing:

• • sense of brotherhood amongst all human beings

• • a conscious society sensitive to social, spiritual, cultural, environmental and ecological needs for sustainable human existence on the earth and most importantly, an economically, spiritually and socially rich human civilization.

• • idea of oneness i.e. God is one. God resides in all living beings, moving or non-moving.
  • a mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically healthy citizen and prompt him to contribute best towards the growth of the nation (rastra - infrastructure and administrative arrangements) and society (samaj - value system) both.

• • social attributes (SQ, EQ and AQ) in an individual to be tolerant, loving, free from ego, equi-poised in happiness and misery, satisfied with less, contended, self controlled, honest, free from hatred towards all living beings, compassionate through enhancing inner strength.

The only aim of Sanatan Dharma is sustainable human civilization filled with love for self and surrounding (all living beings moving and non-moving and environment). In my opinion there is no body on earth, irrespective of faith and belief who does not agree with above value system and its contribution

towards peaceful and prosperous human society. Then, no doubt we all follow and practice Sanatan Dharma (Manav Dharma), though we believe in different way of living (panth).

Basic Tenets and Ideology of Sanatan Dharma

3. In the article, teachings of Sanatan Dharma are discussed to corroborate core values as brought out above.

4. Sense of Brotherhood.

1. World is One Family.  Sanatan Dharma teaches that world is one family.

अय निजः परो वेनि गणिा लघुचेिसाम् |

उदारचररिािा िु वसुधैव कुटुम्कम् ||

ayam nijah paroveti ganana laghuchet saam I udaar charitanaam tu vasudhaiva kutumbkam II

(71st verse of the IV Chapter of Maha Upnishad)

Meaning:  Ignorant or narrow minded person thinks in terms of me, mine and yours, while for the broad-minded person, the whole world is like one family.

2. Prayer for World Peace (Viswa Shanti Ki Kamana). A Sanatani after getting up and before going to bed prays for world peace and wishes peace for every creature on earth.

ॐ सव् भवनिु सुनििः सव् सनिु निरामयाः । सव् भदानण पशयनिु मा कन्चदुःिभाखभवेि् । ॐ शाननिः शाननिः शाननिः ॥

Om, Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niraamayaah |

Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu, Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet | Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Meaning:

Om, May All be Happy, May All be Free from Illness. May All See what is auspicious, May no one Suffer. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

UN charter and preamble of constitution of India and almost of all countries, which came into being much later, aim for peaceful living. These are obligatory/legal/enforceable forms of above vedic scriptures.

5. Care for Nature for Sustainable Human Existence.

1. Nature is God.   God is the subtle life energy that resides in nature in un-manifested form. Nature is the manifested form of this subtle energy (God). A sanatani draws strength from this eternal truth and thinks himself as part of nature. No doubt, it is in the interest of sustainable human civilization. Sanatani understands the importance of nature. He respects mother nature, worships it and adopts conservation practices as part of life. Ill effects of dis- respect towards nature is evident all around and may lead to extinction of human civilization if present trend continues.

Bhagavat Gita says God is - the taste in water, radiance of the sun and the moon that illuminates entire solar system, generates and withholds/distributes rain. It is the tallest mountain system, the ocean amongst reservoirs of water, brightness of the fire, etc. He warms the entire creation by his radiance.

A Sanatani worships nature as God.

(i)                रसोऽहमपसु कौनिेय पभानाम शनशसूय्यो: ||7/8||

raso ’ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi shashi-suryayoh

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 7 Sloka 8)

Meaning (Lord Krishnan says) O son of Kunti, I am the taste in water and the radiance of the sun and the moon.

(ii)                    िपामयहमह वर् निगृहमयु्सृजानम च || 9/19||

                                                                           tapamyaham aham varsham nigrihnamyutsrijami cha

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 9 Sloka 19)

Meaning        I radiate heat as the sun, and I withhold, as well as send forth rain.

(iii)              रयजनिरा रनवरशुमाि् | िक्ाणामह शशी || 10/21||

                                                                             jyotisham ravir anshuman, nakshatranam aham shashi

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 10 Sloka 21)

Meaning        Amongst luminous objects I am the sun and the moon amongst the stars in the night sky.

(iv)           वसूिा पावक्ानाम मेर: नशिररणामहम् || 10/23||

vasunam pavakash chasmi meruh shikharinam aham

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 10 Sloka 23)

Meaning        Amongst the Vasus, I am Agni (fire) and Meru (tallest mountain system) amongst the mountains.

(v)                                 सरसामनाम सागर: || 10/24||

sarasam asmi sagarah

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 10 Sloka 24)

Meaning        Amongst reservoirs of water, I am the ocean.

(vi)        यदादद्यगि िेजो जगदासयिेऽनिलम् |

यचनदमनस यचाचौ ितेजो नवन् मामकम् || 15/12||

yad aditya-gatam tejo jagad bhasayate ’khilam

yach chandramasi yach chagnau tat tejo viddhi mamakam

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 15 Sloka 12)

Meaning        I am the brilliance of the sun that illuminates the entire solar system. I am the radiance of the moon and the brightness of the fire.

(vii)                              यचानप सव्भूिािा ्ीज िदहमजु्ि |

ि िदनाि नविा य्ायानमया भूि चराचरम् || 10/39|| yach chapi sarva-bhutanam bijam tad aham arjuna na tad asti vina yat syan maya bhutam characharam

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 10 Sloka 39)

Meaning           I am the generating seed of all living beings, O Arjun. No creature moving or non-moving can exist without me.

2. God is Energy.  God is subtle life energy and is all pervading and provides sustenance to all living beings. We can say nature is manifested form of subtle energy i.e. God.

्नहरनि् भूिािामचर चरमेव च |

सूकम्वातदनवतेय दूरा् चाननिके च िि् || 13/15||

bahir antash cha bhutanam acharam charam eva cha sukshmatvat tad avijneyam dura-stham chantike cha tat

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 13 Sloka 15)

Meaning  He exists outside and inside all living beings (moving and non- moving). He is subtle and is incomprehensible. He is very far and also very near i.e. all pervading.

3. Respect Mother Nature - Earth is Our Mother.   A                Sanatani believes that earth is mother and they are her sons and daughters. It is obligatory on them to respect mother earth and mother nature. A Sanatani

understands man needs nature and takes care of environment (soil, water, air, flora, fauna and whole eco-system).

मािा भूनमः पु्ोऽह पृन्वाः।

mātā bhūmiḥ putro’haṃ pṛthivyāḥ। (Atharvaveda 12.1.12)

Meaning:   Earth is my mother and I am her child.

4. Pancha Bhoot.  According to the concept of pancha Bhoot of Sanatan Dharma, the five physical elements - prithvi (soil), water (apas/varuna/jal), fire (agni), air(vayu) and space (akasha) are the basis of all cosmic creations. The human body is also made up of pacha bhoot. My father’s body is made of panch bhoot, so also mine. My son’s body will also be made up of panch bhoot. The food that we eat, clothes that we wear and other things that we use daily are made up of panch bhoot. It is obligatory on all of us to preserve these basic elements of nature. Otherwise it will have detrimental effect on our future generations and so also their sustenance.

भूनमरापोऽिलो वायु: ि मिो ्ुन्रेव च |

अहङकार इिीय मे नभना पकृनिरिधा || 7/4||

bhūmir-āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva cha ahankāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛitir aṣhṭadhā

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 7 Sloka 4)

Meaning Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego are eight components of my material energy. Everything in nature living and non-living are made up of these eight elements.

5. Preservation of Nature (Food Grains and Rain).

अनादवननि भूिानि पज्नयादनसमभव: | यतादवनि पज्नयो यत: कम्समुदव: || 3/14||

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 3 Sloka 14)

Meaning   All living beings live on food, and food is produced by rains. Rain is generated from the sacrifice. The sacrifice is the performance of prescribed duties (sakarm - performing action with due respect or consideration towards all living beings and non-living elements).

If you will perform your prescribed duties (sakarma), the coherence(santulan) between different elements of nature will be maintained. It will create favourable weather conditions and will bring rains. The age old Sanatani teachings understood the mechanism of rain. This points towards the irrational approach of present developmental activities leading to pollution of panch bhoot resulting in climate changes and frequent natural disasters.

6. Idea of All-inclusiveness or Oneness. Sanatan Dharma believes in the idea of oneness (all-inclusiveness) i.e. God is one and everything in the universe is part of one single entity i.e. one in all and all in one. Almighty Krishna (Hinduism), Ram (Hinduism), Jesus (Christian), Allah (Islam), HaShem (Jewish), etc are the same and it is the very source of all pervading subtle life energy that keeps the whole cosmic eco-system functional.

Sutra “एकम सि नवपा ्हधा वदननि” (Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti) from Rigveda highlights that “Truth is one, the enlightened or wise perceive it differently” and refer him by different names. It decisively points to the

oneness of God, its about the uniqueness and unambiguity of truth.

Ekam Eva advitiyam Brahma (एकम् एव अन्िीय ब्।) of Chandogya Upanishad of the Sama Veda refers to uniqueness of God in terms of both physical countability and purity & quality.

Tat Tvam Asi (िि् ्वम् अनस) i. e. you are God of Chandogya Upanishad

6.8.7 of the Sama Veda teaches that God and ourselves are one and the same.  Aham  Brahma  Asmi  (अहम्  ब्ानाम)  of  Brihadaranyaka

Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda reveals that I am God. I and You are part of God. It refers to the unlimited potential of human beings to acquire Godly qualities. It is the consciousness within the human beings. The verse

Prajnanm Brahma (पतािम् ब्) of Aitareya Upanishad 3.3 of the Rig Veda pronounces that consciousness within man is God.

The vedic philosophy Isavasyam idam sarvam (ईशा वाायनमद सव्) and Sarvam Kalvitham Brahma of Chandogya Upanishad 3.14.1 of the Sama Veda describe the concept that everything in the entire universe is pervaded by God. Everything in the universe is part of one complete whole and is inseparable.

7. Personality Development (Healthy Citizens).             The ideology pays attention to character building and personality development of its followers. It develops social quotient (SQ), emotional quotient (EQ) and adversity quotient (AQ). A self composed person can only be a good citizen and will serve nation with sincerity of purpose.

(a)                                अ्ेिा सव्भूिािा मै्: करण एव च | निम्मो निरहङकार: समदु:िसुि: कमी || सनिुि: सिि योगी यिा्मा दृढनि्य: |

मयययप्िमिो्ुन्यज मद्: स मे नपय: || 12/13,14||

adveṣhṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva cha nirmamo nirahankāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣhamī santuṣhṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

(Bhagavat Gita - Chapter - 12, Sloka 13 and 14)

Meaning: A person should be free from malice towards other living beings and be free from attachment to possessions and egotism. Remain equipoised in happiness and distress. Be friendly and compassionate, ever-forgiving, ever-contented, self- controlled, firm in conviction and dedicated to Me (nature) in mind and intellect. These persons (devotees) are very dear to me.

(b)                                           अहहसा प्म पुषप पुषप इननदयनियह : सव्भूि दया पुषप कमा पुषप नवशेरि : I ताि पुषप िप पुषप शाननि पुषप ि्ैवच

स्य अिनवद पुषपो नवषणो : पीनिकर भवेि् I Ahimsa Prathamam Pushpam                                                         Pushpam Indriya Nigraha: Sarvabhuta Daya Pushpam                                                     Kshama Pushpam Visheshatha:

Jnanam Pushpam Tapa Pushpam   Shanthi Pushpam Thathaiva cha

Satyam Ashtavidham Pushpa:    Vishno: Preetikaram Bhaveth II

Meaning: Lord Vishnu (life energy in nature) is pleased when we offer following eight flowers i.e. we are endowed with following qualities - non- violence (ahimsa), control of senses (indriya nigraha), love for all living beings (sarva bhuta daya), forgiveness (kshama), knowledge (jnanam), austerities / meditation (tapas), peace (shanti) and truth (satyam).

With these qualities, a person remains in synch with self, society and environment.

3. Anger Management.  The anger is the seed of destruction of human beings. Sanatan Dharma prescribes to manage anger and remain away from it.

कोधादवनि सममोह: सममोहा्ामृनिनविम: |

ामृनििशाद् ्ुन्िाशो ्ुन्िाशा्पणशयनि ||

krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛiti-vibhramaḥ smriti-bhranshad buddhi-nasho buddhi-nashat pranashyati

(Bhagavat Gita - Sloka 63, Chapter - 2)

Meaning: Anger clouds the power of judgment, which results in bewilderment of the memory. When the memory is confused, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined.

4. Respect for Elders and Mother Land. In Sanatan Dharma parents and teachers are regarded as Gurus (one who teaches and nourishes the future generation to be socially, spiritually and emotionally balanced). Guru is the sources of creation, sustenance and destruction. Guru means dispeller of darkness; Gu=Darkness, Ru=Remover. The mother and mother land are given highest respect and regarded an abode superior to the heaven.

(i)                                 गुरब््ा गुरयव्षणु गु्रद्वो महेशरः |

गुर साकाि परब्ा िामै शीगुरवे िमः ||

GururBrahma GururVishnu GururDevo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha

Meaning: Guru is the Creator (पूण् परम ब्ा /Brahma), Guru is the Preserver (Vishnu), Guru is Destroyer (Maheshwara). Guru is the absolute (singular) Lord himself, Salutations to Sri Guru.

(ii)                                जििी जनम भूनम् ावगा्दनप गरीयसी |

jananii janma bhuumishcha svargaadapi gariiyasii |

(Yuddha kanda in Valmiki Ramayana 6-124-1|

Meaning: Mother and mother-land are far superior even to the heaven."

Conclusion

8. The vedic scriptures      of Sanatan Dharma prescribes the code of conduct to be followed by all human beings on earth.

The code of conduct or way of functioning or way of living remains in congruence with the requirement/established norms if there is sense of obligation and attitude of gratitude. It becomes further effective if it is supported by enforcement measures. The vedic culture had imbibed sense of obligation and attitude of gratitude towards society and environment. The administration by kings had necessary enforcement measures to ensure compliance with established norms.

However, presently, despite scores of international conventions and dozens of prohibitory/institutional measures in each and every country on conservation of nature and crime control, there appears little hope. Because, society lacks sense of obligation and attitude of gratitude. Unless these basic ethos are brought back, any degree of enforcement measures will not be effective. The present destructive mode of developmental activities will surely lead the human civilization to extinction.