We are probably misinterpreting the writings. Both the words Sanatana and Dharma are used in scriptures of Hinduism but not as a phrase. In Hinduism scriptures we would never find reference to a word like Sanatana Dharma. As stated in sacred texts of Hinduism dharma was eternal, existing from times immemorial. The word eternal in Hindi meant Sanatana. People started referring to dharma as Sanatana Dharma… something that exists from times immemorial, was eternal.
The usage of the coined word Sanatana Dharma was not wrong. The tree of Dharma truly exists even before a single religion came into existence. At that time people still survived… how? In present times religious preachers say one could not survive in absence of our religion. Our religion was the best. When no religion existed, people still survived because of Dharma that was inherent in all living beings including human beings. And what is Dharma?
The simple definition of Dharma was… “Dharma”… “Your right to do what is just and right and not what was destined”. In absence of all religions, based on this feeling of righteousness life moved ahead in cosmic life cycle! Dharma (righteousness) is the governing principle of life, the sap of living form. In absence of dharma (force of righteousness), no living being could have survived for long. All living beings would have done each other to death. It would have led to utter chaos.
In simple words Dharma means respecting each other. As this precept exists from times immemorial in books of Hinduism… people started calling it Sanatana Dharma. The use of word Sanatana Dharma is limited to books, and one may not find any reference to it in sacred texts of Hinduism. Hinduism was never known as Sanatana Dharma in sacred books of Hinduism.
By: Vijay Kumar “Atma Jnani”… The Man who Realized God in 1993 – (Ref 150902)
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