Sanātan Dharma: A Historical Perspective

<p>The Hindu Dharma is Sanatan eternal. That the Ultimate Reality<br>is expressed by the Rigvedic expression Tad ekam That One. It is<br>without attributes and without form yet is manifested in many forms<br>with different attributes and names. It is all pervasive and permeates<br>all animate beings and inanimate matter. Only one fourth of it is the<br>phenomenal universe and the rest is beyond. It is Purna. Whole and<br>that Purna should be realized. The Self-realization is possible with the<br>grace of the Ishta-devata inhered in the Gurumantra. The guru chooses<br>the best path of the Self-realization for his disciple as there are many<br>paths. Belief in Avatarhood Rebirth and Karma divinity of the nature<br>and ritual worship is integral to the Hindu Dharma. The Rigveda Samhita<br>is the source book. Other Samhitas all Brahmanas all Aranyakas and all<br>Upanishads are its exegesis. The Gita is one sacred book that all Hindus<br>must study being the teaching of Lord Krsna the God incarnate. The<br>Hindu Dharma is a way of life. The worship of the divine in any form is<br>the worship of Tad ekam.</p><p>The Hindu Dharma is like an ocean into which rivers and streams of<br>religious beliefs and practices have merged. From very ancient times<br>different groups of people came settled down developed their languages<br>and religious beliefs. These religious beliefs and practices did not<br>vanish rather all intermingled and merged into the eternal truth called<br>Sanatan Dharma.</p><p>karmanyevadhikaraste ma phalesu kadacana।<br>ma karmaphalaheturbhurma te sangostvakarmani॥ 2-47*<br>To work alone you have the right and not to the fruits. Do not be<br>impelled by the fruits of work nor have attachment to inaction.</p><p> </p>