IN a previous article to your column, I outlined some of the names of Hinduism and their meanings briefly with the intention that Hindus and even non-Hindus who are searching for a little taste of the Hindu way of life, Hindu Dharma, would have been absorbed in immense knowledge of the very many names of Hinduism. To continue defining Hinduism, Sanaatan Dharma, I wish to go at its roots and so I benignly seek a little space of your column to do so. Hinduism is not simply a religion as some may refer to it, but a way of life rooted in eternal truths. Its foundation is based upon truths and so are its teachings, principles and goals. The entire purpose of Hinduism is for man to evolve spiritually and go beyond the accumulation vices and sense gratification. Attaining God’s realization is the sole purpose of man’s existence and as such, Hinduism focus directly. It aims at leading man from ignorance to bliss; sorrows to happiness; untruth to truth; death to immortality. Hence it is called ‘Sanaatan Dharma’-meaning eternal laws, God’s laws. It is God made.
Sanaatan means eternal and Dharma carries many meanings. ‘Religion’ and ‘Duty’ are two words which are widely used to translate ‘Dharma’ in English. Further, there are greater meanings. The word ‘Dharma’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Dhri’. From the word ‘Dhri’, we get the word ‘Dharti’ which means ‘earth’, and earth is the upholder of all life forms. In a Hindu prayer, it says ‘Om prithivee twayaa dhritaa loka’, ‘Oh Earth, You uphold the world’. Hence, it clearly indicates that Dharma means to hold, to sustain, to protect, to maintain, or to support. So, the word, ‘Dharma’ can be said to be that which supports, sustains, maintains and upholds the universe. The foundation on which society and Hinduism are built on is called Dharma. Dharma preserves, upholds, and supports the integrity of society. Dharma is indeed the principles and truths which govern the entire cosmos.
Dharma is the all-powerful, eternal, divine and supreme Laws of God that sustains and keeps together all beings, creatures and creations. That which brings about well-being and truth of man is Dharma. Any thought, word, or action that is devoid of hate, malice, greed, anger, jealousy and contempt is known as Dharma; benevolence, peace, selflessness, brotherly love, harmony, togetherness is Dharma. If fact, the Mahabharata has declared, “that which helps to foster unity and universal brotherhood is Dharma.”  These are Godly qualities which man must seek to achieve in his life time. It leads to perfection which is God. Hence, attaining perfection is attaining God, becoming one with Him.
Dharma also stands for that which holds up the existence of a thing. Everything in this world has its own Dharma, because it must rely on something for its existence. What is it upon which the existence of a thing depends? It is the essential nature of a thing without which it can never exist. The essential nature of a thing, therefore, is called its Dharma. For example, the Dharma of fire is the power of burning; the Dharma of man is to become divine and strive to become one with God, and so on.
In contrast, that which creates disorder, disharmony, vices, and hate is called ‘Adharma’. These types of qualities man must try to eradicate from his life if society is to function and orders are to be maintained. We are living in a world fill with violence, abuse, disrespect, moral corruption and day-by-day unnecessary killings. Mothers, sisters and daughters are not given the honour and place they deserve; they have become slave to the sensual desires of menace, men who masquerade as humans. This is surely ‘Adharma’-unrighteous. Hinduism condemns these behaviours.
Hinduism is a universal way of life for it caters for all people; people of different capacities, skills, talents, aptitudes and likeness. In Hinduism, there is a free will. Everyone has the opportunity to choose the path that suits them best, or the easiest path for them to attain liberation. Hinduism does not advocate to its followers that if they do not accept a particular creed they are doom. It doesn’t say that if its followers don’t accept a particular belief they will be perished in some place called hell or perhaps they will not be allowed to continue their practices of the Religion.
Every man has different capacities, tendencies and aptitudes, and as such Hinduism as taught by its Rishis {Seers} of ancient Bharat [India], caters for people of all temperaments. Hindu Sages were very wise and most realistic. They were aware that since the likeness and temperaments of people differ, no one method for God’s Realization or Liberation could suit everybody alike. Therefore, they arranged Yoga (paths for God’s Realisation) into four basic varieties suitable to all people of different temperaments. The emotional or loving type of people who have great capacity for feelings, Bhakti Yoga is suited for them. This is called the Path of Devotion. Followers of this path seek God’s Realization through Devotion to God. For the active or working type of people, Karma Yoga is suited. This is known as the Path of Action, where its followers seek to become one with God through selfless actions; the discriminating, reasoning and enquiring type of people, Jnana Yoga is most suited. This is the Path of Knowledge. Followers of this Path unite with God through Divine Knowledge. Finally, persons who are of a psychic or mystic nature, Raj Yoga is best suited for them. Followers of this path respond to mental stimuli than to sense stimuli.
Space will not permit me to go on defining Hinduism so I wish to end by making one more important point. Hinduism is not a position or a result or a fixed revelation. It is a process, a growing way of life of divine truths. Its teachings encourage us to believe that it will be found opportune to any situation that may arise in the future. For this reason, Hinduism is an inheritance of thought and aspiration, living and moving with the movement of life itself. It is not limited by space and time, since the principles upon which it is built are not limited by space and time. Hence, Sanaatan-that which knows no age.