Santan Dharma: A Historical Perspective

The Hindu Dharma is Sanatan, eternal. That the Ultimate Realityis expressed by the Rigvedic expression Tad ekam, That One. It iswithout attributes and without form, yet is manifested in many formswith different attributes and names. It is all pervasive and permeatesall animate beings and inanimate matter. Only one fourth of it is thephenomenal universe and the rest is beyond. It is Purna. Whole, andthat Purna should be realized. The Self-realization is possible with thegrace of the Ishta-devata inhered in the Gurumantra. The guru choosesthe best path of the Self-realization for his disciple, as there are manypaths. Belief in Avatarhood, Rebirth and Karma, divinity of the natureand ritual worship is integral to the Hindu Dharma. The Rigveda Samhitais the source book. Other Samhitas, all Brahmanas, all Aranyakas and allUpanishads are its exegesis. The Gita is one sacred book that all Hindusmust study, being the teaching of Lord Krsna the God incarnate. TheHindu Dharma is a way of life. The worship of the divine in any form isthe worship of Tad ekam.The Hindu Dharma is like an ocean into which rivers and streams ofreligious beliefs and practices have merged. From very ancient timesdifferent groups of people came, settled down, developed their languagesand religious beliefs. These religious beliefs and practices did notvanish rather all intermingled and merged into the eternal truth calledSanatan Dharma.karmanyevadhikaraste ma phalesu kadacanama karmaphalaheturbhurma te sangostvakarmani 2-47*To work alone you have the right, and not to the fruits. Do not beimpelled by the fruits of work, nor have attachment to inaction.