or absolute set of duties or religiously ordained practices incumbent upon all Hindus, regardless of class, caste, or sect. Various texts give differing lists of the duties, but in general Sanatana dharma places premium on virtues such as honesty, refraining from injuring living beings, purity, goodwill, mercy, patience, forbearance, self-restraint, generosity, and asceticism. Sanatana dharma is often contrasted with Svadharma, that is, one’s “own duty” or the specific duties enjoined upon an individual according to his or her class or caste and stage of life.
Sanatana dharma is often considered to have universal relevance due to its inclusive nature and emphasis on eternal truths. It recognises the diversity of paths to spiritual realisation and encourages individuals to seek paths to connect with the divine. Its teaching on foundational concepts like dharma, artha, karma, and moksha are applicable to people of different cultures and backgrounds, providing insights into leading a virtuous life.
According to media reports, scores of foreigners who had come to attend the recent ‘Kumbh Mela’ — the world’s biggest religious event — adopted Sanatana dharma “to attain moksha”. In June, Pakistani influencer Shayan Ali announced that he had become a follower of Sanatana dharma and that the Bhagavad Gita had helped him overcome depression.
An individual’s dharma comprises duties that sustain him, as per his innate characteristics. When Arjuna dwelt on kul dharma (clan duties or traditions), Bhagawan Shri Krishna explained to Arjuna what constitutes Sanatana dharma via Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta.
The Pioneer spoke to Sadhguru, who essentially advocates Sanatana dharma on various national and international forums. “Sanatana means eternal. Something that is eternal is always true. Sanatana dharma is the dimension of life which does not change, which is the basis of our existence. Whether it is a worm, an insect, a bird, an animal, or a plant, all of them are ruled by Sanatana dharma — the body of fundamental laws that governs existence. This is not a penal code imposed by human beings upon one another, for control and some semblance of sanity in society. Transactional laws have to change from generation to generation. That is a different matter. Sanatana dharma is not a transactional dharma – it is an existential dharma.”
“Let us understand the word dharma. Dharma means the law. Dharma does not mean religion. In this culture, we do not know what religion is. We are only looking at what the underlying laws are for your life to happen in the best possible way. We understand unless you stick to these laws, your life cannot happen well. These laws are not an imposition but the foundation of existence. If you know the laws, and you are in tune with them, then your life happens effortlessly. If you do not know, you will simply suffer for no reason,” says Sadhguru.
Does Sanatana dharma have to be protected today as several followers have been claiming in the recent past? “No, because if Sanatana dharma is eternal, who am I or you to protect it? But how to access this Sanatana dharma, how to be cognizant of these laws, and how to implement them in our lives, these aspects have to be spoken about in the current language, style, and mode, as they appeal to this generation of people. They are not going to take it up because you say it is valuable. You cannot beat it into their head. You must make them see the value; you must make them see how it works. Only then they will take it up. It has to be enlivened; it must be alive in all of us in the way we live. If we do not do this, protecting it will become an isolated work,” Sadhguru observes.
To make Sanatana dharma mainstream has been at the core of his efforts. Without uttering the word dharma, he is bringing it into people’s life because it has to become mainstream if it has to live. “The larger population should subscribe to it. If just a small group of people subscribe to it and think that they know better and that they are above everyone else, it is not going to be preserved for too long.
We will end up killing the most precious aspect of this culture, in the sense, this is the only culture on the planet where the highest goal is liberation. We are not planning to go to heaven or sit in God’s lap. Mukti is our goal, because if you search deep within the very core of who you are, you will understand that it does not matter whether it is pleasures, knowledge, love, relationships, wealth, power, or fame, you will get bored of all these things at some point. The only thing that truly matters is freedom, and that’s why this culture is important — not just for today but for future generations,” Sadhguru remarks.
Appealing aspects
During Kumbh Mela, several men and women can be seen with their heads shaven and sandalwood tilak on their foreheads. Mesmerized by sanatana dharma, they offer prayers to Gods and Goddesses.
In Hindu philosophy, Sanatana dharma guides a diverse set of religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions that have evolved over thousands of years on the Indian subcontinent. He continues, “The West’s interest begins in understanding the Sanatana dharma first at an academic level of religious studies and antiquarian interest in Sanskrit. Key figures like Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, Sathya Sai, ISKCON’s Srila Prabhupada, and Sadhguru in contemporary times attracted a notable western following.
Their efforts have helped popularise Hinduism and attract followers in different countries.
For instance, there have been accounts of foreigners travelling to India, immersing themselves in Hindu philosophy and returning to their country to share their experiences and spread the teachings. Media platforms have covered stories of individuals who have found solace and a sense of purpose by embracing Hindu practices such as yoga and meditation, reflecting the global appeal of these traditions,” adds Kaithwas
Tourism plays a vital role
Tourism plays a vital role in the creation of discourses around Sanatana dharma. “Recently I had been to Varanasi and saw foreigners exploring Hindu temples, attending funerary cremations on the ghats of Ganga, engaging in spiritual practices, and interacting with local communities. Through such explorations, they may develop a deeper appreciation for Hindu universalism — the idea that Hinduism encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices that are shared values. This may lead to the development of sayings and phrases that promote an understanding of Hinduism’s diversity and unity,” says Kaithwas.
In July 14, it was reported that two men hailing from California undertook Amarnath Yatra (pilgrimage). They had been nurturing this dream for years and, according to them, they are devotees of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. Kedarnath Yatra is witnessing more than 2,000 foreign nationals.
“As tourists visit various sacred sites, temples, and spiritual destinations associated with Hinduism, they encounter different expressions of the faith. Through their experiences and interactions, they encounter the teachings, beliefs, and values. These encounters contribute to the creation of a discourse that highlights the interconnectedness of humanity and the shared pursuit of spiritual growth and self-realization,” says Sakshi Sree, who is a spiritual master and mystic. She is spearheading the Science Divine Movement for conscious living across the world!
Prof Ripu Ranjan Sinha, an academician, opines: “Ever since Swami Vivekananda brought the teachings of Yoga and Vedanta to the world in 1893, Hindu-based teachings have been spreading worldwide. This extends to all aspects of yoga – not only asanas but also pranayama, mantra, and meditation, and now kirtan is a popular musical movement in the West. Ayurveda is similarly gaining a global following as a profound system of mind-body medicine. Sanskrit, Indian music and dance are expanding their influences as well.”
“A global tradition now exists of numerous Hindu gurus travelling and teaching before millions of followers from all levels of society and relative to all aspects of life. The Hindu diaspora is another important component of the new global Hindu movement. Hinduism is gaining respect owing to the success financially and educationally of immigrant Hindus, as well as their peaceful and tolerant nature. Beautiful Hindu temples can be found in the main cities of the West, which westerners are also visiting. The number of westerners formally becoming Hindus is slowly increasing through the efforts of organisations like Hinduism Today, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Arya Samaj.”
The rise of devotees
Srila Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1966 and today it has grown to include 300 temples, 40 rural communities, and 80 restaurants in 71 countries. The Pioneer spoke to Yudhistir Govinda Das, Monk & Country Director of Communications for ISKCON. He says: “Sanatana dharma basically means the eternal duty and it is for everyone, regardless of any gender, age, caste, and nationality.
That is why it is a universal concept and for thousands of years that is how it has been in practice. From 1966 onwards, when Swami Prabhupadaji, founder of Iskcon movement took it globally, the philosophy attracted everyone and once Swamiji was asked why is it so that the westerners are getting so attracted to the philosophy and Swamiji’s response was that it had not just attracted the Westerners, Sanatana dharma had in fact attracted everyone, be it South American, Indians, Africans — all equally because as spirit and soul of a human we all want to be happy but we don’t know where to look for that happiness.
What we try to obtain is temporary and eventually it goes away. So, happiness can be achieved permanently by establishing a relationship with God and how to establish that relationship with the Almighty is called Sanatana dharma, the process of yoga and there are different forms of yoga. The best process is the Bhakti yoga and Karma yoga that Swami Prabhupada shared with everyone and that we are seeing today being manifested by everyone, no matter what part of world you reside in.”
New Yorker Hari Farkas took initiation from Radhanath Swami three years ago. He says, “My parents were devotees (my father still is, my mom went back to following her spirit and Christianity) and I was raised going to the temple for the big festivals, Ratha Yatra, Janmashtami, and Gaura Purnima. I got my first set of japamala when I was five but like most kids, I wasn’t serious. My parents tried to give me a normal American childhood.
Basically, for me while growing up, religion was just there but there was not much desire or a need to fully understand it and appreciate it. It was almost something that I would keep as a secret to myself because I was slightly embarrassed because no one I would spend time with aside from my family was part of Krishna Consciousness.” He adds, “It made me really lonely. Then when I was 18, there was a political battle over the temple that I grew up nearby. ISKCON and a different faction were fighting over who had rights to the temple.
Since my family was one of the few devotee families that lived in the area, we would have meetings at my parents’ house and programs and have various swamis stay with us. We had Bhakti Caru Swami, Jayapataka Swami, Jayadvita Swami and few others stay with us.
Since we would have programs, other people would come to our house and it just so happened that some of the people who would come were around my age. Up to that point, I had not had much success finding a girlfriend but after a summer of having these programs, I started dating a devotee girl. She was really nice and also more involved in Krishna consciousness than I was, so I started getting more involved as well so I could spend time with her.”
Farkas observed a transformation in his life. At college, his friends would not understand why someone would be vegetarian? All this coupled with a sense of isolation led to the path of reading Bhagavad Gita. Farkas found all the answers to his questions in the Bhagavad Gita. He found it more enjoyable reading and finding answers as well as attending kirtans at Radha Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn and basically this just got him started on the path.
Why is this reverse racism? “The Sanatan dharma, as far as I understand, is to reconnect and love God, whether I call him Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, or any other name that refers to the divine. As far as I am concerned, anyone and everyone who is God-loving is following the Sanatan dharma to the best of their abilities and knowledge. I definitely have experienced that where people have assumed that either I don’t know what I am doing or that I have read inappropriately. If we have a true understanding of the philosophy, we should understand that the body is a covering as long as we follow the rules and regulations, we should be accepted based on our character and not our outward dress,” concludes Farkas.
The new globalisation of Hindu dharma should be promoted in an authentic manner for the benefit of all humanity. We should remember that Hindu, Vedic, and dharmic teachings have had a wide geographical influence for thousands of years. Their modern impact is only a new phase of the development of Hindu dharma in its universal compass!
People all over the world have always been inspired by Sanatana dharma. It is a way of life that teaches you or simply guides you in all the phases of life. “If I talk about its expansion throughout the world, then it is because of the solutions that are there in the Sanatana dharma. Take for example, environmental problems that the world is facing. Ecologically sustainable development is the need of the hour and Sanatana dharma has always played a major role in supporting ecological movements.
Chipko movement was a Hindu ecological movement. Over the years, the concept has become nuanced and facilitate the shape of economic and political model of a country. We all saw how India fought against the global pandemic. Our vision as a nation is to expand the ideology and grow together,” shares Satendra Choudhpary, member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).In sum, Santana dharma is the fount of eternal verities.
