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Sanatan Dharma is the oldest religious philosophy of values, duties, and responsibilities, known to the mankind, to be followed by all living and non-living beings including humans as enshrined by the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE. Its scriptures “VEDAS” are the oldest written texts in the world dated at least 7500 BC.
The word Dharma has been used in Rigveda for created beings primarily cosmic to follow the path set for them. Failing to follow those paths was thought to be responsible for various forms of calamities and sufferings.
Dharma word came in use for humans in natural, religious, social and moral spheres to follow the path of values, duties and responsibilities, rights, laws, conduct, virtues, right way of living and path of righteousness. Dharma is universal and applies to all human beings.
Religious Sects started emerging from 1000 BC with Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam,Sikhism, Swaminarayan, Arya Samaj, Sai Baba to name a few that pushed Sanatan Dharma into background.
Sanatan scriptures say “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning “World is one Family”. This ideology has restricted, the followers of Sanatan Dharma, to expand by way of conversions, invasions, wars, violence, allurement, coercion etc.
On the contrary onslaught of other religions on the followers of Sanatan Dharma has been going on for almost 3000 years. Due to this, followers of Sanatan Dharma shrank to the boundaries of India.
In spite of all this onslaught, India never attacked or invaded any country in its history.
Followers of Sanatan Dharma i.e., Hindus love to live in peace and have shown without any doubt that they are ready to co-exist peacefully with believers of other faiths. Hindus are the most tolerant people in the world and today they are respected for that.
Lately Hindus have taken an aggressive posture and it can take an ugly turn if the followers of other faiths do not come to terms to respect the Sanatan Dharma followers.
| Sr.No | Religion | Dharma |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Religion is a modern Western concept. | Dharma is mentioned in Vedas and Shastras. |
| 2 | Religion is the belief system of a community. | Dharma is universal and for the whole humanity. |
| 3 | Religion is a particular system of faith and worship and Followers to follow that path only. | Dharma is a path to follow of universal eternal values, duties and responsibilities by all created beings living or non-living. Dharma is for all. |
| 4 | Religion conveys the idea of faith and faith may change. | Dharmas do not change as they are eternal. |
| 5 | Religion can be changed as per desires and needs. | Dharmas cannot be changed. |
| 6 | Religion has a Founder. | Dharma is Eternal, No Founder. |
| 7 | Religion has a start date. | Dharma is Eternal and does not have a start date. |
| 8 | Religion is dependent on people. How many are following it. | Dharma is not dependent on people. People are dependent on Dharma. |
| 9 | Religion is preached. | Dharmas are something we all are either born with or learnt. Dharmas are in built in the system of the created beings including humans by God. |
| 10 | Sanskrit translation of Religion is Panth. Religion is not Dharma. | There is no equivalent translation of Dharma in Western languages. |
There may be many other differences in Religion and Dharma, but basic objective here is to demonstrate that Dharma is not Religion.
Sanatan Dharma Foundation is working to publish a book titled “Hindu Sanatan Dharma – Basic Knowledge” based on narrations by Scholars of Vedic and Sanatan Dharma, coordinated and Inspired by Sudesh Aggarwal.
Glimpse on the book contents, though not completed yet.
Fundamental Basic
Introduction
Aryans and Dravidians
Word Religion - Dharma Characteristics
Religion- Dharma Side by Side
Vedas and Shastras Explained
List of Vedas and Shastras
Background
How the Universe came into existence
Supernatural Power, Soul and Atom defined
Purpose of human existence
Concept of birth and re-birth
More chapters will be included
Sanatan Dharma scriptures are the base of Hinduism.
This list is to give the readers idea of the holy scriptures of Sanatan Dharma / Hinduism and how they are linked with each other.
Primary Scriptures of Sanatan Dharma are 4 VEDAS, and these are called SHRUTI Scriptures. Shruti Scriptures were heard or captured by Rishis and orally transferred from time immemorial. Shruti Scriptures are authoritative, cannot be amended and there is no Author for these. They existed since Univer
Secondary Scriptures of Sanatan Dharma are of 7 categories, and these are called SMRITI Scriptures. These are less authoritative and more directive. These have an Author and can be amended. Smriti Scriptures generally describe code of conduct governing life.
| Sr.No | Name Of Veda | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rig Veda |
Each Veda has 4 parts i.e. Samhitas Brahmanas Aryankas Upanishads |
| 2 | Yajur Veda | |
| 3 | Sam Veda | |
| 4 | Atharva Veda |
Collection of the most ancient text consisting of Hymns, Mantras and Prayers.
Text depicting commentaries on Vedas explaining social and religious significance of rituals.
Text guiding Hermits and Students residing in forests. Also known as Forest Books and are the concluding part of Brahmanas.
Text embodying doctrines dealing with humanity in relation to universe. Upanishad means Knowledge that destroys Ignorance. Also means learnt by sitting side of the Guru. These are also called Vedantas i.e. end part of Vedas.
There are 108 Upnishads. Rig Veda – 10, Yajur Veda – 51, Sam Veda – 16, Atharva Veda - 31
Further these Upnishads are classified into 7 categories as under:
Commentaries on these 10 Upanishads is given by Adi Shankaracharya (Advait school of thought) and Sri Madhavacharya + Sri Ramanujacharya (Dvait and Vishisht Advait school of thought)
Each category is for ultimate realization of God.
| Sr. No. | Category | No. of Shastras in each Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vedangas | 6 |
| 4 | Upvedas | 4 |
| 3 | Darshanas | 6 |
| 4 | Puranas | 18 |
| 5 | Uppuranas | 18 |
| 6 | Itihasas (Epics) | 2 |
| 7 | Dharam Shastras | 18 |
Vedangas are texts whose knowledge is needed to understand Vedas. There are 6 Shastras in Vedangas as under;
| Sr. No. | Name of Vedangas Shastras | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siksha | Phonetics |
| 2 | Kalpa | Religious Rights |
| 3 | Vyakarana | Grammar |
| 4 | Nirukta | Glossary |
| 5 | Chandas | Meters |
| 6 | Jyotisha | Astrology |
Upavedas are secondary to main Vedas. There are 4 Upavedas as under;
| Sr. No. | Name of Upaveda | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayur Veda | Health Science – Rig Veda |
| 2 | Dhanur Veda | Warfare – Yajur Veda |
| 3 | Gandharv Veda | Art & Music – Sam Veda |
| 4 | Arth Veda | Economics & Politics – Atharva Veda |
Darshanas in Vedic philosophy means Orthodox Schools of Thought though Darshan literally means a view / sight / glimpse of a Deity / holy person / the inner sanctum of a temple.
There are 6 Darshanas as under:
| Sr. No. | Category | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nyaya Darshan | Texts on Logic |
| 2 | Vaiseshikha Darshan | Texts on Atomism |
| 3 | Sankhya Darshan | Texts on theory of ‘gunas’ |
| 4 | Yoga Darshan | Texts on Mind - Body |
| 5 | Purva Mimamsa | Texts on Karma & Materialism |
| 6 | Uttra Mimamsa | Also known as Brahma-Sutra or Vedanta Sutra |
Puranas are ancient texts praising Deities, Kings, Sages, Common man etc. through moral and ethical stories. Puranas are considered to be supplementary explanation of Vedas.
Main Puranas are also called Mahapuranas.There are 18 Mahapuranas classified in three types;
each named after a Deity as under;
| Sr. No. | Name of Deity | Name of Purana |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brahma | Brahma Purana |
| 2 | Markandeya Purana | |
| 3 | Bhavishya Purana | |
| 4 | Brahmanda Purana | |
| 5 | Brahma Vaivarta Purana | |
| 6 | Vishnu | Vishnu Purana |
| 7 | Garuda Purana | |
| 8 | Mahabhagvata Purana | |
| 9 | Matsya Purana | |
| 10 | Kurma Purana | |
| 11 | Varaha Purana | |
| 12 | Padma Purana | |
| 13 | Vamana Purana | |
| 14 | Naradheya Purana | |
| 15 | Shiva | Shiva Purana |
| 16 | Linga Purana | |
| 17 | Skanda Purana | |
| 18 | Agni Purana |
Uppuranas are ancillary ancient texts praising Deities, Kings, Sages, Common man etc. through moral and ethical stories.
There are 18 or more Uppuranas classified in groups as under;
| Sr. No. | Name of Group | No. of Upapuranas in each Group |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaishnava Uppuranas | 4 |
| 2 | Shakta Uppuranas | 5 |
| 3 | Shaiva Uppuranas | 5 |
| 4 | Ganpatya Uppuranas | 2 |
| 5 | Neutral Uppuranas | 3 |
Though Itihaas in Sanskrit means history but in religious context Itihasas tell the philosophical and ethical stories of divine incarnations. They include the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Ramayana: Ramayana was composed by Rishi Valmiki around 200 years BCE. Ramayana tells the epic story of Lord Rama, incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Mahabharata: Mahabharata was composed by sage Vyasa. This epic story is on Dharma in particular of Dharma of kingship. Mahabharata is well known for Bhagavad Gita in which message of Lord Krishna, incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is stated.
Dharam Shastras are texts / documents / books / manuals that contain laws about morality and religious duties. They also provide guiding rules and principles for the righteous conduct and regularity of society at large.
Dharma taught in Dharam Shastras is based on customs and pronouncements of the writers of these texts that were likely derived from evolving ethical / ideological / cultural / legal practices. It has little to do with Vedas and the word Dharam Shastra never appears in Vedic texts.
Dharam Shastras are not written by a single author and these have been reviewed and commented upon in ancient and medieval era. Dharam Shastras are inconsistent with each other raising questions to their authenticity.
Main Dharam Shastras are:
Dharam Shastras are based on ancient Dharam Sutra texts.
Dharam sutras are guidelines for individual and social behavior. Dharma in Dharam sutras is diverse and includes;
These Dharmas are not found in Vedic texts nor the behavioural rules found in any of the Vedas.
Dharam Sutras are numerous in number but only few have survived.