Sanatana Dharma
"At the outset, I must point out that
Hinduism is not the correct and proper name of our ancient religion, which is
the oldest in the world. The Words ‘India’ and ‘Hinduism’ came into use only
after Alexander the Great crossed the river Indus (Sindhu) with his army in the
year 327 BC. Before the event, our religion was known as ‘Sanatana Dharma’. ‘Sanatana’
means eternal, and Dharma means things, as there is no equivalent single word
in the English language to express its full meaning. The term includes all such
ethical values as Truth, Righteousness, Duties, Law, Love, etc. In brief, it is
Cosmic Law above the State."
Vedic theism pre-supposes the
existence of Satyam (Truth) and Ritam (Eternal order). The latter includes Dharma,
laying down the highest moral code for man. The first Veda (Rig) says: “As
Satya upholds the Earth, so does Rita up-hold the heavens.”
(This is a part of the
excerpts of the speech of Mr. Ramachandra, the highly esteemed Editor of the
internationally famous ‘Religious Digest’, who delivered this speech to sixty
four Roman Catholic Nuns, belonging to different Orders, at the Aquinas University
College, Colombo in 1971.)
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