Sanatana Dharma (சனாதன தர்மம்)

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.)