The practitioners of the ancient faith, whose origins can be traced to the Vedas, thought that their faith was eternal, with its roots in heaven, and also originated directly from God at the very beginning of creation.

Therefore they preferred to call it the eternal religion (Sanatana dharma). The word Hindu was used initially in a secular sense rather than religious. Sanatana means endless, and dharma means obligation or obligatory duty.

Dharma’s Primary Aim For Human Life

In Hinduism, religion (dharma) influences how people live and view themselves. The very act of living is regarded as an essential duty and an opportunity to fulfil the goals of creation and participate in God’s eternal dharma. Tradition maintains that duty (dharma) is the primary aim (Purusharthas) of human life since it is the basis upon which one develops the wisdom and discretion to pursue wealth (artha) and happiness (kama) without undermining the odds of liberation (moksha).

Every living being, and for that matter, every Thing in the diversity of God’s creation, has a function and a particular responsibility in God’s manifested universe, without which production will probably be incomplete. Thus, Sanatana Dharma, which we broadly recognize as Hinduism, is God’s eternal duty shared with all from the highest to the lowest, hear and hereafter.

In fact, Hinduism isn’t just about those who practice it. Everyone who participates in the development of Sanatana dharma and shares part of God’s eternal and continuous obligations is a Hindu. He or She who owes his or her lifetime and allegiance to the development of Sanatana Dharma is a Hindu.

If you live and perform your actions selflessly, you are a Hindu. If you are helping others, you’re a Hindu. If you are living for God, at the service of God and offering your activities, you are Hindu. Should you take part in any manner in God’s eternal sacrifice known as invention, you’re a Hindu.

Recognizing your Dharma

‘dharmo rakshita rakshatah,’ which means you safeguard your religion or dharma; your dharma will safeguard you. But what exactly do we mean by the word dharma?

At the most elementary level, dharma signifies your natural action or propensity. The dharma of gods or divinities is to help individuals and other living beings and help God enforce His legislation, protect individuals from evil and maintain righteousness on the planet.

Human beings are endowed with reasoning power, which we call buddhi or discriminating intelligence, intelligent self-awareness, and the ability to direct our will in whatever way we deem fit. So in human beings’ case, dharma means living according to their highest nature, controlling their lower nature, animal instincts, natural urges and baser desires.

What’s the higher nature or the true dharma of a human being? These duties are meant to establish stability and peace inside yourself, others, and the world.

Nourishing gods, nourishing ancestors, nourishing needy human beings, nourishing other living beings and serving the seers and brahmanas. These are obligatory duties because their practice contributes to harmony, peace, order and regularity.

If you are for peace, harmony and order and strive to set them and keep them in your own life and your environment, it’s deemed that you’re following your dharma and in tune with your spiritual character.

Here are a few simple ways to practice your essential dharma.

1. Curb your basic desires and your animal instincts.

2. Identify yourself with your inner self, understanding that you’re neither your body nor your mind but the immortal self, who’s caught in the whirlpool of life.

3. Offer whatever you’ve got and everything you do to God or the divinities you adore most. Make your life and your actions an offering to God.

4. Exercise detachment so that mentally you’ll be more stable and calm.

5. Cultivate sattva or purity by practising virtue and avoiding wrongdoings to experience affinity with your spiritual side.

6. Practice non-violence and empathy towards other living beings. It will set you apart from animals and allow you to practice universal friendliness (mitrata).

7. Keep away from believing and harbouring evil and immoral thoughts.

8. Practice yoga and meditation to control the modifications of your mind and experience peace and harmony within yourself.

9. Worship your gods and divinities so that they will be active in your consciousness and the cosmos and express themselves.

10. Perform your duties, whatever it is, without expectation and with a sense of sacrifice.

11. Fill your mind with positive and spiritual thoughts.

12. Speak the correct phrases, think the right thoughts and do the right deeds.

Vedicology awareness program on Hindu Dharma or Sanatana Dharma presents you with the awareness that our present lifestyle is a preparation for another life or afterlife.

Mr Praveen Saanker and his team remind you through the program that you’ve got the liberty to live life as you deem fit and move towards light or darkness. Scriptures say that even Gods, if they want to progress to higher planes, have to be born upon the earth as human beings and perform Dharma to qualify for further progress. Awareness program on Hindu Dharma or Sanatana Dharma by Vedicology is conducted at Vedicology Center for Spiritual Empowerment, Annanagar, Chennai, India.