The word Sanatan is associated with the ancient Vedic culture, which is related to the land of India. Vedic culture is the ancient culture of India and is also the main center of faith, the knowledge of this Vedic culture has been called true knowledge, truth itself has been called Sanatan, that is, that knowledge of Vedic culture which is the complete truth, this truth is forever and that which is forever is eternal, that is why Vedic religion is also called Sanatan Dharma, the literal meaning of the word Sanatan is ‘always has been, is forever and always. Will remain’, that is, that which is always there, which never fades away, is eternal from eternity to eternity, that is Sanatan’.
Among all the cultures of the world, the oldest religion of the world, quoted from the very ancient Indian Vedic culture, is Sanatan Dharma, the followers of which Hindus are still called Sanatan Dharma. The meaning of the word Sanatan is very broad. There are mainly two ideologies in the whole world, theists and atheists. Theists are those who believe in God, they believe that this universe was created by God and atheists are those who believe that this universe was established automatically. They refuse to believe in God, whereas the theists are divided into different beliefs and traditions of many religions and sects. They have equal faith and belief in one God who created this universe, but their faith and belief. They remain different from each other, but despite this, at the core of all the religions and ideologies of the whole world, the inspiration of one or the other opinion or belief mentioned in Sanatan Dharma is visible, that is why even today, majority of Sanatan followers have unwavering faith in Sanatan as a never-ending religion and consider Sanatan Dharma to be established by God Himself.
Whatever cultures or civilizations there are in the world at present. The history of all those religions and civilizations is only about 2 to 3000 years, if we look at them in their historical sequence, then even today Indian ancient culture and civilization is the most ancient. India’s eternal culture is the only culture which does not have any single scripture and does not have any single prophet or messenger of God. Apart from the main texts and epics, there are hundreds of compositions, books and manuscripts which describe the time calculations of the entire creation, past, present and future, which have been established with the aim of benefiting the people through religious rituals, traditions, chanting, fasting, festivals, stories, stories and memories etc., which is completely true and has science at its core. The knowledge of Sanatan culture is a detailed subject completely based on science.
The main basis of Sanatan culture are the 4 major scriptures, Vedas. The direct and indirect knowledge of this entire creation in the Vedas is incomparable. There is mention of the creation from its origin till its oblivion. Apart from this, all other texts, srutis, smritis, poetry, epics and religious books tell the history of the entire creation and the direct and indirect events of different periods of human civilization and establish and preserve an ideal human life. All these are completely scientific and also completely practical. Today, scholars and scientists of various subjects do their research on these rules and principles and keep bringing out its truth, which we keep becoming aware of through various communication mediums, books, articles published in newspapers and magazines and through social media platforms, the knowledge of Sanatan culture is true knowledge.
Sanatan culture is not any culture or religion, but true culture and true religion, which is simple and eternal, just as truth remains true in whatever situation you test it. Truth does not change due to change in time, space and ecology, in the same way the knowledge of Sanatan culture is in the true form of creation, this form of its truth is what has made it eternal. Truth itself means eternal, truth does not leave its original meaning.
However ancient it may be, it would not be an exaggeration if today Sanatan is called the mother of all religions, sects and traditions. It is based on true principles since ancient times and its principles will remain true till eternity, because it is not for any religion, civilization or sect but for the welfare of the entire human being and for them to live a beautiful and orderly life without any discrimination. Author-Mohan Singh Bisht Senior Social Worker