Sanatana dharma[edit]

Sanātana dharma (Devanagari: सनातन धर्म meaning "eternal dharma" or "eternal

order") is another name for Hinduism.
Dharma is often translated as "duty", "religion" or "religious duty", but has a deeper
meaning. The word comes from the Sanskrit root "dhri" which means "to sustain" or
"that which is integral to something" (e.g. dharma of sugar is to be sweet, fire to be
hot). A person's dharma consists of duties that sustain him according to his innate
characteristics which are both spiritual and material, generating two corresponding
types:[6]

1. Sanatana-dharma – duties performed according to one's spiritual

(constitutional) identity as atman and are thus the same for everyone.
2. Varnashrama-dharma – duties performed according to one's material
(conditional) nature and are specific to the individual at that particular time.
According to the notion of sanatana-dharma, the eternal and intrinsic inclination of the
living entity (atman) is to perform seva (service). Sanatana-dharma, being
transcendental, refers to universal and axiomatic laws that are beyond our temporary
belief systems.[6]
Today, Sanatana Dharma is associated only with Hinduism.[7] The term was used
during the Hindu revivalism movement in order to avoid having to use the term
"Hindu" which is of non-native (Persian) origin.[8][9]
Sanatana Dharma was designed as a way of life designed to best ensure the
continuity of humanity on this earth and provide the entire population with spiritual
sustenance. In current-day usage, the term sanatana dharma is diminished and used
to emphasize a "traditional” or sanatani ("eternalist") outlook in contrast to the socio-
political Hinduism embraced by movements such as the Arya Samaj.[10][11][12] In sharp
contrast to the efforts by Lahore Sanatana Dharma Sabha to preserve the Hindu
tradition against the onslaught of reform, now it is being stressed that Sanatan
Dharma cannot be rigid, it has to be inclusive without excluding the best and totality of
knowledge to guide the karmic process, especially as Sanatan has no beginning and
no end.[13]
The phrase dharma sanātana does occur in classical Sanskrit literature, e.g. in
the Manusmrti (4-138)[14] and in the Bhagavata Purana,[15][16] in a sense akin to "cosmic
order".

Sanatanis as a denomination[edit]
Since many reformist groups had the word Samaj (meaning society) or were led by
a sant (meaning saint), Sanatanis are often held to be in contrast
with Samajists and Santpanthis (meaning those who walk on the panth/path shown by
their sant/saint).[4][17] Unlike South India, where religious traditions such
as Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism form the principal Hindu denominations,
"they were effectively subsumed under the Sanatani identity" in many regions of North
India, and the Samajs and Santpanths became the other distinct Hindu
denominations.[18]
Reformist denominations such as the Arya Samaj are often fundamentalist in their
approach. The Arya Samaj regards the Vedas as infallible scripture, and rejects what
it regards as non-Vedic innovations in Sanatani Hinduism.[19] These non-Vedic
additions included inherited caste, the position of Brahmins as a revered group, idol-
worship, and the addition of thousands of deities to the Sanatani Hindu pantheon.[19][20]
These differences are often apparent in social practices. Arya Samaji weddings, for
instance, are based on Vedic practice and tend to be simpler and shorter with a
qualified individual of any caste-heritage conducting the wedding, whereas Sanatani
weddings are longer, with more complex rituals and always involve an officiating
Brahmin priest.[21]

Competition with other denominations