The meaning and concept of God is Sanatana Dharma is entirely different from monolithic religions. Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, the 36th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetam throws light on What is God in Sanatana Dharma?
God is the supremely intelligent ultimate cause from which the entire universe has emerged, in which the universe exists, and into which the universe ultimately dissolves. We proclaim that God is omnipresent. Everything we see or feel is only a form of God, gross or subtle. This is the real concept of God in Sanatana Dharma.
Sanatana Dharma is based on equality - the understanding that one truth pervades all inanimate and animate.
Additional Information And Teaching:
Sanatana Dharma, often referred to as the eternal way or the eternal truth, defines God (Brahman) as the ultimate, formless, infinite, and eternal reality. The universe originates from God, exists in God, and ultimately dissolves into God. This view forms the core philosophy of Advaita Vedanta and is echoed throughout other schools of Hindu thought. God in Sanatana Dharma is both immanent (present within everything) and transcendent (beyond everything).
The concept of God in Sanatana Dharma is inclusive, universal, and profoundly spiritual, making it relevant across time and cultures. God is understood not as a distant figure but as the essence of existence itself. The essence of God pervades the animate (living beings) and inanimate (objects), binding the cosmos in a singular reality.
Key Features and Symbolism
Omnipresence:
- Sanatana Dharma proclaims that everything, from the smallest atom to the vast galaxies, is a manifestation of God. This teaching underscores the interconnectedness of all life forms and the oneness of the universe.
- Symbolism: God is often symbolized as OM (AUM), the primordial sound of creation, which represents the entirety of existence: creation (A), sustenance (U), and dissolution (M).
Equality and Unity:
- At its core, Sanatana Dharma teaches that all beings—regardless of caste, creed, or form—are manifestations of the same divine truth. This spiritual equality emphasizes universal brotherhood and mutual respect.
- The Bhagavad Gita states: "The wise see the same Divine Reality in a Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater (outcaste)" (5.18).
Symbolic Representations of God:
- While God is formless and infinite, Sanatana Dharma uses forms and symbols to make the divine more accessible. Deities like Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, and others represent various aspects of God’s qualities—preservation, destruction, power, and compassion.
- The diversity of forms teaches that divinity can be approached in countless ways.
Importance of This Teaching
Universal Applicability:
- The understanding that all existence is one truth fosters compassion, tolerance, and harmony. This teaching is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago, helping address conflicts arising from religious, social, or cultural differences.
Sustainability and Respect for Nature:
- Recognizing divinity in all things promotes reverence for the environment and a sustainable way of living. The Earth (Bhumi), rivers, forests, and even animals are considered sacred in Sanatana Dharma.
Timeless Wisdom:
- By emphasizing inner realization over dogma, Sanatana Dharma remains applicable in any age or context. It teaches that each individual can directly experience the divine through meditation, devotion, or selfless action.
Ancient Hindu Wisdom on God
Rig Veda (Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti):
- "Truth is One, but the wise call it by many names." This verse encapsulates the essence of Sanatana Dharma’s inclusivity, allowing diverse spiritual paths to coexist.
Tat Tvam Asi:
- A central Upanishadic teaching meaning "You are That," signifying that the divine resides within every individual. Realizing this truth is the goal of life.
Ahimsa and Dharma:
- The nonviolent and ethical principles of Sanatana Dharma stem from the recognition that harming another is akin to harming oneself since all are part of the same divine reality.
Relevance in Modern Times
Interfaith Dialogue:
- The inclusive concept of God can act as a bridge in interfaith discussions, emphasizing shared truths while respecting differences.
Mental Peace and Spiritual Growth:
- By teaching that God resides within us, Sanatana Dharma encourages introspection, leading to mental peace and spiritual fulfillment. Practices like yoga and meditation have gained global acceptance as tools for self-realization.
Scientific Resonance:
- Modern quantum physics echoes the concept of an interconnected universe, a principle long embedded in Sanatana Dharma’s understanding of God as the unifying substratum.
The concept of God in Sanatana Dharma is profound, encompassing both the immanence and transcendence of divinity. It teaches that the same ultimate reality pervades all existence, fostering a universal perspective of equality, reverence for life, and spiritual unity. This timeless wisdom offers guidance for inner peace, global harmony, and sustainable living, making it a teaching of eternal relevance.
What is the meaning of Sanatana Dharma?
Sanatana means eternal. Dharma is a word that defies exact translation into English or perhaps into any other language. It can be said to mean ‘the values of life that sustain’. Therefore, Sanatana Dharma means the religion based on the eternal values of life. It is popularly known as Hinduism today.
Hindu religion does not depend on historicity of one person. It is based on eternal truth, principles and values of life that hold good for all people at all places – past, present and future.
In terms of general understanding, Dharma stands for all good ideals, purposes, influences, institutions and the way of life and conduct that shape the character and evolution of man, both as an individual and a member of society. It is the law of right living, the observance of which secures the double aspect of happiness in life and liberation from all bondage. It is ethics and religion combined.
The Mahabharata, which is versatile encyclopedia of learning, culture and tradition, emphatically states that “nobody has ever violated the principles of Dharma without ultimately courting disaster.”
The opposite of Dharma is Adharma. Adharma might carry a man to the heights of power and prosperity for a time, but it is all temporary. The heights earned through Adharma will surely be a prelude to a certain irremediable fall.