Bharatiya philosophy has always focussed on the action of human being and its consequential effects on spiritual as well as physical dimensions. Thus the evolution of spiritual thoughts in this land has been on the basis of perfection of righteous action. Be it the physical Hath Yog for perfection of body or various Sadhana practices to perfect the metal and spiritual realm.
As a product of this evolution of thoughts and practices we have plethora of literature from the Vedas and Upanishads to Puranas and Samhitas. From these a certain way of life developed in our country. And owing to the thousands of years of this evolution, it resulted in various practices being engrained in our daily life. Since a society is result of interaction of individuals, these thoughts and beliefs have huge influence on our socio-political structure. Thereby it may be concluded that the Sanatan Dharma has influence on every aspect of Bharatiya civilisation.
Ever since the evolution of this thought began in our land, criticism and debates have always accompanied it. Unlike several religions in other parts of the world, Bharatiya spiritual evolution was not monotheistic and rigid. It always welcomed logical debates and course correction towards perfecting itself to remain Sanatan i.e. Eternal. Be it the Buddhist influence or Jain influence or the Bhakti movement, Sanatan practices have evolved without compromising its core principles, that is oneness of Atma( self) and the almighty Brahm.
Now a debate has started by some people to eradicate Sanatan Dharma. This by some scholars may be regarded as reformist voice but it is not so. The history of Bharat is replete with several reformist movements and they have become successful also but they focussed on change within. However this non-sensical call for eradication of Sanatan Dharma is a folly on several counts.
First, they are confusing western concept of Religion with Dharma. Dharma is not a bookish concept where you follow a certain protocol and revere a certain deity and practice only what is written in a certain book. In Sanatan fold, there is no deity who can claim to be worshipped by all, no book which can claim to be the only truth and no way of life which can be called the only way. Bharat is perhaps the only place where a husband can be devotee of Shiva, wife a devotee of Durga, yet they have no difference in their religious practices. The proponents of eradication of Sanatan Dharma visualise it as a monolithic structure which can be razed to the ground. Sanatan is like collection of thousands of different rays called light which enlightens us. But all these rays and the light have only single source which is the Sun.
Secondly, their arguments are based on certain ill practices which existed or existing even today such as Caste rigidity. It is no doubt a blot on our society that such an ill practice of deprivation and exclusion based on caste exists in our society, but Sanatan Dharma is not the culprit. The Varna Vyavastha was envisaged in Vedas for division of labour for proper functioning of society. It was not rigid and not hereditary. It was based on the Guna and Karma. In the Bhagwad Gita (Ch: 4.13 ) Bhagwan says that the fourfold order(four Varnas) was created by Me according to the divisions of quality and work. Further in Chapter 18.41 he says that of Brahmins, of Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas as also of Sudras, the activities are distinguished, in accordance with the qualities born of their nature.
It was the later degradation of this division based on heredity and counting one work as inferior and other superior which caused problems in our society. In every evolution, there are certain defects which arise naturally but evolution has its own way of correcting it. That is why several reform movements started long back to correct the wrongs in name of caste. And the results are visible, be it the change in inter-dining or inter-marrying practices today or the increasing number of so-called Shudras even playing the role of today’s Rulers such as PM, CMs, Collectors etc. We should not forget that in 1990s shilanyas of Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir was done by a Dalit from Bihar.
Thirdly, the main axiom of their debate is influenced by Marxist ideology, which was never compatible with Bharatiya socio-political and philosophical structure. The European society and their association with the religious institution was compartmentalized.Their personal belief and their political systems were segregated and many a times at loggerheads. Whereas Sanatan Dharma is eternal righteous action which is supposed to be part of one’s daily life as well as it guides the rulers on what principles to follow while ruling the subjects. In Arthshastra, Kautilya says the guiding principle of King is that in happiness of their subjects lies his own happiness. Thus, the Rulers and ruled are not two but one which is again the core Sanatan principle- oness of beings. Sanatan is so heavily engrained in our existence that it makes us worship and respect animals, trees, rivers, lands, motor vehicles and what not.Therefore, sans Sanatan Dharma there will be nothing left to be guarded. That is why the motto of our Supreme Court is- Yato Dharmastato Jayah(Where there is Dharma, there will be Victory).
And finally, the votaries of eradication of Sanatan Dharma have only political objectives. They hardly understand what Sanatan Dharma is and how it evolved. This is their political folly to speculate that by abusing the Sanatan they will be able to rule. In this nation, the rules for the rulers are based on principle of oneness of beings. If they think they will be able to run the Bharatiya society by following certain European and colonial principles and thinkers, they must not forget even the europeans themselves failed to do so in Bharat. The society revolted against them.
Sanatan is called Sanatan not for no reason. It is eternal and the reason for that is its flexibility and scope of debate, dialogue and course correction. Mere some lunatic call for its eradication can never end it. It will evolve and remain eternal.
