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CIHS – Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies > Sanatan Dharma
Global Resonance of Sanatan Dharma
Bharat Education Environment Hindus
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Global Resonance of Sanatan Dharma

Vinod Kumar Shukla Among the foundational “Trayi” (the first three Vedas), the Sam Veda stands as a celestial musical invocation dedicated to various Gods, Goddesses and Deities. It was upon these rhythmic foundations that Bharat Muni authored the Natya Shastra, bridging the gap between divine sound and terrestrial art. So, musical rendition, spiritual inquiry and philosophical discourse are not merely cultural artefacts but age-old traditions within Sanatan Dharma, pathways designed to lead the seeker toward peace and Nirvana. People of all ages have been drawn to these creations. Celebrities from all over the world are drawn to Sanatan Dharma in the current era for its profound inner calm, freedom (Moksha), spiritual growth, intellectual discussions, and the great amount of knowledge that Bharat possesses. Celebrities express their decision to follow the path of Sanatan Dharma by being drawn to and embracing them. There is a long list of celebrities joining the fold for something that they lacked despite their professional successes, material achievements and fame. They get absolute contentment by just being in the Sanatan fold. Sanatan transcended Himalayan height, oceanic depth and is beyond continental limits by offering its treasure trove of knowledge and spiritual capital with its various streams and different offshoots. So much so that many Islamic countries in Central Asia have allowed huge temples, which are otherwise not permissible. To begin with, the Japanese singer and songwriter Fujii Kaze, who is a cult figure across the globe, calls Bharat his “spiritual hometown.” Kaze had been absorbing Hindu philosophy, mantra, culture and ideas of non-attachment through his family and tells the world, “My parents are fascinated by Hindu teachings, and so am I.” Naming his 2024 album as ‘Prema,’ which means love in Sanskrit, feels less like a pop project and more like a meditation; this is how he expressed himself. Kaze, whose music varies from Jazz, R&B, Gospel and J-pop, is not only drawn towards Sanatan, who yearns for peace, grace and meaning in the noisy and parallel material world. Moreover, Kaze is not the only one who is drawing inspiration from Sanatan, but lots of other celebrities and hundreds of thousands of others who are deep into its practices. Known for her celluloid avatar as ‘Pretty Woman’, Hollywood actor Julia Roberts also follows Sanatan. She has been a practising Sanatani since 2010, having been drawn towards it after seeing a picture of Neem Karoli Baba. She even changed names of her children after Hindu deities, with Hazel as Laxmi, Phinnaeus as Ganesh and Henry as Krishna Balaram, who are practising Hinduism now, including her husband. Her production company is named “Red Om Films”. The family regularly visits temples. The American actor Robert Downey Jr has a profound connection with Sanatan philosophy and spirituality, which he has credited for helping him through his journey of recovery from addiction and self-discovery. Downey Jr frequently speaks about his association with the Hare Krishna movement, the Srimad Bhagavad Gita and the practice of Yoga. He acknowledges that principles of mindfulness, self-awareness and karma philosophy (Vedant School of thought) of Sanatan helped him overcome addiction and rebuild his life. The Sanatan philosophy seems to have helped him even to focus and balance his life. Russell Brand, an English actor and comedian, has had an evolving relationship with Sanatan and its core spirituality. He unequivocally credited it for helping him get de-addicted and finally get mental serenity. His devotion to the Hare Krishna movement after meeting with spiritual leaders like Radhanath Swami tells the tale of his belief in Sanatan. In the year 2010, Brand married pop star Katy Perry in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan. Unfortunately, they are separated now. Brand practices yoga and meditation regularly and believes in karma and reincarnation, which are part of the revelations of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. He has a Sanskrit tattoo that is interpreted as “Anuugacchatu Pravaha,” which means “go with the flow”. Australian actor, singer and producer, Hugh Jackman, who has expressed a deep, long-term personal connection to Sanatan, its philosophy and Transcendental Meditation, has integrated its teachings and belief system into his life. He often describes how these teachings feel more instinctive to him than the Western tradition he was raised in. He spent more than thirty years studying and exploring Vedic philosophy, the Upanishads and Srimad Bhagavad Gita. He found that the Vedic epistemology matched his sensibility and was inspired by Vedanta ideas. Jackman wears a wedding ring inscribed with the Sanskrit phrase “Om Paramar Mainamar”, which means “We dedicate our union to a greater source.” Jackman has spoken about his admiration for the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, especially its teachings on life, death and making peace with oneself. George Harrison, an English musician who was the lead guitarist of the Beatles, known as “the quiet Beatle,” developed an affinity for Sanatan Dharma, Philosophy and culture after meeting sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. His engagement with Sanatan led him to the doorstep of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, embracing chanting of mantras and integrating Hindu themes into his music, most famously with “My Sweet Lord.” He significantly supported the ISKCON movement by donating Bhaktivedanta Manor. Harrison’s dedication helped popularise Sanatan concepts, teachings and practices in Western countries, making him a significant figure in bridging Hindu spirituality and Western pop culture. One of the most notable Western followers of Sanatan included the prominent American businessman Alfred Ford, aka Ambarish Das, the great-grandson of Henry Ford. He adopted Hindutva in 1974 after becoming a disciple of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is involved in building the Vedic Planetarium temple in India. While he is a dedicated practitioner of Sanatan, his involvement is specifically with the spiritual and cultural aspects of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. As a central figure of the 1960s counterculture, Allen Ginsberg’s stay in India during 1962–1963 marked his profound engagement with Sanatana and the Bhakti tradition. Immersing himself in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, Ginsberg utilised Hare Krishna chanting as a spiritual tool to bypass “Western rationalism.” His

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Hindus Opinion Policy
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Sanatan Dharma embraces unity, truth & non-violence

RSS chief calls for sinking differences, fostering unity among Hindus, reach out to people across to play a meaningful role in world affairs   Rohan Giri Hindu centric Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s address at ‘World Hindu Congress 2023’ in Bangkok resonates with a message of hope and connectivity in a world grappling with unprecedented challenges. Bhagwat dwelt at length into historical experiments undertaken across millennia for happiness and peace. His emphasis on potential role of Bharat (India) as guiding force for the world offers a compelling perspective on the nation’s cultural and philosophical heritage. The third World Hindu Congress (WHC) three-day jamboree themed “Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah” (Dharma, the Abode of Victory) made a historic decision to renounce the term ‘Hinduism’. Global Hindu leaders that converged at the Congress argued that it reflected oppressiveness and discrimination. Instead, Hindutva and Hindu-ness were embraced to characterize the eternal Dharmic way of life. WHC’s declaration emphasized that Hindutva was a more accurate term encompassing full spectrum of Hindu identity. At the same time, Hindu Dharma was chosen for its unbounded essence, signifying all that is Sanatan or Eternal. Limitations of Hinduism prompted this shift, suffixed with ‘ism,’ a term associated with oppressive and discriminatory attitudes. The declaration asserted that Hindutva, meaning Hindu-ness was not complicated and criticized its portrayal as anti-thesis of Hindu Dharma by some academicians and intellectuals. WHC condemned attacks on Hindu Dharma, calling for global unity to overcome bigotry and emerge victorious against those engaging in such criticism. RSS Chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat fervently called upon Hindus worldwide to forge connections and unite with global community. Stressing the significance of outreach, he emphasized, “We must reach out and connect with every Hindu. As a cohesive Hindu community, we will connect with individuals worldwide. With a growing number of Hindus forming connections, the process of global connectivity has already commenced.” Bhagwat recounted World Muslim Council secretary general who acknowledged Bharat’s crucial role in fostering global harmony. The emphasis on connecting hearts through service emerged as a central theme, reflecting Bharat’s tradition of selfless service. ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, one world – one family principle, was central to Bhagwat’s discourse. He pointed to shared responsibility of Hindu society to connect with the global community. Bhagwat argued that Bharat’s duty was to foster harmony worldwide. He contended that this duty propelled Hindu society’s existence, emphasizing the common starting point and shared goals among Sanatan traditions. On the quadrennial conference theme, “Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah,” he said, ‘Jaya’ provided insight into its profound meaning, transcending mere conquests and victories over others. Illuminating this concept, he brought distinction between destructive ‘Rakshas Vijaya’ (demonic victory) and self-centred ‘Dhan Vijaya.’ (materialistic victory) on one side and Dharma Vijaya, on the other. Focal point becomes ‘Dharma Vijaya’ – a victory firmly rooted in righteousness and guided by the principles of Dharma. This nuanced perspective challenges prevailing narratives of aggression and domination, aligning Hindu aspirations with a higher moral purpose. The address acknowledged stumbling state of the contemporary world, having experimented with ideologies and religions for over two millennia yet finding no lasting satisfaction. Eyes have now turned to Bharat with hope, recognizing the potential for a path beyond material prosperity, a path rooted in Dharma. Articulating on destructive forces – anger, hatred, lust, foul speech, envy, and ego – as impediments to unity, Bhagwat underscored the importance of overcoming these negative emotions. The call for coming together to break societal and organizational barriers resonates as a clarion call for united harmonious global society. He argued that in a world fixated on material pursuits, Bharat’s national task was “not a materialistic victory.” He challenged the prevailing narrative of dominance for material happiness, asserting that the essence of Bharat’s contribution lies in a dharmic approach—a commitment to uplift everyone. He has argued that the material world has to be taken to the spiritual level; this is the key to achieving true satisfaction and global unity. As the world looks towards Bharat with hope, Hindu society duty was clearly to embody and propagate principles of Dharma, fostering a global perspective rooted in unity, truth, and non-violence. World Hindu Congress stood as a beacon, guiding the way towards a world where diverse cultures merge in the spirit of Dharmic Vijaya, RSS chief said. (Author is manager – operations at New Delhi based non-partisan think tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies)

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Disinformation Hindus Misinformation
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‘Sanatan Dharma is a Way of Life’

Where are the limits to this culture of ‘Aham Brahmasmi’, exhilarating mode of realised, liberated being Oopalee Operajita Rahul Gandhi’s recent article on Hinduism/Sanatan Dharma (“Satyam Shivam Sundaram”, Indian Express, October 1) is, tragically, largely based on fear. In the first paragraph alone he uses “fear” and “frightening” multiple times. Why would anyone want to spend their lives recoiling in fear? A sense of overriding fear destroys everything else. The piece is obviously aimed at a certain enclave and by being circumlocutory and agenda driven and hence, Gandhi loses sight of the central tenet of his own essay. As a little girl in Rishi Valley School, the first — and most important — lesson I received from our founder J Krishnamurti’s teaching, was the importance of freedom from fear. I recall the very moment he spoke to us, in our small auditorium, about fearing the idea of a snake more than the snake itself. I was seven: It was a transformational moment in my life. Shashi Tharoor sends this article up on Twitter / X, gushing about its ocean imagery as if it is something novel, whereas, the ocean and water are dominant metaphors in ancient dharmic texts. The Taittiriya Upanishad, for example, describes the relation of five koshas (sheaths, in humankind) to water. The “Aquatic Absolute” (inspired by Vedanta), runs much later through Rabindranath Tagore’s writings as well. Tharoor also says on Twitter / X that there’s “nothing new to say in Hinduism” — a surprising statement, especially emanating from him — which is both meshuga and lacking in veracity. I read from the Upanishads, the Vedas, the Valmiki Ramayana, and the Puranas, almost each day — and the limitless wealth in them is as vast as the universe. It is ironic that Rahul Gandhi comes up with this article when he has been conspicuously silent these many weeks, as his party’s coalition partners have mutilated the Sanatan Dharma, without remotely understanding it. Mum has been his deafening word. Some duplicitous leaders have ferociously attacked the Sanatan Dharma, both in India and, reprehensibly, on foreign shores, on many occasions, for the sake of appeasement — the hypocrisy is galling, but predictable. What’s driving Gandhi’s current janeudhari agenda? And would it be conflated with the forthcoming state elections? Sanatan Dharma is certainly a culture, an unbroken civilisational reality, and richly felt experience; because a culture is a way of life, a cultivation of the treasured self, and larger than any set of religious prescriptions. For millennia, this dharma has valorised the knowledge of the self (the atman), which the great sage Yajnavalkya views as identical to Brahman, or consciousness. We don’t swim in the oceans and, concomitantly, fear sinking — we swim to merge with the ocean, let our spirits sing, and set ourselves free. Rivers are, as individual souls (atman), merging into the supreme soul of the ocean of the immortal Brahman, (Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.8). Brahman has also been defined as “the creative principle which lies within the whole universe”. What’s to fear in that? And where are the limits to this culture — this exhilarating mode of realised, liberated Being (Aham Brahmasmi)? Nobody owns the Sanatan Dharma; but it has an ancient history, astounding intellectual rigour and richness, and a land of origin. It repeatedly alludes to the many, equally valid, paths to the Truth. But, kudos and gratitude to those who use their goodness and understanding to prevent it from being mauled by frequent, feral attacks from troglodytes. I recall a passage from an Upanishad: Tatha vidvan namah-rupad vimuktaha/Parat-param purusham upaiti divyam [The knower of Brahman casts aside all names and forms, and attains to the Supreme Being (Energy)], which is above all conceivable divinities in the cosmos. Thus, the Supreme Being becomes our whole. (Author has been a distinguished fellow at Carnegie Mellon University since 1990. She is a global advisor on public policy, communication, and international relations. This write up first appeared in The Indian Express)

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