What is the origin of sanatana dharma?

Answer 1

The phrase is sanskrit and means: "the eternal teaching," it is the traditional name for the Hindu religion.

"The word 'Dharma' translates into; "that which contains and upholds the cosmos." 'Santana Dharma' translates into; "Eternal Religion" or "Everlasting path."


Brought to India by the Aryans in 1500 BCE. Hinduism or Santana Dharma is unique int hat it has no founder and had grown by cultural and religious movements of the Indian Subcontinent.

The acceptance of the Veda as the most sacred scripture is all the is required of this religion, predominantly featuring a variety of castes. It is believed that suffering is ended through acheiving moksha (end the cycle if rebirth) and become one with the godhead.

Answer 2

I'm not sure if I understand your question, as the sanatana dharma means "eternal tradition" or "eternal religion" in English.

If you are asking when did the term "sanatana dharma" first appear in India, some evidence suggests that Hindus began using the the term "dharma" by the seventh century BC. When other religions, like Buddhism, began using this term, Hindus then adopted the term "sanatana dharma" to distinguish their dharma from others.

Unlike many other religions, Hinduism has no historical founder. There are various suggestions for when it started. It might be said that it started in the fourth century BC. Other scholars date its beginnings around 1500 BC, when it is believed that the earliest sacred Hindu texts originated. Still others trace this religion back to a culture known as the Harappan, which flourished around 3000 BC. And according to Purānas, Lord Krishna spoke the "Bhagavad-Gita" on the battlefield of Kurukshetra in 3102 B.C.; just prior to the commencement of the Mahabharata war. There are other Hindu practices and traditions that are even older. Krishna’s incarnation was preceded by Lord Rāma’s, sometimes dated at over 5–6000 BCE, or even more than a million years ago in the Tretā Yuga according to the Rāmāyana Epic. Many Hindus believe that their religious tradition was fully formed by the time of Lord Rāma, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Hope that helps.