Sanatan and the Indian
Civilizational Journey
1. Introduction
The story of Indian civilization is a continuous and uninterrupted flow of
cultural evolution. Unlike many ancient societies that collapsed or were
replaced, the Indian subcontinent shows a remarkable pattern of gradual
development where ideas, practices, and social structures build upon earlier
foundations. This journey begins with the Harappan or Indus Saraswati
Civilization and extends through the Vedic age, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata,
and the Upanishadic philosophical era, eventually giving rise to what is known
today as Sanatan Dharma.
2. The Harappan Cultural Foundation
The Harappan Civilization flourished from around 2600 to 1900 BCE. It had
organized cities, well arranged drainage systems, standardized measurements,
craft specialization, trade networks, and artistic expression. Although it did
not leave behind large religious texts or chronicles, its cultural symbols and
social frameworks survived in later Indian traditions. After around 1900 BCE,
ecological and river course changes led to gradual migration toward the Ganga
basin. This shift did not destroy civilization. Instead, it transformed and
merged into new cultural expressions.
3. The Early Vedic World and the Rise of the
Bharata Clan
During this transitional phase, the early Vedic culture emerged. The Rig
Veda, one of the oldest surviving poetic and philosophical compositions,
belongs to this period. The early Vedic people were pastoral, thoughtful, and
spiritually inquisitive. They were not invaders but inheritors of the Indian
landscape. Archaeology, linguistics, and genetics increasingly support cultural
continuity rather than replacement.
One of the earliest recorded political conflicts of this age is the Battle
of the Ten Kings. It occurred on the banks of the river Parushni, now known as
the Ravi. It was not a clash between outsiders and natives but a struggle among
Vedic clans. King Sudas of the Bharata tribe defeated a coalition of ten
tribes. This victory established the Bharata lineage, which later merged into
the Kuru dynasty. This is the same Kuru lineage that becomes central in the
Mahabharata.
4. The Ramayana and the Idea of Righteous Rule
The Ramayana belongs to a later stage in this evolving civilization. It
reflects structured kingdoms, codes of leadership, and social order. Ayodhya
becomes the symbol of ethical governance. The Ramayana is not merely a familial
saga. It is a reflection on duty, justice, sacrifice, and the fragile nature of
human relationships. The text emphasizes the responsibility of rulers to uphold
truth and moral order.
5. The Mahabharata and the Complexity of Human Duty
The Mahabharata presents an even more complex world. Indraprastha and
Hastinapur become the central political centers. The conflict between the
Pandavas and the Kauravas is not simply a quarrel between two families. It is a
profound examination of power, legitimacy, greed, loyalty, and the burden of
responsibility. Within this epic lies the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical
dialogue that has influenced thought across the world.
6. The Meaning of Arya in Ancient India
In both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, many individuals are described as
Arya. The term Arya in ancient Indian thought does not refer to a race. It is a
moral and ethical quality. An Arya is one who embodies truth, courage,
discipline, respect, and responsibility. An Anarya is one who ignores these
values. Thus, Arya describes character, not bloodline.
7. The Origin of the Word Hindu
The word Hindu is not originally religious in meaning. It comes from the
name of the river Sindhu. Ancient Persians pronounced Sindhu as Hindu. The
Greeks adapted it into Indoi. Over time, Hindu came to refer to the cultural
and geographical community living east of the Indus River. It is a
civilizational identity rather than a fixed religious doctrine.
8. Sanatan as Eternal Truth
Sanatan means eternal. It refers to truths that do not depend on a single
prophet, a single book, or a particular historical event. It is a way of
understanding life and existence based on observation, reflection, and direct
experience. Compassion, truth, non harm, inner clarity, and the understanding
of consciousness are central to Sanatan thought.
9. Neti Neti and the Discovery of the Self
The Upanishads express the philosophical core of Sanatan. They ask the
deepest question: Who am I The body changes, emotions shift, identity evolves.
Therefore, none of these can be the real Self. The Upanishads employ the method
of Neti Neti which means Not this, not that. By negating all temporary
identities, the seeker discovers the eternal awareness within. This awareness
is called Atman. The Upanishads declare that Atman is one with Brahman, the
ultimate reality.
10. Distortion in Political Interpretation
In the modern era, Sanatan is often reduced to slogans, identity, and
spectacle. Political actors simplify rich philosophical traditions into
emotional symbols. The noise of public expression overshadows the silence of
inner realization. The challenge today is to distinguish the eternal wisdom of
Sanatan from the temporary rhetoric of politics.
Conclusion
Indian civilization flows like a river across time. It absorbs, transforms,
and evolves. Harappan planning, Vedic poetry, Ramayana ethics, Mahabharata
introspection, and Upanishadic realization all form one continuous cultural
current. The journey of Indian thought moves from ritual toward reflection and
from external authority toward inner awareness.
References
Rig Veda Book Seven
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.3.6 and 3.9.26
Romila Thapar Ancient Indian History
Upinder Singh A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India
B B Lal Excavations at Hastinapur
Author Introduction
Siddhartha Shankar Mishra is an Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and
a writer engaged in examining Indian history, culture, and constitutional
values through critical and philosophical reflection.
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