Sanatana Dharma - Is it Based on Manu Dharma or Trimurti?

What is the Source of Creation according to the Vedic texts? Let us examine:

“From Ananda (bliss) certainly all these beings originate; they live by Ananda after being born, and towards Ananda, they proceed, and into Ananda, they get merged” (Taitiriya Upanishad 3.6).

The Vedas and Upanishads mention Brahman as the source of creation. What is the definition of Brahman? Brahman has been defined as Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman, i.e. with attributes and without attributes.

“Brahman is Truth, Knowledge, Infinite".(Taitiriya Upanishad 2.1)“Brahman is consciousness and bliss". (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 3.9.28)

“That is the Infinite in which one does not see anything else, does not hear anything else, does not know anything else. And that is limited where one sees something else” (Chandogya Upanishad 23 -24)

Brahman has been defined as Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman, i.e. without attributes as well as with attributes.

“Brahman has but two forms – gross and subtle, mortal and immortal, limited and unlimited, and defined and undefined” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 2.3.1)

“It is not comprehended through the eyes nor through speech, nor through the other senses; nor is it attained through austerity or karma” (Mundaka Upanishad, 3.1.3)

Saguna Brahman is called Purusha, Hiranya Garbha, Mahat, etc. in the Vedas and Upanishads:

“Hiranyagarbha was born first, and having been born, he became the only lord of all beings. He held the earth and this heaven. That single deity we propitiate with oblation” (Rigveda X.CXX1.1)

While Brahman is omniscient and omnipotent why it had to create the Purusha? Because in the Nondual state of Brahman, which is pure Ananda, Consciousness, there cannot be any thoughts, mind, or perception of anything else (as it is merged with bliss alone). Why is it so? The Upanishads say:

“Because He (Nondual Brahman) is pure and without vital force and mind (Mundaka Upanishad 2.1.2)”.

“Because when there is duality, as it were, then one sees something” (Brihadaranyaka 2.4.14)

That is the very quality of Nirguna Brahman. When this non-dual status (of pure Bliss) gets altered due to sankalpam and the subsequent acts of creation, it can no longer be called Nirguna Brahman, because of the touch of qualities like thought, mind, intelligence, qualities (sattva, Raja, Tama), etc. Nirguna Brahman can have no such qualities, as it is a state of pure bliss, pure light, pure consciousness. So the Vedas introduce the concept of Saguna Brahman, of Purusha (the Cosmic Person) or that of ‘Superior and Inferior Brahman:

“When He that exists as the superior and inferior Brahman is known all the results of one’s actions get eradicated". (Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.8)While defining Brahman Sankaracharya mentions:

“That omniscient and omnipotent source must be Brahman from which occur the birth, continuance, and dissolution of this universe that is manifested through name and form, that is associated with diverse agents and experiences that provide the support for actions and results having well-regulated space-time and causation, and that defies all thoughts about the real nature of its creation”. (Brahma Sutra Bhashya II).

All the above actions related to creation cannot be done without a conceiving agent - a Karma-Dharma-Sakshi. Because of its non-dual nature, Nirguna Brahman transforms himself into a personified embodiment to perform the act of creation which involves thinking or ideation (Sankalpam) knowledge (Jnana Shakti), and the potential for action (Kriya Shakti). Sankaracharya says in Brahma Sutra Bhashya:

“Even though the gods are sentient and equipped with all kinds of power, still they can accomplish their respective duties only when they are in possession of bodies and organs in a physical context”.

Yaska’s Niruktha mentions six kinds of modification associated with creation– birth, continuance, growth, transformation, decay, and death, which Brahman remaining in its pure non-dual state cannot perform.

So the omniscient omnipotent non-dual Brahman with the power of Sankalpam transforms himself into a Purusha, into a qualitative embodiment. That very moment a transmutation happens and Nirguna Brahman manifests as Saguna Brahman for the purpose of creation:

“He wished, ‘Let me become many, let me be born”. He undertook a deliberation. Having deliberated, He created all this that exists (Taitiriya Upanishad, 2.6.1)“

He assumes one form, He assumes three forms” (Chandogya Upanishad, 8.26.2)

“From Him who is Omniscient in general and in detail, whose austerity (i.e. creative effort) is constituted by knowledge, emerged this Brahman (Viz. Purusha, Hiranyagarbha) as well as name, form and food” (Mundaka Upanishad 1.1.9)

“He made Himself by Himself (Taitiriya Upanishad 2.6.1)”

Who is this Cosmic Person (Purusha) of the Vedas and Upanishads? He has been called by various names in the Vedic texts such as Virat Purusha, Hiranya Garbha, Mahat, Ishwara, etc.

“In the beginning, this universe was but the Self (Virat Purusha) of the human form” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, I.4.1)

The famous Purusha Suktha of Rig Veda mentions that the diverse creation is an act of the Purusha.

“The gods are the semen of Prajapati (Virat Purusha) (Aitereya Brahmana, 2.1.3.1)

“All the gods worship Vijnana, the eldest, as Brahman (Taitiriya Upanishad 2.5.1) and it is a well-known fact that the eldest, or the firstborn (identified with Hiranyagarbha) is the eldest, or the firstborn (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.4.1).

How the Purusha created the Solar system as an ecosystem for the origin and evolution of life on the earth plane is detailed in the scriptures. The created Jeevas are in a constant struggle to attain perfection and oneness with Purusha. So the Upanishads declare:

“There is nothing higher than Purusha; He is the culmination. He is the highest goal". (Katha Upanishad 1.3.2)

Over the ages, the Purusha or Hiranya Garbha of the Vedas and Upanishads were equated with Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Goddess, etc. in accordance with the views of different sects through the writers of Puranas and Smritis. Actually, the Purusha is Manu, because Rishis have calculated the age of Creation in terms of Manvantara after the name of Manu, and not after Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva.

If Brahma created the world, why the episodes of creation were not named after Brahma? The Manvantara time concept is related to Manu (the Purusha of the Vedas). The whole discourse of Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru is based on Manu and Manvantara Time Order under which the spiritual evolution of humanity and all other created Jeevas take place.

Although the authors of Puranas and Smritis agree that the episodes of creation happen through 14 Manus they have demoted Manu below Brahma in order to show that the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are supreme. They did this probably to integrate and bring the three main pre-existing ancient sects -Saiva, Vaishnava, Shakteya under one umbrella for the promotion of Vedic religion and ritualism under the suzerainty of Vaidikas.

This was an error against Manu Dharma and the Manvantara Time Cycle. The Manvantara Time Order is the Sankalpam of God for spiritual evolution through the course of Yugas, which happens through the medium of a chain of Kalanthara Gurus (Guru Parampara). A Jeeva has to evolve through ten spiritual stages or Avasthas to attain mukthi in Brahman; that is why this system of yugas is in place through the Manvantara Time Cycle.

The ancient Vaidikas torpedoed this system of Sanatana Dharma through the composition of Puranas in which Trimurti gods were extolled as the authority of creation, sustenance, and dissolution so that their worship can be perpetuated. They developed complex tantric rituals for this purpose over which they have a more or less total monopoly.

In Manu Dharma, Kalanthara Gurus or Trikala Jnani Gurus are the authorities of spiritual evolution in accordance with Manvantara Time Order. Manu Dharma is Ashram-centric and Guru-centric while the Trimurti system is Temple-centric and priest-centric. Friction exists between the two. Even Sri Krishna had to face resistance when he tried to revive Guru-centric spirituality. In the end, the clever Vaidikas brought Sri Krishna under the umbrella of Trimurti by portraying him as an avatar of Vishnu, which he was not. Sri Krishna had transcended name and form.

Recently, the Sankaracharya of Dwaraka objected to the worship of Shirdi Sai Baba saying that it was against the Vedic religion. The fear behind it is if all people start following a Guru Parampara, the Vedic religion will be weakened, and along with that the special status and privileges of Vaidikas will also be lost.

If Sanatana Dharma has to be protected, India should give value to Manu's system of spiritual evolution. The heart of Sanatana Dharma is Manu Dharma and spiritual evolution through the Manvantara Time Cycles. By the Will of Brahman, a fresh initiative for the restoration of the long-lost Manu Dharma or Sanatana Dharma has been started through Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru, the Kalanthara Guru of this age. There are the prophecies of Sri Buddha, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammad, and many others that a Kalanthara Guru will be born in this age to establish the true Dharma of God. The followers of Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru believe that the Guru is that great Soul in the prophecies.

Great Sayings of Navajyothi Sri Karunakara Guru

1. There is a situation where even if spiritual knowledge is gained one is unable to progress further making it work. One should advance by accepting a perfect Guru of experience as a guide for that to happen.

2. This ideology is the correction of a mistake that is 25 Chaturyugas old. It is the restoration of Manu Dharma willed by Brahman. Such glorious karma is being nurtured through a section of people who have no knowledge or experience of any kind.

3. The families who live doing some good deeds though minimally, wherever they may be in the world, the children born to them after 1973 will be virtuous children. They will have a special love and respect for this Guru Margam. Even the former Acharyas will be reborn through such children. The prayer and Sankalpam being done at Santhigiri are for that.

4. We who are convinced that this is the absolute truth and who are perfectly qualified for the merits of Yuga Dharma, if we treat this matter lightly, it will be the disrespect to God. It will also result in great sin.

5. The karma that we get from the Ashram leads to Mukthi making man a deva and rishi. First, stabilize the faith for that. Then realize that deva and Devi are only this much. After that adopt the worship in accordance with Yuga Dharma. This is the most truthful way.

6. What is the religious doctrine of Hindus? Someone who keeps Maatan and addresses him ‘O, Lord’. Another who goes directly to Brahman. Or the one who goes keeping guru. He who goes directly to God can never be straightened out.

7. What you have to get is the merit of your work. It must first come from God. You must think that calling God is not for God, but for you.

8. Life is not just about making money. It is not enough that money, capacity, and wealth are earned. When you have the money and capability, you will jump into a crazy course of action, owing to pride, arrogance, and lack of humility.

9. The Trimurti are the gurus of the age to which they are entitled. They are standing in the subtle. The Guru is the one who neutralizes that.

10. There is no karma here other than prayer. You can gain all the blessings and good fortune you need through your karma.

11. The Sankalpam here is that the ten-time prayers ordained to be done here should be imparted to each child and should reach the children of the world. This is our primary karma.

12. Faith must be enduring. Listening to what somebody says is not what we need. Our need is to come to the Guru and know.

13. The subject which we are working on today will exist several Chaturyugas and Manvanataras. Guru is the instrument given by God for that.

14. Love one another like children of one father forgetting male and female, big and small, caste and religion.

15. Never blame a sanyasi. He has undergone some sacrifice if nothing else. If the sanyasi is self-sacrificing, there will be some perfection in any of his actions.

16. The sanyasi and the Bhakta all arise from Grihasthashramis. Our Ashram system has been directed emphasizing this idea.

17. Some negate the temple system. It could be. But it should be with perfect knowledge. To negate otherwise is intolerance.

18. The Christians and Muslims here are those who left from the Hindus here. They left so due to the enormous hardships a section of Hindus suffered.

19. The Hindu religious doctrine is very great and all-embracing. Each of us has a responsibility to think that an error happened to it somewhere.

20. Like Janaka, a true Grihasthashrami should become the possessor of the fortune maintaining darshan with upadesha, the truth with darshan, and the dharma with the truth.

21. The Deva has no place in Kali. The place is for Guru in Kali. This truth has been told by many Mahatmas. But we couldn't honor it.

22. The Brahmin was very happy in Varnashrama Dharma. Kshatriya was given rule and Vaishya was given trade. Shudra was not given knowledge and the awareness of dharma. He only learned to imitate whomever he saw.

23. When there was no peace ever after enjoying in all ways the Westerners came here growing hair, the Beedi maker and the boatman here too began the same.

24. A child is born under the Rashi of the Pitru. An intelligent and discerning child will be born into a family that performed Pitru Shudhi.

25. If you have only two children, let them have unity. If there are ten, the ten should have that.

26. The culture that exists today makes any great person hang the head in shame before their children.

27. One cannot claim Mukti unless one goes above the Trimurti tradition and at least reaches the state of the master of Ganas (gananam pati).

28. Which should we take – the Trimurti tradition or Manu tradition? Ignoring the distance between the paths is a subject to be realized and accepted.

29. Aren’t you competing for ruination by developing science and technology too much than required?

30. The world itself is on the verge of destruction, illuminated by anuprasaram (virus spread/atomic flood?). Let us stop this leap to destruction and get ready to work for a better tomorrow.

31. We need to abandon the myth that Brahma Jnanam does not flourish in Kali. We should see Kali as the best time to develop it and the occasion to actualize it beneficially.

32. Ever since the dharma of Kali was negated, we have lost everything that belongs to us. The only thing left is the western style.

33. Ours is a Parampara that does not comprehend even after receiving Asareeri from the presence of Brahman. As a result, a Parampara that had to develop an ideology of emancipation was not only destroyed but also the true aspect of statecraft was lost to us. The occasion for the Portuguese, Dutch, and the Mughals to attack us came because we could not grasp the true aspect of statecraft.

34. A mistake happened to our forefathers and gurus. We need to know how that mistake happened. We have to get a correction from God for that mistake.

35. The people of the god of one caste cannot approach the god of another caste. What has destroyed us is the magnitude of the ignorance that has framed such a situation.

36. Born and raised in the Trimurti tradition that spans many Chaturyugas, there is the ignorance that we could not create anything of our own or could not maintain what was once ours. In other countries, many intellectuals and thinkers were born and developed science and technology and took over the fields of industry and commerce.

37. When we have the opportunity to share our love, respect, and ability, when we fail to do anything, all the good we have gained will go away.

38. There must be lasting persistence in faith. The need is not to listen to what others say. We need to come to the Guru and know.

39. If the sacrifice of a sanyasi is respected, the gain is for the householders.

40. Everything here has gone wrong because of negating Guru Dharma by citing Vedic Dharma.

41. Guru is the core of truth that resides within the bliss of Atma which consists of so many spiritual skies beyond form and formlessness.

What is Sanatana Dharma? Sanatana Dharma in a Nut Shell

Structure and Definition

What is Sanatana Dharma? Sanatana Dharma means God’s eternal spiritual order. Everybody knows that its nature and definition are known from the revelations of Rishis and Sages who are the authors of the Vedas and Upanishads, philosophies such as Vedanta, Sankhya, Yoga, and Nyaya. There are auxiliary texts like Bhagavad Gita, Jnana Vasishta, Guru Gita, and Narada Bhakti Sutra that are secular in nature and supportive of the basic tenets of Sanatana Dharma. These constitute the wisdom bank of Sanatana Dharma. Puranas, Epics, Smritis, etc. are the elaboration of these ideas focusing on ethics, history, rituals, and so on through the eyes and interpretation of various sects. These are the source material or different ways through which the question of God, Creation, the meaning and purpose of life have been approached.

But what one does not know is that their interpretation and application change from Yuga to Yuga through the authority of Dharma, namely a Kalanthara Guru, in order to fulfill the directive purpose of spiritual evolution as envisaged by Brahma Nischayam or Brahma Sankalpam. This Will of Brahman gets implemented through the sages or Kalanthara Gurus in the Manu Parampara under Manvanatara Time Order. This is the basic structure and definition of Sanatana Dharma.

Creation Theory in Sanatana Dharma

The idea of creation in Sanatana Dharma differs from the Puranic myths, which mention that god Brahma is the Creator. Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru reveals that every solar system, in which all living beings have their abode, is created through the medium of an Archetypal Manu who is said to be the first self-projection of God and through whose ideation or sankalpam manifests the visible universe consisting of planetary units and stellar systems. Because of this, the Indian rishis calculated the age of the cosmos in terms of Manvantara after the name of Manu. Manu is the God manifest - the primordial Purusha, the Hiranya Garbha, or the Mahat or Ishwara mentioned in the Vedas and Upanishads - that creates our local universe consisting of twelve zodiacs, twenty-seven stars, and nine planets. This Manu, therefore, is not to be related to the author of Manusmriti, one of the dharmic treatises (Smriti) in Hinduism.

Spiritual Authority - The Kalanthara Guru

The great rishis have said that God is pure Consciousness and Light indefinable. However, God transforms Himself into a Cosmic Person (i.e. Manu) wishing to create the human universe. Various divinities, humans, and other sentient and insentient beings in the solar system get evolved through a long process of cyclical evolution by the limitless potential of knowledge and action potential (jnana shakti and kriya shakti) and ideation (sankalpam) of this Cosmic Person. Four Trikala Jnani Gurus or Kalanthara Gurus, plus one Santhi Guru, like Sri Krishna who appeared in between Dwapara and Kali Yuga, appear in every yuga to guide the spiritual evolution of Jeevas.

Sanatana Dharma - the Natural Spiritual Order

The pathetic religious discords today arise owing to the ignorance about this natural spiritual order. Every sect claims that theirs is the only way to God or the true path, which produces discord and conflicts in society. Numerous gurus, seers, and prophets of different caliber come for a different duration such as 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, or 5000 years according to the socio-spiritual evolution of society. Sri Ram, Sri Krishna, Sri Buddha, Mahavir, Zarathustra, Moses, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, and others were great preceptors who appeared for such spiritual renovation during historical intervals.

This process of spiritual renovation goes on until the end of a cosmic age that has a length of billions of years. The spiritual evolution of humanity is not limited to 2000 or 5000 years. Therefore, no prophet or guru can claim to be the final messenger of God or the only way to God. It is this spiritual culture or character of Indian spirituality known as Sanatana Dharma which makes it eternally relevant, vibrant, and tolerant of other religions.