Clarity about Sanatana Dharma and samayachara

There are eternal principles which do not change over time. And there are social customs and laws which do change and should change over time. These social customs may linger with no relevance in time due to many reasons. But on that account such customs can in no way become eternal. The eternal principles which are operative in life, in the universe are the tattvas.

The social arrangements and contracts, which are man-made, are called 'samayacharas'. Apastamba Dharma Sutra and its commentary by Haradattacharya are very clear in stating this man-made nature of 'samayacharas'.

Apastamba - 'athAta: sAmayAchArikAn dharmAn vyAkyAsyAma:' (1)

The term 'samayachara' is translated as 'accepted customary' by Mr Patrick Olivelle. And Patrick Olivelle further explains this by saying 'that is, the dharmas that are accepted or agreed upon (samaya) by those who know dharma'. (pp xl, Dharmasutras). That is, 'an agreed upon social contract or arrangement of customs by men' is denoted by the term 'samayachara'. Apastamba classifies all the social customs like 'four castes' under 'samayachara'. Haradattacharya's commentary confirms this man-made arrangement that is at the basis of samayacharas.

Haradattacharya's commentary - '..paurushEyi vyavasthA samaya: | sa cha trividha: | vidhir niyama: pratishEdha iti |'

'samaya is human arrangement of state of things. It falls into three divisions like vidhi, niyama and pratishedha.'

To order human beings to do something is vidhi. Prescribing how to do that is niyama. Prohibiting something as not to be done is pratishedha. All these three are elements of 'samaya'. The social customs and practices based on this 'samaya' (constituting of vidhi, niyama and pratishedha) are called 'samayacharas'.

So clearly we can see that religion or devotion to Devata or God or Paramatma or Bhagavan is totally different and it is called Upasana. That upasana or devotion or spiritual practice is based on one's 'Atma gunas'. Atma gunas are all good and humane qualities. Proverbially they are listed as eight by Gautama in his Dharma Sastra. What are those?

Daya, kshama, lack of asooya, saucha, anayasam, mangalam, akarpanyam, aspruha.

We can translate these as compassion, patience, being non-jealous, cleanliness, not fretting over unnecessary things, auspiciousness, being generous-minded, non-covetousness. These eight qualities are metaphorically expressed as eight golden flowers. And the real puja which Bhagavan likes is worshipping him internally with these eight flowers. Outside puja with the flowers of the garden are only happy reminders and kindlings for this inner puja. This is the real meaning of 'sanatana dharma'. But down the time people have been confusingly using terms. Clarifying our own thoughts is always good.

Srirangam Mohanarangan

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