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It was this flexibility, characteristic of the Sanatana Dharma, that preserved it through so many ages, when other ancient practices perished. Till date every adherent of Sanatana Dharma, falls back on the Vedas, compiled by Vedavyasa for resolving any points of contention. Thus came into being the saying<blockquote>व्यासोच्छिष्टं जगत् सर्वम् । vyāsocchiṣṭaṁ jagat sarvam ।</blockquote>On these Shrutis the whole fabric of Vaidika Dharma or Sanatana Dharma, the religion of the Vedas, as it is truly named, is built. They propound a system by the mastery of which all the energies which vitalize the Universe and nature may be controlled, at the direction of Isvara (Absolute Consciousness).<ref name=":0" />

It was this flexibility, characteristic of the Sanatana Dharma, that preserved it through so many ages, when other ancient practices perished. Till date every adherent of Sanatana Dharma, falls back on the Vedas, compiled by Vedavyasa for resolving any points of contention. Thus came into being the saying<blockquote>व्यासोच्छिष्टं जगत् सर्वम् । vyāsocchiṣṭaṁ jagat sarvam ।</blockquote>On these Shrutis the whole fabric of Vaidika Dharma or Sanatana Dharma, the religion of the Vedas, as it is truly named, is built. They propound a system by the mastery of which all the energies which vitalize the Universe and nature may be controlled, at the direction of Isvara (Absolute Consciousness).<ref name=":0" />

== Principles of Sanatana Dharma ==

== Principles of Sanatana Dharma ==

The science of ancient Bharatavarsha was contained in the [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Shad Vedangas]], the six angas (limbs or parts) while its philosophy was given by [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]], the six philosophical views. All are designed to lead man to the One Science, and One Wisdom, which saw One Self as Real and all else as unreal.  

The science of ancient Bharatavarsha was contained in the [[Shad Vedangas (षड्वेदाङ्गानि)|Shad Vedangas]], the six angas (limbs or parts) while its philosophy was given by [[Vedanta]] and [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]], the six philosophical views. All philosophies are designed to lead man to the One Science, and One Wisdom, which saw One Self as Real and all else as unreal. Unity of all knowledge was the core concept with no distinction between science, philosophy and religion. 

These are the ones most accepted by the majority of people who follow Sanatana-dharma, and are also referenced in the Vedic texts. Beyond these, there are various schools of thought, which have further developments in their own outlook and philosophy, such as the Shaivites, Vaishnavas, Shaktas, Brahmanandis, Tantrics, and so on.  

These are the ones most accepted by the majority of people who follow Sanatana-dharma, and are also referenced in the Vedic texts. Beyond these, there are various schools of thought, which have further developments in their own outlook and philosophy, such as the Shaivites, Vaishnavas, Shaktas, Brahmanandis, Tantrics, and so on.  

# '''There is one Supreme Being, Bhagavan or God, with no beginning or end, the all in all, the unlimited Absolute Truth, who can expand into many forms'''. In this regard, the RigVeda (1:164:45) says<blockquote>एकम् सत् विप्रह् बहुध वदन्ति || ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti || </blockquote>Though sages may call Him by different names (such as Krishna, Rama, Vishnu, etc.) there is but one Absolute Truth, or one source and foundation of everything. Bhagavan is considered Sat-chit-ananda vigraha, the form of eternal knowledge and bliss. He is supreme, full of beauty, knowledge, is all-powerful and all-pervading. He is also known by His three main features: namely Brahman, the all-pervading, impersonal spiritual force or effulgence; the Paramatma, the localized expansion known as the Supersoul which accompanies every individual soul in the heart of everyone; and then Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality and form of God.

# One Supreme Being : Bhagavan or God, with no beginning or end, the all in all, the unlimited Absolute Truth, who can expand into many forms. In this regard, the RigVeda (1:164:45) says<blockquote>एकम् सत् विप्रह् बहुध वदन्ति || ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti || </blockquote>Though sages may call Him by different names (such as Krishna, Rama, Vishnu, etc.) there is but one Absolute Truth, or one source and foundation of everything. is considered Sat-chit-ananda vigraha, the form of eternal knowledge and bliss. He is supreme, full of beauty, knowledge, is all-powerful and all-pervading. He is also known by His three main features: namely Brahman, the all-pervading, impersonal spiritual force or effulgence; the Paramatma, the localized expansion known as the Supersoul which accompanies every individual soul in the heart of everyone; and then Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality and form of God.

# '''The Vedas are Divine knowledge and the basis or foundation of the Vedic philosophy.''' Some of these texts have been given or spoken by Bhagavan, and others were composed by sages in their deepest super conscious state in which they were able to give revelations of Universal Truths while in meditation on the Supreme. This Vedic literature, including, among other texts, the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, the Upa-Vedas, Vedangas, Shadarshanas, Upanishads, the Vedanta-Sutras, Yoga Sutras, Agamas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and Bhagavad-gita, and all Puranic literature and the practices congruent with them, contain the basis of the Vedic or Sanatana-dharma spiritual culture.

# '''The Vedas are Divine knowledge and the basis or foundation of the Vedic philosophy.''' Some of these texts have been given or spoken by Bhagavan, and others were composed by sages in their deepest super conscious state in which they were able to give revelations of Universal Truths while in meditation on the Supreme. This Vedic literature, including, among other texts, the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas, the Upa-Vedas, Vedangas, Shadarshanas, Upanishads, the Vedanta-Sutras, Yoga Sutras, Agamas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and Bhagavad-gita, and all Puranic literature and the practices congruent with them, contain the basis of the Vedic or Sanatana-dharma spiritual culture.

# '''Bhagavan has appeared throughout history in the form of personal appearances (avataras)''' within the realm of matter, and even in the sound vibration of scriptures (the Vedic literature). There are ten basic avataras of Bhagavan, with numerous other expansions.

# '''Bhagavan has appeared throughout history in the form of personal appearances (avataras)''' within the realm of matter, and even in the sound vibration of scriptures (the Vedic literature). There are ten basic avataras of Bhagavan, with numerous other expansions.