SANATAN DHARMA

HINDU is like EUROPEAN, AMERICAN or AUSTRALIAN. An INDIAN living in India [Hind] is called HINDU

It identifies the people living around river SINDH; Pronounced in some areas, as HIND.

DHARMA is miss-translated into English as RELIGION.

Otherwise also, HINDU has no religion. It is culture only, named SANATAN DHARMA.
All the basic philosophy & idea are detailed in VEDAS.

When a man following Sanatan Dharma, talks of DHARMA, worshipping is not included.
Rather he has to follow the doctrine given by the creator.

The items included are in DHARMA [as per SRI MAD BHAGWAT]

• Tapa Gaining knowledge, Working, Practicing Yoga all/any type
• Pavitrata Cleanliness
• Daya Kindness
• Satya Truthfulness

MR. S. RADHAKRISHNAIYAH Elaborates SANATAN DHARMA AS UNDER:
To understand about Sanatana Dharma one has know meanings of
Words, Sanatana and Dharma.

The word Sanatana: One which is existing for ever. So Sanatana is synonym of Creator.

The word Dharma: As per Mahabharata's Aanusasanika Parva:

Sarvaagamaanaamaachara prathamam parikalpyate
Aacharaprabhavo Dharmo Dharmasya Prabhurachyutah

This means Lord Achyuta1 has created all the knowledge first, which are called nigama, agama and aachara. Aachara is the root of Dharma, and Dharma is rout to reach the lord i.e. Achyuta.

The term Aachara is misinterpreted by pandits and the people
started following them.

The correct meaning of Aachara is what can be practiced,
Implemented, and put in action.

We have got different terms derived from this term aachara.

Aachaara: Ones behavior or practice for his good and never
harm or hurt others in just.

Sadaachara: Ones behavior or practice; for the good of himself
And that benefits others.

Anaachara: Ones behavior of practice harms him, but harms no
one else.

Durachara: Ones behavior or practice or any action does harm
to him as well as others.

Creator has prescribed the way of living into the human society for
good existence of his creation.

He who practices the code of Creator and lives in his prescription, is
Understood he is doing Dharma or he is Dharmic.

That leads him to Creator. That means he who lives as per the
Wish of Creator i.e. living for his good and for the betterment
of others, including the nature, reach Creator.

So if we understand this and try to live like this, we would be
loved one of Creator.

According to Vedanta, three type of relations are defined between a man & Creator

• ADWAIT Man believes he is created by Creator as part of himself

• VISHISHTHA Man believes there is nothing apart from Creator [All are part of Creator].
ADWAIT
• DWAIT Man believes he is created by Creator, separate/apart of himself.

AVATAR For a person believing in Adwait / Vishishtha Adwait, visit of Creator on earth in shape on a man.

PROPHET For a person believing in Dwait, a messenger sent by Creator on earth.

Hence for a person believing Adwait or Vishishtha Adwait; AVATAR & PROPHET are synonyms.

There are following reference books of SANATAN DHARMA teaching DHARMA & other knowledges.
• Veda 4 No
1. Rig Veda
2. Sam Veda
3. Yajur Veda
4. Atharv Veda

• Shastra 6 No [NAMES COMPLIED BY COURTESY MR. SHAILESH MEHTA]
1. Niruktam Shartra
2. Jyotisham Shartra
3. Vyakaranam Shartra
4. Vaiseshikam Shartra
5. Chandas Shartra
6. Tarkam Shartra

• Purana 18 No
1. Brahma Purana
2. Padma Purana
3. Narada Purana
4. Markandeya Purana
5. Vishnu Purana
6. Shiva Purana
7. Shri Mad Bhagvata Purana
8. Agni Purana
9. Bhavishya Purana
10. Brahma-Vaivarta Purana
11. Linga Purana
12. Varaha Purana
13. Skanda Purana
14. Vamana Purana
15. Kurma Purana
16. Matsya Purana
17. Garuda Purana
18. Brahmanda Purana

There is more literature [as I know/recollect with my limited knowledge]:
• Nayay Shartra
• Vaiseshika Shartra
• Tarka Shartra
• Meemansa Shartra
• Yoga Shartra
• Artha Shartra
• Darshan Shartra
• Sankhya Shartra
• Vedanta Shartra
• Manu Smriti; Social systems & duties Manu
• Bhrigu Sanghita; Astrology Bhrigu
• Yoga Sutra Patanjali
• Kama Sutra Vatsayan
• Ayurveda Dhanvantari
• Epic Ramayan Valmiki
• Shri Mad Bhagvat Ved Vyas
[counted above in Puranas]
• Mahabharat containing Geeta as well Ved Vyas
• Sanskrit grammer Padini
• Neeti Shastra Vidur

All above books make part of Sanatan Dharma. They are not thoughts/revelations of one person.