What exactly does "Sanatan Vedic Dharm" mean?

Sanatan Dharma crudely translates in English to "The Eternal Way".

Sanatan means eternal, while Dharma refers to the path of righteousness. The truths/principles of the universe are the Vedas. The Vedas are not books. Vedas refer to the knowledge. Sanatan Dharma talks about the laws of the Universe and speaks of ways to experience them by one's own self. This philosophy has merged with ancient Indian culture and associated rituals to form what is known today as Hinduism.

The terminology is all in Sanskrit, which even most Indians have difficulty in following as not many people know/study this language any more. But some of the key words are incorporated into the local languages, but often the usage of the words are changed and this causes more confusion. I guess, you're lucky in a way, that you have a clean start with no preconceived notions.

To understand the basics of Hinduism, read A Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism by Linda Johnsen. It makes intricate concepts surprisingly easy to understand, and being born a Hindu myself, I found it to be the best possible book to introduce a new-comer and make them feel at home, although I've not read it completely.

Don't worry, you'll definitely get the hang of it. Even born Hindus are largely self-taught.

ELABORATING the meaning of Dharma:

Dharma is more like a law of what should be. The sun's Dharma is to rise. Water's dharma is to flow from higher to lower level. Only humans have the ability to choose not to follow their Dharma.

What you thinking that are right, its correct to think that mean “eternal truth” & "the eternal laws of God/the universe".

This sentence is in the Sanskrit Language. Sanatan means Eternal, Vedic means Knowledge or truth & Dharma Means Nature or Principle.

I think so now you get the real meaning “Eternal knowledge & principal “or Eternal Nature or Truth”

Thats mean you are right.

In the beginning of universe some principle formatted from eternity. Thats eternity we called as God or supreme balance state or zero stage thats mean nothing exist before there. Thats supremo.

Hindu word Veda Means Knowledge or truth which transmits from eternity to particular persons, who we called “Hrishi” that mean observer (witness) or Prophet.

I tell you that Hrishi's leaved near about manu's ( Adam) Time &They have belonged from his families tree.

The cause of our troubles and distresses (miseries) in life is due to our material afflictions. The more we are attached and happy owning a particular material object (be that wealth, son, husband, fame- we call all these Maya), the more we will be distressed (in the same proportion) in getting separated from it. And since we all know that separation has to come our way one day, as nothing in the universe is eternal except we as souls and God (I call Him Krishn) as supreme. Maya is also eternal but in different forms of availability to us and thus we should restrict our usage of Maya only to the extent of maintaining our selves. And we understand ourselves as this body only which also is perishable. So we need to understand ourselves as what we 'Actually' may be- non perishable and eternal. Learning this can not be easy as all the tools which are available to us ( intellect, mind etc.) are also made of Maya. And no science, (Einstein, Darwin, Newton and all put together) can help us in this, because their tools are also the same as ours (may be slightly more honed).

So the science thru which we can understand this all is termed as Sanatan Vedic Dharm. And to learn this science we need only one tool- a human body form. No other species has entitlement to this greatest science!

This is loaded term. It is a name given to Certain Way of Life that has been there for ever (Sanatan), that is based on all encompassing Knowledge (collected since time immemorial, Vedic) and which is in harmony with your own Nature (consciousness)". The alternative, more known word for the same "Hinduism". See word meaning below to bring out the import-

Sanatan = Ancient, the one which has been there (known) for ever, no one really knows when it started, what it connotes to is it has been existing since probably beginning of time.

Vedic = "Vid", the root of the word means "to know"; the body of the knowledge collected over thousands of years of research in various fileds including metaphysics, spirituality is "Vedas", ancient literature found in Indian continent that encompass knowledge about the 1. Creation (perceptible world), its process of formation, sustanance, and dissolution; 2. Nature of living beings, the soul and its relationship/association with matter (physical bodies), 3. Nature of God (consciousness) because of which a living entity we call living! Vedas also include how to invoke God principle (one only) by performing rituals (chanting mantras) and by contemplation / meditation. Vedas proclaim each living being is a soul/spirit, a part of the same great Godhood/God principle, and trying to reach that super conscious status.

Dharm = The religion /lifestyle that advise you to follow your own nature- In order to reach the God consciousness individual person should follow certain life style / practices which involve austerities, non-violence (since all living beings are essentially God's manifestation and not different from you in essence), prayers, worship, contemplation, and meditation. This natural life style is called "Dharm or Dharma".

The known Vedic literature itself amounts to 100s of thousands of pages, and there is no estimate of how much might have been lost.... Vedic literature divided in four major branches - Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda, each separately dealing with a different aspect of knowledge (from music, astrology, arts, architecture to metaphysics, spirituality etc). Search on each name suggested above in google for more appreciation of its vastness and depth.

Sanaathanam means "From Time immemorial"--many people translates it as "Eternal"--there is another Sanskrit word for 'Eternal"="Saasvatham"--.Dharmam has many English Synonyms,one of which is Religion.There is NO founder for Sanathana Dharamam--therefore it is Sanaathanam.

Vedhas are the "Foundation" of Sanathana Dharmam--so another way of refering to it Vedhic Dharmam.

Language is Sanskrit--it "appears to be" be confusing-but it is NOT-if one takes a little pain one can easily understand basic Sanskrit.---Way back in 1998 there was a Polish American lady (originaly from Poland) and her husband (an Irish American) who were interested in Hinduism,after they read a few books of Dr.S.Radhakrishnan--on my suggestion they learned Sanskrit from an Ascetic in sri.Ramakrishna Mutt in their town.That lady writes Excellent Sanskrit now-even I don't know that much Sanskrit."If there is a will,there is a way"

try here:

http://sawaal.ibibo.com/puja-and-rituals/what-sana...