Reimagining Spiritual Horizons: Critical Reflections on Reinventing Sanatana Dharma
- Haritha Pavithran
, - B. Sivakami
Abstract
This commentary critically examines Mukundan P.R's significant work Reinventing Sanatana Dharma: The Spiritual Movement of Navajyoti Sree Karunakara Guru for a New India and a New World Order, New Delhi, India, Authors Press, 2024, Pages: 212, Rs. 500, Paperback, ISBN: 97-93-5529-976-5. The book critically reinterprets the Indian philosophical concept of Sanatana Dharma through the teachings of Navajyoti Sree Karunakara Guru, a spiritual visionary born in Kerala, India. The book challenges the traditional perceptions of Hindu philosophy, presenting Sanatana Dharma as a universal, non-discriminatory spiritual science. It explores key distinctions between Sanatana Dharma and mainstream Hinduism, addressing themes such as the spiritual evolution of consciousness, the significance of a true guru, and the reinterpretation of certain key Upanishadic concepts. While the book’s non-linear structure challenges narrative flow, its interdisciplinary approach—bridging Indian scriptures and contemporary scientific insights—offers a fresh perspective on spirituality. This review, therefore, highlights the book’s contribution to spiritual discourse and its potential to inspire a re-examination of Indian philosophy. In addition, the commentary also hints at what the author names a ‘syncretic monotheism’, which integrates the most profound principles of various religions into the overarching framework of Sanatana Dharma, contributing to sustainable development, making it an engaging resource for scholars, seekers, and readers interested in the intersection of religion and spirituality.
Keywords
Sanatana Dharma, Spirituality, Guru, Upanishads, Sustainability
Author Biography
Haritha Pavithran
- Ms. Haritha Pavithran is a full-time researcher at the School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Campus, India. Her research focuses on Critical Posthumanism and Spirituality in the novels of O.V Vijayan. She holds an M.Phil. in English from the University of Madras and brings three years of teaching experience at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Ms. Pavithran has also contributed multiple literary research papers including those published in Scopus-indexed journals.
B. Sivakami
- Dr. B. Sivakami works as Assistant Professor of English (Sr.) at Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Campus, Tamil Nadu, India since 2015. She has secured her Ph.D in English Language Teaching and M.Phil in African-American Literature. She secured an M.Ed. degree in 1997. She has published her research papers in reputable journals, including 10 Scopus-indexed publications. She has under her belt three and more than 18 years of school and college teaching experience respectively.
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