About Us
Shri Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi
Preface
Sanatan Dharam is the world's oldest tradition of faith, flowing continuously since time immemorial. It was not founded by any one person — its foundation is the Supreme Reality itself. The Vedas emerged with creation, and it is from the Vedas that Vedic Sanatan Dharam is expounded; it cannot be bound to any single era.
Over time, many distortions crept into the practice of this faith, leaving Hindus confused about its true form. Numerous sages and scholars, speaking in the name of Vedic Sanatan Dharam, have tried to alert society to these distortions — yet some, driven by greed, continue to exploit them for personal gain. At the same time, forces both within and outside the country that oppose Sanatan Dharam are working deliberately to tarnish our civilization, culture, and faith.
What Is Sanatan Dharam
Sanatan Dharam is also known by the alternate name Hindu Dharam. "Sanatan" means eternal, or "ever-abiding" — that which has neither beginning nor end. Sanatan Dharam is fundamentally an Indian faith that once extended across the whole of Greater India (the Indian subcontinent). Even after extensive religious conversion over the centuries, for various reasons, the majority population of this region still holds faith in this tradition.
People living across the Indus river were called "Hindu" by the Persians, who pronounced the sound "S" as "H." Following their example, Arab invaders too began calling the people of that time "Hindus" and their faith "Hindu Dharam." In India's own literature, the word "Hindu" appears only around 1,000 years ago — not before.
Objectives of the Sabha
To organize and provide unified guidance to all Sanatan Dharam temples across Delhi.
To preserve and promote the scriptural values and traditions of Sanatan Dharam.
To respond appropriately to those who attack Sanatan Dharam, and to build public awareness and conviction in its favor.
To spread religious education.
To train temple priests (archaks) as preachers of dharma, in keeping with scriptural tradition.
Our Founding
In today's materialistic age, where ethics has taken a back seat, the spiritually-rooted Vedic Sanatan Dharam has come under sustained attack from those in positions of power and influence who oppose it. This is not a threat to India alone — left unchecked, it poses a danger to the entire world. In such a critical time, protecting Sanatan Dharam becomes the duty of every Indian.
It is the resolve of Shri Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, to respond to these challenges and to help the public understand the true nature of Sanatan Dharam. Hindu temples, maths, and ashrams have long served as centers of inspiration for society — hubs for religious outreach, preservation of the arts, and family, social, national, and ceremonial life. Today, however, in the absence of proper guidance and strong protection, the condition of many of these institutions is a matter of serious concern.
Keeping these pressing concerns in mind, a group of experienced devotees of Sanatan Dharam from Delhi — Shri Jaikishan Das Agarwal, Shri Manohar Lal Kumar, Shri Manas Vachaspati, Pt. Trilok Mohan, Shri Roshan Lal Agarwal, Ganesh Shastri, Shri Jai Narayan Khandelwal, Shri Rajkumar Airy, Shri Bansi Lal Verma, Shri Ramgopal Shukla, Shri Mahant Jagdish Giri, and Shri Yograj — came together in 1987 to plan a strong, unified organization for all Sanatan religious institutions across the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This marked the founding of Shri Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, and the beginning of an effort to bring all temples under one unifying thread.
What We Do
Organize and support Sanatan Dharam temples across Delhi
Train priests, preachers, and bhajaniks in scriptural tradition
Provide free welfare services — mass weddings, student aid, elder care, blood donation, support for tribal families — through our member temples, while the Sabha builds public awareness of these services
Host annual Ramayana/Gita competitions and youth moral-education camps
Publish "Sanatan Sandesh" online monthly and an annual fasts & festivals calendar
Organize Gita Jayanti Mahotsav and festival shobha yatras
Run youth and women's programs rooted in Sanatan values
Building a Sanatan Dharam Bhavan and reference library
A Humble Appeal
To our fellow Sanatan Dharam brothers and sisters: those associated with temples today carry a great responsibility — to instill faith and conviction in a public that is often confused about dharma. If this is not done, future generations who go on to lead society and family will lack faith and conviction in dharma themselves — a real and serious loss for Sanatan Hindu society and the nation.
We are also in urgent need of dedicated young volunteers to support temple and district committees across various areas. We look to you with hope and full confidence that the entire Sanatan community of Delhi will unite as one voice, under the guidance of revered saints. Let us come together in Sanatan Dharam and offer our body, mind, and wealth in service — awaken yourself, and awaken others — so that future generations may look back with pride.
Office-bearers
Annual contribution from central, departmental, and district office-bearers
Sanrakshan Mandal
Board of Patrons membership, held in the Sabha's fixed deposit