evolution of Sanatan Dharma, explaining how a 5,000-year-old

evolution of Sanatan Dharma, explaining how a 5,000-year-old

philosophy centered on natural laws and Vedic rituals transitioned into modern Hinduism. The source details how ancient traditions originally lacked idols or temples, focusing instead on formless divine forces and a social structure based on merit rather than birth. Over centuries, the complexity of rituals led to the creation of Puranas and deities like the Trimurti to make spiritual concepts accessible to the common person. The narrative further explores the impact of the Bhakti movement and external cultural influences that transformed a "way of life" into a formal religious identity. Ultimately, the text argues that while the external practices of the faith have changed, its eternal essence remains a continuous internal search for truth.