Sarva Dharma Samabhava is an Indian philosophical and ethical principle meaning “equal respect for all religions.” It emphasizes harmony, tolerance, and mutual respect among followers of different faiths rather than strict separation of religion from public life.

Origin / Source Text:
The phrase is most commonly attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, not to a single ancient scripture in this exact wording. It became prominent in Gandhian thought around 1930 and was later associated with his broader idea of religious harmony and Indian secularism. It is also linked to Gandhi’s Ashram vows / ethical principles in spirit. Scholars often note that while the exact phrase is modern, its underlying spirit is often connected to older Indian pluralist traditions and ideas from texts like the Upanishads and the broad civilizational ethos of “Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti”(“Truth is one, the wise call it by many names”) from the Rig Veda—though that is not the same phrase. 

UPSC Prelims Pointers:
Associated with Indian secularism, which differs from Western secularism; often linked to Mahatma Gandhi’s thought; implies equal respect, not irreligion; relevant to Articles 25–28 (freedom of religion); important in questions on secularism, communal harmony, and constitutional values; can be contrasted with Dharma Nirapekshata (state neutrality toward religion).