What is Dharma

What is Dharma
Dharma has its root word “Dhr” means to uphold, to support, and to sustain; what is established. Dharma encompasses the natural, innate behavior of things, duty, law, ethics, virtue, etc. Every entity in the cosmos from electron to human beings has its particular dharma. Dharma is much more than religion. Nearest meaning of Dharma in English language may be “Righteousness”.
 
Religion is termed to the faith of large group of people who share a common symbol, a common religious text, a common GOD and a common founder. The word "Religion" may have been originally derived from the Latin word "religo" which means "good faith," "ritual," Or it may have come from the Latin "religare" which means "to tie fast.
 
The original term of Hinduism is Snatana dharma. Snatana means “eternal” or beginning less; Dharma means absolute set of duties or religiously ordained practices incumbent upon all Hindus, regardless of class, caste, or sect. No one can be credited to be founder to Snatana Dharma. Snatana Dharma is called Apaurusheya means which is not made by men. Over thousands of years, Snatana Dharma has been enriched by the contribution by a long line of divine incarnations, saints, sages and spiritual personalities. It offers most comprehensive and holistic view of reality than any given religion. Hence, it is often termed as more than a religion, a way of life.
 
Dharma, the source of Happiness:
As per Mahabharata, (Shantiparva, Adhyaya 109, Shloka 10) -
 
प्रभवार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् । यः स्यात्प्रभवसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ।। 
Means: The sole aim with which Dharma is advocated is to bring about the evolution of individuals. A doctrine preaches, ‘that which is able to bring about evolution is Dharma.
 
Dharma gives pleasure both in this world and after death. Shankaracharya said once, “अर्थ अनर्थ भावय नित्यम”. When people think Dharma is more important than Artha, then life improves. Good impressions in memory, patience or forbearance, virtuous behavior, divine love and renunciation are the sources of pleasure.
 
Codes of Dharma:
Hindu scriptures have defined Dharma in various ways. Hence, it is difficult to define Dharma in absolute terms. However, Dharma can be classified in two categories:

1. Universal moral code – Manu has defined it as Ahimsa (Non-violence), Satya (Truthfulness), Asteya (Not coveting property of others), Soucha (Purity) and Dama (control of senses).
2. Special moral code – Codes of conduct for different Varnas (i.e. Classes - Brahmin, Ksatriya, Vaisya and Sudra) for different Ashramas (i.e. Stages of life - Brahmacharya, Grahastha, Vanprastha & Sanyasa), for particular office, for occasional duties and for different ages.

 
Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapurana has explained Dharma in several ways as under:

1. Maharaja Yudhisthira asked Narada Muni about the Dharma. Narada Muni quoted the statements of Lord Narayana who is the supreme authority for giving codes of Dharma. Narada muni said, O King Yudhisthira, these thirty qualifications must be acquired in the human form of life which can satisfy the Supreme Being. The codes are as under:
2. Satya (Truthfulness),
3. Dayabhav (Compassion for others),
4. Soucha (Purity of body, thoughts and mind),
5. Tapas (austerity),
6. Titiksha (endurance, forbearance, Patience) – whatever pains and miseries come in life, endure them patiently. Be good to even enemy,
7. Iksa - Discrimination between right and wrong,
8. Samah - Control of the mind (not allowing mind to act whimsically) & Dama - Control of the senses,
9. Ahimsa (Non-violence) – Not hurt anybody by thoughts, speech and body,
10. Brahmacharya (Celibacy) – to observe celibacy, not only by organ of action but also by sense organs (eye, ears, touch etc.) & manas (मन),
11. Tyaga (Renunciation & Charity),   
12. Svadhya (Self-study) – Study, thinking and meditating of good scriptures,
13. Arjvam (simplicity) – freedom from duplicity & keeping simple temperament,
14. Santosh (contentment) – Be contented from whatever is received from almighty,
15. Samadrk-seva - Rendering service to saintly persons,
16. Gramya - Gradually taking leave of unnecessary engagements & Sanaih - Observing the futility of the unnecessary activities of human society,
17. Maun (Silence) – Silence in speech and mind, refraining from useless talks,
18. Vimarsanam - Research whether one is the body or the soul,
19. Anna-adya-adeh Samvibhagah - Equitable distributing food, drink etc. to all living entities (both men and animals),
20. Samdrishti (look impartially) – Be impartial in dealings with others and dharma,
21.  Ishwar anubhav (Existence of god) - Seeing every soul (especially in the human form) as a part of the Supreme Lord,
22. Hearing the holy name (or stories) of the almighty,
23. Chanting His name,
24. Atamchintan (Self-introspection) – Introspecting about almighty, existence before and after birth and always remembering his activities and instructions,
25. Service of almighty – Kirtan, Samran, seva, puja, namskar with dasya or sakhy bhav and atamsamarpan (Kirtan, remembering, service, worship, salutation in servile or friendly manner and self-surrender).
26. Performing worship of almighty,
27. Offering obeisance to almighty,
28. Self-surrender - surrendering one’s whole Self,
29. Performing job roles as prescribed by each of the four classes’ viz. Brahmins (priests, scholars and teachers). Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors and administrators), Vaishyas (agriculturalists and merchants) and Shudras (laborers and service providers),
30. Roles of woman
31. Guidelines for each of the four stages of life viz. Brahmacharya, Grahasta, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa.

 

1. Dharma has thirteen wives. By having thirteen attributes viz. Shraddha (श्रद्धा, faith), daya (दया, compassion), maitri (मैत्री, benevolence, good will), shanti (शांति, peace), pushti (पुष्टि, well nourished), kriya (क्रिया, acts, worship, sacrifice), unnati (उन्नति, advancement), buddhi (बुद्धि, intellect), medha (मेधा, talent, wisdom), smriti (स्मृति, memory), titksha (तितक्षा, endurance, patience, forbearance), dhriti (धृति, courage) and murti (मूर्ति, idol, form, deity), Dharma get into life. 

 

1. Dharma has four components viz. truth, tapa (religious austerity), purity and compassion. Truth is almighty. Untruth decays virtues. Tapa is not enjoying all available comforts and sensual pleasures. One should practice religious austerity daily. Speech and behavior should have patience and control. Purity is necessary in manas (मन) as it will transmit into next life. In Satyayug, all the four components of Dharma existed. In Treta Yug, Truth left. In Dwaper, Truth and Tapa did not exist. In Kalyug, Truth, Tapa and purity left. In Kalyug, charity and compassion are holding Dharma.