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== धर्मविस्तृतिः ॥ Scope of Dharma ==

== धर्मविस्तृतिः ॥ Scope of Dharma ==

As expressed before, Dharma is a Sanskrit expression of the widest import. It has a wide variety of meanings. And few of them enable us to understand the range of that expression.<ref name=":3" /> For instance, the word 'Dharma' is used to mean

As expressed before, Dharma is a Sanskrit expression of the widest import. It has a wide variety of meanings. And few of them enable us to understand the range of that expression.<ref name=":3" /> For instance, the word 'Dharma' is used in the context of

# The Principles of Justice (न्यायः | Nyaya)  

# Principles of Justice (न्यायः | Nyaya).

# What is right in a given circumstance  

# What is right in a given circumstance.

# Virtue or Moral values of life  

# Virtue or Moral values of life.

# Pious obligations of individuals

# Pious obligations of individuals.

# Righteous conduct in every sphere of activity  

# Righteous conduct in every sphere of activity.

# Being helpful to other living beings  

# Being helpful to other living beings.

# Giving charity to individuals in need of it or to a public cause or alms to the needy  

# Giving charity to individuals in need of it or to a public cause or alms to the needy.

# Natural qualities or characteristics or properties of living beings and things  

# Natural qualities or characteristics or properties of living beings and things.

# Duty towards oneself, family, community, country, and the world at large.

# Duty towards oneself, family, community, country and the world at large.

# Law, as also constitutional law.

# Law, as also constitutional law.

# Principle on the foundation of which a society stands.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" />

# Principle on the foundation of which a society stands.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" />

# Samanya Dharma (सामान्यधर्मः । General or Universal Dharma) – It refers to the duties that are common to all people. For example, Fostering qualities such as Contentment, forgiveness, self-restraint, non-stealing, purity, control of senses, discrimination between right and wrong, between the real and the unreal, adhyatmik knowledge, truthfulness and absence of anger come under the general or universal Dharma. In fact, Manu mentions these as the tenfold characteristics of Dharma.

# Samanya Dharma (सामान्यधर्मः । General or Universal Dharma) – It refers to the duties that are common to all people. For example, Fostering qualities such as Contentment, forgiveness, self-restraint, non-stealing, purity, control of senses, discrimination between right and wrong, between the real and the unreal, adhyatmik knowledge, truthfulness and absence of anger come under the general or universal Dharma. In fact, Manu mentions these as the tenfold characteristics of Dharma.

# Vishesha Dharma (विशेषधर्मः । Specific or Personal Dharma) - It refers to special duties as a husband, wife, child, student, teacher, farmer, business person, Raja, soldier, etc. For example, the rules of Varnas and Ashramas of life are specific Dharmas.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" />  

# Vishesha Dharma (विशेषधर्मः । Specific or Personal Dharma) - It refers to special duties as a husband, wife, child, student, teacher, farmer, business person, Raja, soldier, etc. For example, the rules of Varnas and Ashramas of life are specific Dharmas.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" />  

Thus, Dharma assumes various forms. It manifests as :  

Thus, Dharma assumes various forms. Some of its manifestations are in the form of:  

# [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]] (सनातनधर्मः । Eternal Law)  

# [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]] (सनातनधर्मः । Eternal Law)  

# [[Samanya Dharma (सामान्यधर्मः)|Samanya Dharma]] (सामान्यधर्मः । General duty)  

# [[Samanya Dharma (सामान्यधर्मः)|Samanya Dharma]] (सामान्यधर्मः । General duty)  

# [[Acharana Dharma (आचरणधर्मः)|Achara Dharma]] (आचारधर्मः । duty in behaviour)

# [[Acharana Dharma (आचरणधर्मः)|Achara Dharma]] (आचारधर्मः । duty in behaviour)

# [[Apaddharma (आपद्धर्मः)|Apaddharma]] (आपद्धर्मः । duties during exegencies)<ref name=":4" />

# [[Apaddharma (आपद्धर्मः)|Apaddharma]] (आपद्धर्मः । duties during exegencies)<ref name=":4" />

Therefore, Dharma embraces every type of righteous conduct covering every aspect of life essential for the sustenance and welfare of the individual and society and includes those rules which guide and enable those who believe in the divine and svarga to attain moksha (eternal bliss). It prescribed the rules of right conduct, observance of which was considered necessary for the welfare of the individual and society. And in laying down Dharma, its propounders took an integrated view of life. Consequently, rules of right conduct covering almost every sphere of human activity such as religion, rules regulating personal conduct of an individual, as a student, as a teacher, as a house-holder, as a husband, as a wife, as a son, as a hermit, as an ascetic, including rules regulating taking of food and the like were prescribed. Dharma therefore, laid down a code of conduct covering every aspect of human behaviour, the observance of which was considered a must for the peace and happiness of individuals and society.<ref name=":3" />

Therefore, Dharma embraces every type of righteous conduct covering every aspect of life essential for the sustenance and welfare of the individual and society and includes those rules which guide and enable those who believe in the Supreme and Svarga to attain moksha (eternal bliss). It prescribed the rules of right conduct, observance of which was considered necessary for the welfare of the individual and society. And in laying down Dharma, its propounders took an integrated view of life. Consequently, rules of right conduct covering almost every sphere of human activity such as religion, rules regulating personal conduct of an individual, as a student, as a teacher, as a house-holder, as a husband, as a wife, as a son, as a hermit, as an ascetic, including rules regulating taking of food and the like were prescribed.<ref name=":3" />

==धर्माधिष्ठितगुणाः ॥ Values based on Dharma==

==धर्माधिष्ठितगुणाः ॥ Values based on Dharma==

A common territory and common values of life evolved and cherished by the people of [[Bharatavarsha (भरतवर्षम्)|Bharatavarsha]] by far have welded the people of this sacred land into a nation bound by the system of values of life. There are many main and subsidiary values, traditions and customs but all of them within the framework of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]]. Universal acceptance that 'Dharma' bears the Universe and holds entities together (Maha. Karn. 8.69.58) is the moral binding factor of different people of Bharatavarsha. A few important values may be summarized here.

The Universal acceptance that 'Dharma' bears the Universe and holds entities together (Maha. Karn. 8.69.58) is the moral binding factor of different people of Bharatavarsha. Infact, it is the common territory and common values of life evolved and cherished by the people of [[Bharatavarsha (भरतवर्षम्)|Bharatavarsha]] that have by far, welded the people of this sacred land into a nation bound by the system of values of life. There are many main and subsidiary values, traditions and customs but all of them within the framework of [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]]. In fact, many values of life were evolved on the basis of fundamental principles. The most cherished values were summed up by Sarvajna Narayana thus :<blockquote>मातृवत्परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्टवत् | आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पण्डितः ||</blockquote><blockquote>''mātr̥vatparadāreṣu paradravyeṣu loṣṭavat | ātmavatsarvabhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ ||''</blockquote>Meaning: One who treats every woman (other than his wife) as equal to his own mother, treats (rejects) another's wealth as if it were a clod of earth, treats every living being as his own self is really a learned/wise person.

 

This advice, if followed by an individual, does not land him in misery or loss of mental happiness. A few more such important values are

#Duty towards others

#Duty towards others

#A Code of Conduct  

#Code of Conduct  

#Respect for Womanhood

#Respect for Womanhood

#Samanata (समानता | Equality)

#Samanata (समानता | Equality)

#Tyaga (त्यागः | Sacrifice)

#Tyaga (त्यागः | Sacrifice)

#Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् | World is one Family)<ref name=":3" />

#Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् | World is one Family)<ref name=":3" />

Aptly, in modern thought processes, the dharmika paradigm encompasses<ref>Rajiv Malhotra (2011), Being Different.</ref>

 

It is also to be noted that the rules of Dharma were meant to regulate individual conduct in such a way as to restrict the rights, liberty, interest and desires of an individual as regards all matters to the extent necessary in the interest of other individuals, i.e., society, at the same time making it obligatory on the part of society to safeguard and protect the individual in all respects through its social and political institutions. Shortly put, Dharma regulated the mutual obligations of individuals and society. Therefore, it was stressed that the protection of Dharma was in the interest of both the individual and the society.<ref name=":3" /> Aptly, in modern thought processes, the dharmika paradigm encompasses<ref>Rajiv Malhotra (2011), Being Different.</ref>

#integral unity (dharmika tattvajnana)

#integral unity (dharmika tattvajnana)

#perspective of life (dharmika jeevana drshti)

#perspective of life (dharmika jeevana drshti)

#codes of conduct (dharmika vyavahara sutra)

#codes of conduct (dharmika vyavahara sutra)

#systems and structures (dharmika vyavastha)

#systems and structures (dharmika vyavastha)

These aspects are studied at length in [[Dharmika Jivana Vidhana (धार्मिकजीवनविधानम्)|Dharmika Jivana Vidhana]], through which we aim to bring back restructuring of the society along with the ancient glory, and peace in global dharmika communities.  

And these aspects are studied at length in [[Dharmika Jivana Vidhana (धार्मिकजीवनविधानम्)|Dharmika Jivana Vidhana]], through which we aim to bring back restructuring of the society along with the ancient glory, and peace in global dharmika communities.  

 

 

 

== धर्मपुरुषार्थः ॥ Dharma Purushartha ==

== धर्मपुरुषार्थः ॥ Dharma Purushartha ==