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== Origin of dharma ==
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== Defining 'Dharma' ==
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== 'Dharma' is a Sanskrit word. Sanskrit is a classical language like Greek,  Latin and Persian. And in Sanskrit, as in most classical languages,  most words are derived from the stem or root. The  word 'dharma' is derived from the root ''dhri'',  which means to hold, to keep, or to maintain. So, what which holds,  keeps or maintains is dharma. Dharma maintains, keeps, or holds the  very basis of this universe, the cosmic order. In that sense, dharma  means the proper functioning of the various cyclical activities of  this  universe that maintain its balance. Dharma  also means righteousness since it enables one to be closer to the  truth, which maintains the cosmic order, also called ''rta''.  So, for an individual, ''sva''-dharma,  one's own dharma, would mean that which one has to do because of  one's committing to it or because of one's station in life. Dharma  can also mean the faith and  tradition of people because these  traditions have been conceived and  strengthened by the meditations  and realizations of rishis. These  traditions are eternal and that is  why the name Sanatana Dharma. Dharma  should not be confused with the  English 'word' religion. Religion  generally means a group bound by  its belief systems.  '''Dharma and Religion''' ==
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As Western self-styled Indologists claims Dharma is not synonymous to Religion. The  word 'dharma' cannot be translated
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into any single word in English,  and has multiple meanings. Another meaning is property,
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attribute, or nature. So, if one  says that fluidity is the dharma of
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water, it means that fluidity is  the property of water. Dharma could
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also the intrinsic nature of a  thing or person. For instance, it is the
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dharma of fire to burn. Another  meaning of dharma is social
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code or law. Since these laws are  considered to be the basis of social
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fabric, they are called dharma.  Several such social codes exist like
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the ''Manu  Smriti'' and  Yajnavalkya Smriti. Dharma can also mean
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any rule, decree, ordinance,  or statue. The decree of the government or
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the king could be called ''raja''-dharma.
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== '''The use of the concept of Dharma''' ==
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The  concept of dharma in the sense of a
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cosmic harmony has been denoted  in various symbols like the Dharma
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Chakra or the wheel of dharma,  which finds place in the Ashoka Chakra
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depicted in the Indian  national flag and also in the Indian national
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emblem. In  essence, dharma is something that
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has to be practiced according to  the Indian tradition. The Upanishads
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exhort one to practice dharma  and speak the truth. And in this sense,
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which has to be considered as  the main meaning of the word, dharna
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meaning harmony through the  practice of righteousness and many other
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similar virtues.
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Dharma was formulated as the solution to the eternal problems confronting the human race, originating from natural human instincts.
 
Dharma was formulated as the solution to the eternal problems confronting the human race, originating from natural human instincts.
vdkeL; fØ;k dfpí`';rs usg dfgZfprà ;|f) dq#rs fdfŒpr rÙRdkeL; psf"VreÃA
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<blockquote>vdkeL; fØ;k dfpí`';rs usg dfgZfprà ;|f) dq#rs fdfŒpr rÙRdkeL; psf"VreÃA
 
MANU: II: 4
 
MANU: II: 4
There is no act of man which is free from desire; whatever a man does is the result of the impulse of desire.
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</blockquote>There is no act of man which is free from desire; whatever a man does is the result of the impulse of desire.
 
In the above verse, analysing the human instinct, Manu states that the force behind every action of a human being is his desire (kama). Then the next question was what were the natural desires of man? The natural desire of man was found to be the desire to have enjoyment of wealth ie., material pleasure (artha) as also emotional and sexual enjoyment. Artha is explained by Vatsayana3 as connoting material wealth such as gold, cattle, com, including education or knowledge (intellectual property) necessary to earn wealth. The source of all evil actions of human beings was traced to the desire for material pleasure which in turn gave rise to conflict of interests among individuals.
 
In the above verse, analysing the human instinct, Manu states that the force behind every action of a human being is his desire (kama). Then the next question was what were the natural desires of man? The natural desire of man was found to be the desire to have enjoyment of wealth ie., material pleasure (artha) as also emotional and sexual enjoyment. Artha is explained by Vatsayana3 as connoting material wealth such as gold, cattle, com, including education or knowledge (intellectual property) necessary to earn wealth. The source of all evil actions of human beings was traced to the desire for material pleasure which in turn gave rise to conflict of interests among individuals.
 
Further, it was found that the desire (kama) of human beings could also be influenced by the other impulses inherent in human beings such as anger (krodha), passion (moha), greed (lobha), infatuation (mada), and enmity (matsarya). These six natural impulses were considered as six internal enemies of man (arishadvarga), which if allowed to act uncontrolled could instigate him to entertain evil thoughts in the mind for fulfilling his own selfish desires and for that purpose cause injury to others. Manu, on this basis, explained the causes of all civil and criminal injuries inflicted by the action of one against the other.
 
Further, it was found that the desire (kama) of human beings could also be influenced by the other impulses inherent in human beings such as anger (krodha), passion (moha), greed (lobha), infatuation (mada), and enmity (matsarya). These six natural impulses were considered as six internal enemies of man (arishadvarga), which if allowed to act uncontrolled could instigate him to entertain evil thoughts in the mind for fulfilling his own selfish desires and for that purpose cause injury to others. Manu, on this basis, explained the causes of all civil and criminal injuries inflicted by the action of one against the other.
 
Dharma or rules of righteous conduct was evolved as a. solution to this eternal problem arising out of the natural instinct of man. In Shantiparva of the Mahabharata (Ch.59-
 
Dharma or rules of righteous conduct was evolved as a. solution to this eternal problem arising out of the natural instinct of man. In Shantiparva of the Mahabharata (Ch.59-
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