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Samanya Dharma (Samskrit: सामान्यधर्मः) refers to the tenets that are uniformly applicable to everyone in a society. They are universal principles prescribed to be practised by all.

Samanya Dharma (Samskrit: सामान्यधर्मः) refers to the tenets that are uniformly applicable to everyone in a society. They are universal principles prescribed to be practiced by all.

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

# सामान्यधर्मः (Samanya Dharma) : This deals with the ethical principles like truth, non-injury, non-stealing, etc., which are common duties of all beings. They are universal principles applicable to all irrespective of their class, gender or nationality.<ref name=":2">Nithin Sridhar, [http://indiafacts.org/varna-vyavastha-as-a-conceptual-social-order-that-facilitates-self-actualization/ Varṇa vyavastha as a conceptual social order that facilitates self-actualization], indiafacts.org</ref> For eg. Goodness is not a property of any one class, creed, sect or community. It is a virtue every human being should possess. Thus, Samanya Dharma is the general law for all human beings.<ref name=":1" />

# सामान्यधर्मः (Samanya Dharma) : This deals with the ethical principles like truth, non-injury, non-stealing, etc., which are common duties of all beings. They are universal principles applicable to all irrespective of their class, gender or nationality.<ref name=":2">Nithin Sridhar, [http://indiafacts.org/varna-vyavastha-as-a-conceptual-social-order-that-facilitates-self-actualization/ Varṇa vyavastha as a conceptual social order that facilitates self-actualization], indiafacts.org</ref> For eg. Goodness is not a property of any one class, creed, sect or community. It is a virtue every human being should possess. Thus, Samanya Dharma is the general law for all human beings.<ref name=":1" />

# विशेषधर्मः (Vishesha Dharma) : These are special duties, which are unique to every individual depending on the kala (time), desha (place), varna and ashrama.<ref name=":2" /> For eg. The [[Varnashrama Dharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्मः)|Varnashrama Dharmas]] are special Dharmas to be practised by particular groups of people and by people in particular stages of life. However, Samanya Dharmas must be practised by all, irrespective of distinctions of Varna and Ashrama, creed or colour.<ref name=":1" />

# विशेषधर्मः (Vishesha Dharma) : These are special duties, which are unique to every individual depending on the kala (time), desha (place), varna and ashrama.<ref name=":2" /> For eg. The [[Varnashrama Dharma (वर्णाश्रमधर्मः)|Varnashrama Dharmas]] are special Dharmas to be practiced by particular groups of people and by people in particular stages of life. However, Samanya Dharmas must be practiced by all, irrespective of distinctions of Varna and Ashrama, creed or colour.<ref name=":1" />

== वैदिकवाङ्मयेषु सामान्यधर्मः ॥ Samanya Dharma in Vaidika Vangmaya ==

== वैदिकवाङ्मयेषु सामान्यधर्मः ॥ Samanya Dharma in Vaidika Vangmaya ==

Dharmas common to all<ref name=":0" /> referred to as Samanya Dharmas, numbering between 5-30, are mentioned across the [[Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)|Vaidika Vangmaya]] texts such as  the [[Smrti (स्मृतिः)|Smrtis]], [[Itihasa (इतिहासः)|Itihasa]] and [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]]. These tenets applicable to everyone,<ref name=":2" /> as they occur in various texts, are enumerated below.  

Dharmas common to all<ref name=":0" /> referred to as Samanya Dharmas, numbering between 5-30, are mentioned across the [[Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)|Vaidika Vangmaya]] texts such as  the [[Smrti (स्मृतिः)|Smrtis]], [[Itihasa (इतिहासः)|Itihasa]] and [[Puranas (पुराणानि)|Puranas]]. These tenets applicable to everyone,<ref name=":2" /> as they occur in various texts, are enumerated below.  

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

![[Manusmrti (मनुस्मृतिः)|Manusmrti]]

![[Manusmrti (मनुस्मृतिः)|Manusmrti]]

![[Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्रम्)|Arthashastra]]

![[Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्रम्)|Arthashastra]]

dānaṁ damo dayā kṣāntiḥ sarveṣāṁ dharmasādhanam ॥ 1.122 ॥

dānaṁ damo dayā kṣāntiḥ sarveṣāṁ dharmasādhanam ॥ 1.122 ॥

|}

|}

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

![[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]]

![[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]]

!Vamana Purana

!Vamana Purana

# Tirtha Anusarana (Visiting tirtha kshetras)

# Tirtha Anusarana (Visiting tirtha kshetras)

# Dana (Munificence)

# Dana (Munificence)

# [[Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्यम्)|Brahmacharya]] (Celibacy)

#[[Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्यम्)|Brahmacharya]] (Celibacy)

# Amatsara (Non-jealous)

# Amatsara (Non-jealous)

# Deva Dvijati Guru Shushrusha (Service to deities, brahmanas and preceptors)

# Deva Dvijati Guru Shushrusha (Service to deities, brahmanas and preceptors)

The Upanishads lay down the requisite qualifications for a person to become eligible to practise Vedanta. The Taittiriya Upanishad, through the instructions imparted by the preceptor to students after having taught the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]] says,  <blockquote>सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।<ref>Taittiriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80#%E0%A5%A5_%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8A%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A5 Anuvaka 11]</ref> satyaṁ vada । dharmaṁ cara । svādhyāyānmā pramadaḥ ।</blockquote>Meaning: Speak the truth. Practise righteousness. Make no mistake about self-study.

The Upanishads lay down the requisite qualifications for a person to become eligible to practise Vedanta. The Taittiriya Upanishad, through the instructions imparted by the preceptor to students after having taught the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]] says,  <blockquote>सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।<ref>Taittiriya Upanishad, Shikshavalli, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80#%E0%A5%A5_%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8A%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A5 Anuvaka 11]</ref> satyaṁ vada । dharmaṁ cara । svādhyāyānmā pramadaḥ ।</blockquote>Meaning: Speak the truth. Practise righteousness. Make no mistake about self-study.

[[Adi Shankaracharya (आदिशङ्कराचार्यः)|Adi Shankaracharya]] also, in his Vivekachudamani, enumerates the basic qualifications necessary to practise Vedanta called Sadhana Chatushtaya or the fourfold spiritual practice. It includes discernment, dispassion, control of the internal organs, control of the external sense organs, forbearance, withdrawal of the mind from external sense objects, faith in the [[Guru (गुरुः)|guru]] and scriptures, one-pointed meditation on [[Brahman (ब्रह्मन्)|Brahman]] and an intense desire for moksha.

[[Adi Shankaracharya (आदिशङ्कराचार्यः)|Adi Shankaracharya]] also, in his Vivekachudamani, enumerates the basic qualifications necessary to practise Vedanta called [[Sadhana Chatushtaya (साधनचतुष्टयम्)]] or the fourfold spiritual practice. It includes discernment, dispassion, control of the internal organs, control of the external sense organs, forbearance, withdrawal of the mind from external sense objects, faith in the [[Guru (गुरुः)|guru]] and scriptures, one-pointed meditation on [[Brahman (ब्रह्मन्)|Brahman]] and an intense desire for moksha.

These are either the tenets of Samanya Dharma themselves or those that are attained through the practice of Samanya Dharma. Hence, the tenets of Samanya Dharma are very vital in the path of knowledge as well.<ref name=":7" />

These are either the tenets of Samanya Dharma themselves or those that are attained through the practice of Samanya Dharma. Hence, the tenets of Samanya Dharma are very vital in the path of knowledge as well.<ref name=":7" />