Hinduism speaks of the four goals of life – dharma, artha, kama and moksha – virtuous life, earning of wealth, fulfillment of desires and salvation. Dharma is an important theme of life in Hinduism as in any religion. Dharma is often translated as religion, duty, virtue or righteousness. Dharma is all these and much more and encompasses a huge meaning which includes personal spiritual growth.
Dharma comes from the Sanskrit root ‘dhri’ which means to uphold or sustain. Dharma upholds or sustains the positive order of things in the world and Universe. All of us who are members of society have a dharma to perform certain acts by which we uphold the natural order of things in society and nation. Man, woman, child, father, mother, worker, member of society, teacher, labourer, farmer, police, head of state etc – we all have duties and obligations. When we fulfil them in the right manner, the society and nation function correctly and are upheld by morals and ethics. Under such conditions, culture flourishes and there is progress in all areas of life.
A child has a dharma to obey its parents, and the parents have a dharma to protect their children, feed, educate and nurture them and set them on the right path in life. The teacher has a dharma to impart the right knowledge and wisdom which teaches the child ethics and values and also helps it to earn a good livelihood. The farmer has a dharma to grow sufficient crops and different varieties of food stuff to nourish and sustain the society. The police have a dharma to maintain law and order. Seeing from the higher perspective, dharma is conducting our duties with compassion towards all beings. It is doing duty consciously with love and reverence. It is absence of jealousy, greed and cruelty whilst doing our duties. Performing our dharma in this manner bestows on us purity, goodness and tranquillity.
Dharma is the first word in the Bhagwad Gita. The Bhagwad Gita teaches us that it is better to do our own dharma rather than succeed in doing another’s dharma. We may not be perfect in doing our own dharma but we must persevere till we are successful. When we perform our own dharma successfully, the society and nation prosper. Where there is break down of dharma, there is riot and chaos in society and the fabric of peaceful coexistence in society tears down. We must do our dharma to best of our ability and when dharma is established in society, there is peace and prosperity all around. ‘Protect dharma and it protects you’.
Our dharma changes as we progress in life. The dharma of a child is different from that of a student. The dharma of a young adult is different and later on when he marries, his dharma changes. The dharma of a student is studies and obeying and serving the Guru. The dharma of a married man is much more – it is earning and taking care of the wife and children, the other helpless members and elders of the family, contributing to social welfare and projects for welfare of needy, taking care of sadhus, sants and religious organisations, payment of taxes and contributing to welfare of the state and working gradually towards spiritual welfare of self. A policeman who performs the dharma of a student and a child who performs the dharma of a policeman are doing adharma or doing wrong. By doing so, they break down the peace and safety of society.
Dharma or ‘dhri’ also connotes the nature of matter. It is dharma of water to be liquid and wet. It is dharma of fire to give light and burn. It is dharma of wind to blow. It is the dharma of the tiger to kill and eat when hungry. Whatever is the speciality of an object which defines its nature – is its dharma. God is dharma personified and the entire cosmos is balanced on the dharma or righteousness of God. We must always follow our dharma. We must perform our duties in the right manner. We have a duty to our soul and God and we must perform that dharma by doing the japa of SitaRam, meditation and following the teachings of the Guru.
