Dharma

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Dharma : Its meaning and Role

Dharma is a Sanskrit word derrieved from root "Dharana" ( to

sustain ).But then the question arises as to `sustain" what ? Let us

leave the question at the moment and try to approach it from a

different angle.

Meaning of a word (or a phrase) is strictly Time specific.

Linguistics warn us about this. Many words used in Vadic ages has,

now a days, lost their original usage.Bharat Ratna Dr. V.P.Kane in

his "Encylopaedia of Dharmshstra" says that, "What did the word

(Dharma) meant in Vedic Age cant' be said for certain". Thus to

understand the meaning of `Dharma', in the context of changing human

societies though ages becomes imperative.Let us try to analyse the

historical background as to what did it refer to be `sustained'by

it.. The sustaining can not be a reference to `life'; because the

same is called "Prana" (counciousness) in the same language, and is

said to be `sustained' by "anna" (food). Then, it must refer either

to the "society' or to an `indivudual living'. If we examine these

two terms in a theological perspective, then `society' may be taken

as `universal conciousness' and individual way of living as ones

own `self-conciousness'. The first is described to be sustined by

the "law" or `Vidhana' of that particuler society., while the other

is `Dharma', which sustains the self-conciousness of being a human.

It is not out of place to mention that theologists seem to agree upon

the oneness of the counciousness. Universal Conciousness manifests

itselves into many. Thus so called `Indivisual' conciousness is, in

fact, a aprt of whole undivisible `Universal' conciousness. Thus

anything which sustains the conciousness, individual or universal, is

Dharma. Here, sustainnence must be taken as to support the object of

the thing which is to be sustained, i.e. the conciousness.

Now we face another problem as to whether any Sadhna for observing

Dharma shoul be for individual benifit or for mass benifit?. If we

examin in depth, the fact may be culled from the foregoing paragraph

that `individual' and `universal' terms are mere illusionary duality.

In trure reality they are one and the same. Thus the process of self

purification is not different from mass upliftment. We can mater

ourselves not others. We can, of course, wish and do good noble deeds

for mass. But nevertheless, this effort too shall be at individual

level.

To conclude, Dharma means "to sustain" the divine cause of upliftment

of universal or global conciousness by honestly, lovingly and

naturally live our lives without any tinge of show (rites and

rituals).

Satish