THE word ‘Dharma’ is frequently used in all mandirs and by many Hindus in their day- to- day conversations. And for a very long time now, many people both Hindus and non-Hindus have been approaching me to define the word ‘Dharma’. To this, I strongly feel it is my duty to define this Powerful Sanskrit Word, and that my definition will be helpful to many. It is very difficult to translate the word ‘Dharma’ in English. ‘Religion’ and ‘Duty’ are two words which are widely used to translate ‘Dharma’ in English. Of course, no doubt, these two words are correct.
Apart from the above mentioned words that are used for ‘Dharma’, there are greater meanings. The word ‘Dharma’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Dari’. From the word ‘Dhri’, we get the word ‘Dharti’ which means ‘earth’, and earth is the upholder of all life forms. In a Hindu prayer, it says ‘Om prithivee twayaa dhritaa loka’, ‘Oh Earth, You uphold the world’. Hence, it clearly indicates that Dharma means to hold, to sustain, to protect, to maintain, or to support. So, the word, ‘Dharma’ can be said to be that which supports, sustains, maintains and uphold the universe. The foundation on which society and Hinduism are built on is called Dharma. Dharma preserves, upholds, and supports the integrity of society. Dharma is indeed the principles and truths which govern the entire cosmos.
Dharma is the all-powerful, eternal, divine and supreme Laws of God that sustains and keep together all beings, creatures and creations. In the Hindu text; the Mahabharata has declared that anything which helps to foster unity and universal brotherhood is Dharma. That which brings about well-being and truth of man is Dharma.
In contrast, that which creates disorder, disharmony, vices, and hate is called ‘Adharma’.
Dharma also stands for that which holds up the existence of a thing. Everything in this world has its own Dharma, because it must rely on something for its existence. What is it upon which the existence of a thing depends? It is the essential nature of a thing without which it can never exist. The essential nature of a thing, therefore, is called its Dharma. For example, the Dharma of fire is the power of burning; the Dharma of man is to become divine and strive to become one with God, and so on.
So, it is clearly seen that Dharma brings happiness, love, peace and brotherly harmony, and immortality hereafter. Thus, the practice of Dharma therefore means recognition and obedience to the profound and divine Laws of God.