More often than not people understand the word “Dharma” as “religion.”
There are many reasons for such (mis)understanding that include education
system. Nevertheless, one can probe further in to the original purport of this
word, if they wish to do so!
This piece of writing is one such attempt and tries to
present the intended meaning of “Dharma.”
Before I venture in to the explanation of the word Dharma, I
wish to mention to the readers that the ancient Indian thinkers have advised
their successors to develop a skill called “coordination” or “consequential thinking”
while exerting to read and understand the philosophical contents. Veda Vyasa
called this as “Samanvayat” in one of his Brahma Sutra (तत् समन्वयात्)
Dharma – Its Meaning
& Need
Sage Manu who was also a King says that:
“धर्म ऎव हतॊ
हंति धर्मॊ
रक्षति रक्षितः”
Meaning: If one tries to harm Dharma it harms that person and if one protects
Dharma it protects him.
Hence it becomes imperative for the wise people to uphold
Dharma at all times.
But what is this Dharma?
Shri Krishna in Bhagavadgita says that:
श्रॆयान् स्वधर्मॊ विगुणः
परधर्मात्वनुष्टितात्।
स्वधर्मॆ निधनं श्रॆयः
परधर्मॊ भयावहः॥
Krishna classifies Dharma as (1)Sva Dharma – One’s own
Dharma and (2) Para Dharma – Other Dharm (or other than own Dharma). He also
lets us to know that own Dharma is better than the Dharma of others. He
clarifies that the one’s own Dharma is safer though it looks ugly but the
Dharma of others though looks beautiful may become brutal.
From the above we can understand that Dharma is something
that comes naturally to a person owing to his/her place, time & character.
This Dharma may remain standardized throughout the lifespan of a person and this
is how “Sva Dharma” or one’s own dharma comes in to the picture.
Likewise, a whole community may have its own “Sva Dharma” in
the form of common habits/interests, beliefs, practices and lifestyle.
Similarly, a nation can become a home for multiple communities built upon their
unique “Sva Dharmas” which in turn would have individuals having their own “Sva
Dharmas.”
The bottom line is
that these Sva Dharmas need not to be ‘great’ or ‘majestic’ or ‘common-to-all’
type.
Krishna says that “let each Sva Dharma live its own life
till it wishes to modify itself.” He opines that by forcing “Para Dharma” on “Sva
Dharma” creates ‘fear’ and such ‘fear’ can lead to further complications. “So”,
says Krishna, “let the Sva Dharma be there!”
Here the bottom line
is that every single Sva Dharma should not harm other Sva Dharma just because
the other Dharma is looking drab or ugly! Thus, Godhead Shri Krishna puts
emphasis on “Dharma Nirapeksha” i.e. ‘being unperutrbed by the Dharma of
others.”
Example for Sva
Dharma:
Ancient thinkers of Bharat thought that the philosophical
aspects can be best explained with examples. Thus came Puranas & Ithihasas
which depict the types of Dharmas and the conflicts between them.
Let me pick up an example to illustrate the
Dharma Rakshana (Protection of Dharma) suggested by Manu and the need of
adhering to Sva Dharma as preached by Krishna in Bhagavadgita.
There is this shloka widely publicised wherein Rama tells to Lakshmana who was gazing at the
beautiful Lanka city built with gold:
अपि स्वर्णमयीं लंका
न मॆ
रॊचसि लक्षणा|
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि
गरीयसि॥
“Lakshmana! Though this Lanka city is full of gold but it
does not light me up. For me, my mother and mother land are greater than the
heaven!”
Here Rama tells Lakshmana that a precious metal like gold is
inferior to heaven which is inferior to his mother who in turn inferior to his
mother land.
This is the perfect example that I could quote for ‘Sva
Dharma.’ Lord Rama believes that it is the duty of every human being to revere
his/her parents and the land that has supported them to lead the life. Rama
refutes to yield to the glitters of Lanka’s gold which is Para Dharma to him.
Rama wished to embrace death in his battle with Ravana than yielding to the
wealth and pomp of the latter.
Let us also take the cue from this that Dharma has got
nothing to do with ‘religion’ or ‘religious beliefs’ but it is a matter of
practicality that has a universal applicability.
Let me take you back to Rama’s words. Who on this earth wish
to disrespect their parents? Does religion stop any one from honouring their
mother or father for their love and care? Can an American say that what Rama
told is inapplicable to him?
So, the words of Rama and the stories of Ramayana are not of
religious angle alone. They carry the element of humanitarianism and mutual
respect to one & all.
The need of the
Hour:
Today there is an urgent need for every one of us to think
deeply about “Dharma” taught by the ancient thinkers from Bharat.
Dharmik
values must be embedded in our minds & actions. If Islamic State wants to erase
other Dharmas from the face of the earth they must realize that the same Dharma
can destroy them and it can destroy without wielding arms.
I have read about some young Indian muslims wishing to join
IS gangs. I request such youngsters to widen the horizons of their mental
faculties and give some deep thought about Sva Dharma & Para Dharma. For
them, ‘Sva Dharma’ lies not in joining IS but to serve their parents and the
homeland. For them, the foremost ‘Sva Dharma’ is to help other fellow
unemployed youth to abstain from choosing wrong paths.
If one can remove that superimposed dogma of ‘religion’ from
‘Dharma’ their vision becomes clear and that clarity shall help them to choose
the right path.
||Shantihi||
