Dharm

Dharm is the first of the four fundamental pursuits of life in Hinduism. It is a religious merit that is supposed to takes care of the ultimate physical and spiritual well-being of a person, both the body and soul, in this life and after death. It is earned through acts of goodness as opposed to Adharm a deadly religious demerit that is returned upon the person who commits evil or sin to be ultimately condemned to suffer physically and spiritually. Dharm is therefore a term used to denote the act of all goodness and justice.

This term is also often used in place of other words such as religion, faith, justice, duty, righteousness, property, attribute etc. However, the term in all its meanings includes these words, but not limited to those words only, but transcends to the ultimate goodness.

The origin of the word is perhaps as old as human civilization if we take into consideration the deep sense of requirment of justice for all living beings. We have always been thinking in these terms and in due course of time evolved many systems of Dharm in various names. We are yet to achieve any perfect system that can agreeable to all. Therefore, it is obvious that many systems are bound to evolve in future, in the name of Dharm or religion.

Mythological era in India was a concrete stage to have developed one of such a system that still exists, and which is the oldest one. People thought of justice and propagated special mythological stories to drive home the concept of Dharm. It is derived chiefly from the two mythological characters whose names were Dharm - the one the justice of the living being, and the other justice of the dead.

It can be allegorically understood through their stories. One Dharm was son of Brahma the god of creation. He was born from the chest of Brahma. He was personification of goodness, as opposed to Adharm who was injustice personified.

Dharm or Dharmdev became justice for the living being and a Prajapati. He was married to ten daughters of Daksh Prajapati. Their names were Buddhi, Dhriti, Kirti, Kriya, Lajja, Lakshmi, Mati, Pushti, Shraddha and Medha. He had several sons. Niyam was his son from his wife Dhriti. He has three sons by his wife Kriya, named Dand, Nay and Vinay. Kam was his son by his wife Shraddha. Dharm has also another wife Dharmvrata.

Dharm is also a name of Yama (literally control of the self for moral conduct), also called Yamraj, the justice of the dead. He is the twin brother of Yami. He was the son of Surya, the sun god. He is married to Dhumorna. He has a daughter Sunita and a son Katila.

The path of Dharm
What these two Dharm aimed at was the path to justice, both for living beings and for the deads. Therefore, the path of justice become the path of Dharm. Since, justice for all is the highest aim of Dharm, it naturally became the essence of Dharm. In other words, the sense of justice is the primary requisite of Dharm. A Dharm ceases to be a dharm when the path diverts from justice or its course.

The ideal concept
Dharm thus becomes the ideal concept which the human civilization needs to achieve. Since there is a limitation of mind, and civilization is a continuous process, we are yet to achieve Dharm in its absoluteness. We have always been trying, and this journey will go on. It is due to this reason many paths evolved in course of time which we call religions. We have only succeeded up to certain extent.

The function of Dharm
Dharm, in Hinduism, is to be observed in all our pursuits for Arth (wealth) and Kama (desire and passion), so that all the three pursuits may lead to the fourth, that is Moksh or Salvation.

Nearby pages
Dharm the epithet, Dharm the Prajapati, Dharma, Dharmad, Dharmadam Vidhan Sabha Constituency