understanding 'dharma'

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hello,

 

i have written this piece for my website. i would appreciate your

comments, if any.

 

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dinker

 

http://www.dinkercharak.com/hindu/dharma.htm

 

understanding 'dharma'

======================

 

Introduction

 

Dharma broadly refers to a universal value system. The word 'dharma'

is derived from 'dhr', which means support or to sustain. Thus the

meaning of the word is - that which supports. However, with time and

after much evolution of this system, it now conveys a sense of duty

and responsibility, which is based on virtues.

 

The concept of dharma comes to us from various Dharamasastras that

were written by many sages at different times. Hindus do not

consider these Sastras as the final and binding word on ones dharma.

In fact, as these Sastras were written over a long period, each one

builds on the previous ones or elaborates on one aspect of dharma or

the other. These sages have always held that the society is always

free to accept, modify or reject their views, which the Hindus have!

 

Dharma has three broad aspects:

 

* Aacara

* Vyavahara

* Prayaschitta

 

Aacara

 

Aacara talks about the cleanliness and purity of both body and mind

in physical manner and in ceremonial manner. Without abiding by this

dharma, one cannot attain abhyudaya (worldly progress) or nissreyasa

(spiritual wellbeing).

 

Thus, there are two kinds of aacaras: sad-acara (good conduct) and

dur-acara (bad conduct).

 

The sad-acara includes the sat-karmas (six daily rituals). These are:

 

* Snana & Sandhya (bath and Morning Rituals)

* Japa (chanting or repetition of Mantras or name of God)

* Homa (making offering to sacred fire)

* Devapuja (worshiping gods)

* Aatithya (taking care of the guests)

* Vaisvadeva (offering food cooked to gods)

 

The sad-acara also includes sodasa-samskaras (sixteen sacraments

during ones life). The important ones are:

 

* Upanayana (the sacred thread ceremony or the yajnopavita during

with the gayatri Mantra is imparted)

* Vivaha (marriage)

* Antyeshti (cremation and other rituals)

 

The sad-acara also includes living ones life in accordance to the

varna-ashrama-dharma. The four ashrams are:

 

* Brahmacharya (studentship, spiritual disciplines maintaining

chastity with all focus on gathering knowledge)

* Grihastha (married state of a householder)

* Vanaprastha (retirement and living with detachment as an

anchorite with or without the spouse in a secluded place or 'forest')

* Sannyasa (renunciate living alone as a monk or nun)

 

The varna aspects differs as per our position, place and use in the

society. Each person who belongs to one varna or the other has to

abide by the duties. As a computer programmer, it is my dharma to

deliver my output in accordance to expectations in terms of time,

efficiency and quality!

 

Another Sad-acara is Tarpana. The symbolic or ceremonial offering of

water with appropriate mantra to devas (gods), rishis (sages) and

pitrs (souls of the ones who have died).

 

Vyavahara

 

Vyavahara refers to ones conduct. In some Dharamasastras, there is

more of legal discussion on this, laying out civil and criminal laws

to define ones vyavahara. There are around eighteen aspects:

 

* Rinadana (debts)

* Sambhuya-samutthana (partnership)

* Samvid-vyatikarma (breach of promise or contract)

* Kraya-vikraya (purchase and sale)

* Svami-pala-vivada (dispute between employer and employee)

* Simavivada (boundary disputes)

* Dandaparusya (assault)

* Vakarusya (libel)

* Steya (theft)

* Strisangrahana (abduction of women)

* Stripumdharma (relation between husband and wife)

* Vibhaga (partition)

 

Prayaschitta

 

Humans will always make mistakes. Nevertheless, one has to remedy

and reform. This means one has to repent, resolve not to repeat the

mistake and under go penance to get over the guilt and guilty

feeling.

 

Thus, if one commits a paapa (sin) one has to commit prayaschitta

(expiation or penance to get over the guilt and guilty feeling).

 

The prayaschitta depends on the paapa. The paapas are categorized

into two:

 

* Mahapatakas

* Upapatakas

 

Mahapatakas include brahmahatya (killing a person of knowledge -

bhramana), surapana (drinking wine and other intoxicating liquids -

and given the advent modern times and a hindus right to modify

specifics for oneself, I add smoking and taking intoxicating and

mind/mood altering drugs to this) and incest.

 

Upapatakas include forsaking sacred fire, offending ones Guru (Vedic

teacher, mentor), thefts, nonpayment of debts, selling prohibited

articles, cutting down trees or killing harmless animals.

 

Prayaschitta include tapas (austerities) like fasting, japa)

chanting or repetition of Mantras or name of God), daana (giving

away gifts, charity or donations), pilgrimage, etc.

 

In Brief

 

The Dharamasastras recognize the importance of physical wellbeing.

Our health, strength and energy are important for any achievement in

life. Thus, they advise us to stay in best of health.

 

Equal importance is given to cultivations of values. These values

include samanya-dharma (universal principles), self-control, decent

and dignified behaviour to men and women, honesty, earn livelihood

in right way, performing ones duty at work, to the family and the

society, not harm others, keep environment clean and not abuse

nature, study and listen to works of sages, austerity and work

towards self-realization.

 

List of Dharamasastras

 

Some of these texts are believed to be as old as 450-300 BC and as

latest as 1600 AD. Some of them:

 

Dharmasutras -

 

Apastamba

Ausanasa

Baudhayana

Gautama

Harita

Hiranyakesi

Vaikhanasa

Vasistha

Vishnu

 

Smritis -

 

Angirasa

Atri

Brahaspati

Brhat-Parasara

Daksha

Devala

Gobhila

Katyayana

Manu

Narada

Parasara

Samvarta

Vyasa

Yajnavalkya

Yama

 

Nibandhas -

 

Caturvargacintamani

Kalpataru

Nirnayasindhu

Smrticandrika

Smrtikaustubha

Smrtiratnakara

Smrtitattva

Viramitrodaya