dharma
Sign in to saveDharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term dharma does not have a single, clear translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit dhr-, meaning to hold or to support, thus referring to the law that sustains things—from one's life to society, and to the Universe at large. In its most commonly used sense, dharma refers to an individual's moral responsibilities or duties; the dharma of a farmer differs from the dharma of a soldier, thus making the concept of dharma dynamic. As with the other components of the Puruṣārtha, the concept
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Dharma is a foundational concept in Indian religions that refers to the moral duties and responsibilities that individuals have based on their role in society, derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "to hold or support." It matters because it represents the laws and principles believed to sustain not just individual lives and society, but the universe itself.
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Article
30 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Definition
- History
- Eusebeia and dharma
- Rta, maya and dharma
- Jainism
- ''Dharmāstikāya''
- Hinduism
- In Vedas and Upanishads
- Dharma and Mimamsa
- In the Epics
- According to 4th-century Vatsyayana
- According to Patanjali Yoga
- Sources
- Dharma, life stages and social stratification
- Dharma and poverty
- Dharma and law
- Buddhism
- Buddha's teachings
- Chan Buddhism
- Theravada Buddhism
- Sikhism
- In Sangam literature
- Dharma in symbols
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
- Further reading
- External links
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term dharma does not have a single, clear translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit dhr-, meaning to hold or to support, thus referring to the law that sustains things—from one's life to society, and to the Universe at large. In its most commonly used sense, dharma refers to an individual's moral responsibilities or duties; the dharma of a farmer differs from the dharma of a soldier, thus making the concept of dharma dynamic. As with the other components of the Puruṣārtha, the concept of dharma is pan-Indian. The antonym of dharma is adharma.
In Hinduism, dharma denotes behaviour that is considered to be in accord with Ṛta—the "order and custom" that makes life and universe possible. This includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues, and ethics to form the "righteous way of living". Dharma is believed to have a transtemporal validity, and is one of the Puruṣārtha. The concept of dharma was in use in the historical Vedic religion (1500–500 BCE), and its meaning and conceptual scope has evolved over several millennia.