The Lucid study of Dharma - published in Satyadharmavani-2014

The Lucid Study of Dharma

DHARMA:
It is derived from Sanskrit word dhr which means to hold up, to bear, to carry, to sustain. It refers to force that upholds or sustains the universe. “Dharma Dharayatee Itee Dharma”. Dharma literally implies duty. If we follow Dharma, the force is bound to protect us.

Dharma also employs the meaning of law, religion, virtue and ethics. For example, parents protecting children, children being obedient to parents and the king protecting the citizens, people being grateful to king are acts of Dharma that are mandatory for the sustenance of society and its values.

SATYA –It refers to what is truly real and eternal. ‘Satya’ is a virtue of God and should be embodied in humans. It means being good, virtuous and chaste or ‘om tat sat’. Sat – Literally means trueness or realness.

SANATAN – It means always true, real true, permanently true. In Sanskrit, it means Saswat. There is nothing hidden beyond fact. For example, Sanatan Hindu Dharma is saswat, satya and eternal law.

HINDUISM:

This is the world’s third largest religion. The word Hindu is derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu - the river of Indus Valley region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. The word Hindu was first used by Arab invaders and it further defined by the Arabic term
al-Hind referring to the land of the people who live across river Indus and the Persian term Hindu referring to all Indians. By the 13th century, Hindustan emerged as a popular alternative name of India, meaning the "Land of Hindus". Hinduism also called Sanatan Dharma means "the eternal law” that sustains or upholds, amongst many other expressions. Hinduism includes a wide spectrum of laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on the notion of Karma, Dharma, and societal norms. The term Hinduism was introduced into the English Language in the 19th century to denote the religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions native to India. Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings.

BRAHMA:

Brahma (say-Brahman) is derived from Sanskrit word; Brah means to grow and to expand which signifies greatness of largeness. The word Man means infinite. (Brahman = Brah + Man). Brahma refers to the Supreme Principle regarded as impersonal and divested of all qualities. Brahma is the essence from which all created beings are produced and into which they are absorbed. This word is neuter and not to be confused with the masculine, the ‘creator God’. It becomes tranquil in spirit, free from grief and passions. Brahma neither gained by means of desire (kamana) nor by worshipping with expectation (kalpana). Brahma neither be origin nor be destruction. He has no Form and Shape. Even God does not know the Supreme Brahman who is the cause of all causes. He is changeless, formless, endless, beginning less, taintless, part less. Brahma is the sole cause of creation, preservation and destruction.

Endowed(capable) with a purified intellect, established in self-control, abandoning the life of the senses as also attachments and antagonisms; frequenting solitary places, reducing food to the minimum, having speech, body and mind under control, ever meditative, endued(award) with dispassion; abandoning conceit, violence, lust, anger and possessiveness; selfless and tranquil, he becomes fit for beatification in Brahma-consciousness.

Devoid of all qualities is the specific form of Brahma is known as Nirguna-Brahma. In contrast, Brahma invested with qualities is known as Saguna-Brahma. The whole Universe is created by Saguna Brahma but it has been governed by Nirguna Brahma. Param had developed by nirguna and Jiva by saguna brahma. Jiva and Param are two branches of a tree. Jiva is not free from birth cycle. It is bounded by karma and take birth again and again moving from one creature to another upto 84,00000 times, yoga after yoga. And Jiva searching for assistance of Prakriti invested with illusion of triguna- sattva, raja and tama. In Sanskrit Prakriti composed of three alphabets – pra, kri and ti. Pra refers to sattva guna whereas kri refers to raja guna and ti means tama guna

PROPOUND OF COSMOS:

God has created Male & Female to progress Universe i. e. Shristi or Sansar. These are the true real caste of the Universe. There was no caste system in ancient ages. As a whole if we go back in past, there were only two castes in this universe such as male and female. Except these two real castes, whatever may be made by the people as Brahamana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra all are according to their karma.

Male (Nara-Purusha): It means man or male. Purusha denotes the Supreme Male Principle in the universe. Its counterpart is prakriti.

Female (Nari-Mahila):  It means woman or female. In our society we have seen Female is substratum of painstaking, hardworking, caring, affectionate, good wishing etc.

Alternatively, Purusha is male and Prakriti is female. And the Purusha is not other than God, the Supreme of all.

PRAKRITI:

 It is material nature. Prakriti is comprised of eight elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space, Mind, Intellect, and Ego. Prakriti is characterized by three gunas such as (a) Sattva,
(b) Rajas and (c) Tamas

GUNA means positive attributes or virtues, quality. It means a thread or rope is tied into matter by the three gunas (tri-guna) of material nature.

Sattva Guna – It is characterized by lightness, peace, cleanliness, knowledge etc. and also sometimes goodness.

Raja Guna – It is characterized by action, passion, creation etc. and mainly as passion.

Tama Guna – It is characterized by darkness, ignorance, slowness, destruction, heaviness, disease etc. and mainly as darkness.

PURUSHARTHA (Goal of life). – The object which makes a man complete. There are four elements of Purushartha such as (a) Dharma, (b) Artha, (c) Kama and (d) Moksha.

Dharma (virtuous living) - The best way to think of dharma is to say “that which upholds or sustains the positive order of things: the nation, the community, the family and ultimately even the Universe”.

Artha (material prosperity) – Solely it means as material assets, but all kinds of wealth including non-tangibles such as knowledge, friendship and love.

Kama (aesthetic and erotic pleasure) – It means wish, desire and love. Often it is used in the sense of sexual desire or love but not necessarily.

Moksha (freedom from rebirth) – There is no hope of rebirth or death. One may not come into birth cycle. It means liberation from life-cycle.

VARNASHRAM – (Varna + Ashram):

Varna refers to four basic natures of mankind or four varnas of social systems, viz., (a) Brahman, (b) Kshatriya, (c) Vaishya and (d) Shudra. The word varna literally means ‘colour’.

Ashrams are the four stages of an individual’s life, viz., (a) Brahmacharya(Student),
(b) Grihastha(Householder), (c) Vanaprastha(Retired) and (d) Sannyasa(Renounced).

VARNAS:
Brahmana (Priest) – Literally the word Brahmana means ‘in relation to Brahma’, who knows about ‘brahma’. Traditionally, a Brahman often written as Brahmin does the duty of priest, teacher and philosopher. The Brahman was the first of the four varnas in the social system called Varnashram-Dharma. Austerity, purity, knowledge, insight, straight-forwardness, control of senses, serenity and faith in the Supreme Being- these are the duties of Brahman’s born of his own nature.

Kshatriya (Warrior) – The area or kshetra holds by someone such as a king or prince. A member of the traditional military or warrior class is known as Kshatriya. The Kshatriya was the second varna in the system of Varnashrama-Dharma. A kshatriya’s duties born of his nature as courageousness, resourcefulness, dauntlessness in battle, generosity, leadership, prowess, splendor of personality.

Vaishya (Merchant) – Literally it means merchant. Vaishya is a member of the traditional mercantile or business community. The Vaishya was the third varna in the system of Varnasharma-Dharma. Trade, cattle-rearing, agriculture forms the duty of the Vaishya springing from his self nature.

Shudra (Helper) – They provide service to all the people in the society according to their professions. Shudra is a member of the traditional working/servicing class. The natural duty of a Shudra consists in subordinate service under others. The Shudra was the fourth varna in the system of Varnashrama-Dharma.

ASHRAMS:

Brahmacharya (Pupil) – The period which starts before the age of puberty and it refers to an educational period of 14–20 years. During this time, the traditional Vedic sciences are studied, along with the religious texts contained within the Vedas and Upanishads. This stage of life was characterized by the practice of strict celibacy or spiritual practice.

Grihastha (Householder) – Grihastha refers to the second phase of an individual's life in the Vedic ashram system. It is often called 'the householder’s life revolving as it does around the duties of maintaining a household and leading a family-oriented life.

Vanaprastha (Retired) – It is a person who is living in the forest as a hermit after partially giving up material desires when a person is between the ages of 50-74. In this phase of life, the person is retired from worldly life.

Sannyasa (Renounced) – In Sanskrit, it means "renunciation" or "abandonment". It is compound of three words as sam has "collective" meaning, ni - means "down" and asa meaning "to throw" or "to put", so a literal translation would be "laying it all down". Particularly renunciation of the world and material affairs and the assumption of the path leading to mystic knowledge are known as Sannyasa.

VEDA:

The Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization, and the most sacred books of India. “Veda” means wisdom, knowledge or vision, and it manifests the language of the Gods in human speech. The laws of the Vedas regulate the social, legal, domestic and religious customs of the Hindus to the present day. All the obligatory duties of the Hindus at birth, marriage, death etc. owe their allegiance to the Vedic ritual. They draw forth the thought of successive generation of thinkers, and so contain within it the different strata of thought. The Vedas were mainly compiled by Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana around the time of Lord Krishna (1500 BC). Some believe it is also compiled by Veda Vyasa.

There are four types Vedas such as-

The Rig Veda: The Book of Mantra – It is the oldest and the most important of the Vedas and it contains prayers of Gods Vayu, Varun, Indra and Agni. The Rig Veda accounts in detail the social, religious, political and economic background of the Rig-Vedic civilization. The Rig-Vedic ‘samhita’ or collection of mantras consists of 1,017 hymns or ‘suktas’, covering about 10,600 stanzas, divided into eight ‘astakas’ each having eight ‘adhayayas’ or chapters, which are sub-divided into various groups. The hymns are the work of many ‘Rishis’. There are seven primary Rishis identified: Atri, Kanwa, Vashistha, Vishwamitra, Jamadagni, Gotama and Bharadwaja.

The Sama Veda: The Book of Song – It deals with theory of music. If the Rig Veda is the word, Sama Veda is the song or the meaning, if Rig Veda is the knowledge, Sama Veda is its realization and if Rig Veda is the wife, the Sama Veda is her husband.

The Yajur Veda: The Book of Ritual – It describes formulae, sacrifices and rituals. There are no less than six complete recessions of Yajur Veda - Madyandina, Kanva, Taittiriya, Kathaka, Maitrayani and Kapishthala. 

The Atharva Veda: The Book of Spell – The Atharva Veda consists of spells and charms prevalent at its time, and portrays a clearer picture of the Vedic society. It deals with medicines.

Each Veda consists of four parts –

1. The Samhitas (hymns), the collection of mantras or hymns is called the Samhita.
2. The Brahmanas (rituals), the Brahmanas are ritualistic texts and include precepts and religious duties. Each Veda has several Brahmanas attached to it.
3. The Aranyakas (theologies) and
4. The Upanishads (philosophies). The Upanishads form the concluding portions of the Veda and therefore called the “Vedanta”.

VEDANTA:

The proper understanding of the Vedic teachings is called knowledge of Vedanta.Veda means knowledge and anta means the end. Vedanta is a form of Hindu theology based on the combined interpretations of three sacred sources such as, (i) Upanishads, (ii) Bhagavad Gita and (iii) Vedanta Sutra.

There are three distinct interpretations of Vedanta based on the writings of

1. Shankara Acharya (788-820 CE) – Advaitya Vedanta
2. Ramanuja Acharya (1017-1137 AD) – Vishishtha Advaitya Vedanta
3. Madhava Acharya (1238-1317 AD) – Dvaitya Vedanta

These three great teachers should be placed at par with Aristotle, Socrates and Plato.

Above all Shankara Acharya the most ancient theologian of the three has an interpretation called Advaitya, non-duality, which asserts that nature of reality is not dual, but oneness. According to Shankar there is only one ultimate ‘thing’ in existence, namely God. According to him if everything is ultimately God, then why do we not know this? We certainly do not feel like we are God, nor anything in front of us seem to be God. Answer to this question is; everything is God, but the reason we do not perceive this fact is because our ‘seeing’ ability is obscured by illusion (Maya) due to ignorance. If we remove this illusion through knowledge and we will perceive that all things are God; hence it is Advaitya (non-duality).

4. Brahmabdhut Biswanatha Baba – Non-Dualistic Vedanta (Bisuddha Advaityabad)

Next to Sankara, Brahmabadhut Biswanath Baba has established the non-dualistic philosophy of Mahima Dharma based on integration of the principles laid down by Mahima Swami. According to Biswanath Baba Parambrahma is the quintessence of all Vedas and Upanishads.

According to philosophy of Mahima Dharma one Second less, Unwritten Mahima Alekha Brahma is the substitute of the entire universe. So far as the word MAHIMA is nothing but BRAHMA. The whole creation has emanated from Mahima itself. Brahma in another way says “Guru Brahma Mahima Alekha Swami”. Hence Brahma Himself is Mahima.

GLOSSARY

Atma – In Sanskrit, it has many more meanings as soul, breath, the self, one’s self, mind, body, the Supreme Soul etc.

Adharma – It is the opposite of Dharma. Most of the time, we use it in the sense of unrighteousness, impiety or non-performance of duty.

Asat – The opposite of sat, non-being, impermanent, false, evil, unreal, sometimes used to refer to matter or to the body.

Bhagavad Gita – It is also one of the most sacred books of Hinduism. It is based on the conversation between Srikrishna and Arjuna about dharma the social, religious, political and economical way of living beings in detail. It brings great reform in Indian culture/ Bharatiya Sanskruti.

Bhakti – (Bhaya + Karma + Tattua). It means love, devotion which is one of the most common forms of yoga. One who does the practice of bhakti physically or mentally and solely devoted to Paramatma is known as Bhakta. There are four types of bhaktas such as Arta, Jingansu, Arthathi, Jnani.

Bhagaban – Literally one possessed of bhaga. Bhaga means fame, glory, strength, power, etc. The word is used as an epithet applied to God, or any holy or venerable personality. Bhagaban, means the Supreme Personality.

God – Hinduism has no one word ‘God’ as English does. Instead it has many words each one of which describes a certain understanding of God. Sanskrit is the language of theology and so there are many words for God.
Here are a few terms which represent to God as-

 Mahim Alekha Swami – The Great Lord            Brahman – God as impersonal force or energy

Isha - God as Supreme Lord or Controller         Paramatma - God as Supreme Man                   

Sat – Supreme Permanence                                Chit – Supreme Consciousness          
Ananda – Supreme Bliss                                     Satya – Supreme Truth 
Tattva –  Absolute Truth                                     Eka – the One    
Asamapta - Unfinished                                       Alekha – Unwritten

Asadharan – Uncommon                                   Ashrant – Untired

Ashima – Unbounded                                        Ananumeya – Unimaginary

Anindaniya – Unimpeachable                            Arupa – Invisible

Agamya – Inaccessible                                      Arindam – Victorious

Adamya – Indomitable                                      Abyakta – Indescribable

Abinashi – Imortal                                            Aaradhya – Adorable

Akrutima – Inartificial                                       Adahya – Incombustible

Anupam – Incomparable                                   Atyutkrustha – Exquisite

Abhibhajya – Inseparable                                 Advaitya – Non-duality  

“Sunyvashi, Sunyapurusha, Sunybrahma”

Jnana – It is derived from the Sanskrit word jna means to Know, to Lear, to Experience. It is generally used in the sense of spiritual knowledge or awareness in according to Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads.

Karma – It is derived from Sanskrit word kr meaning to do, to make. The word karma means action, work, and deed. Secondarily, it means result of past deeds or fruit of action.

Prarbdha Karma – It means past deeds by which man has taken birth according to his past activities.

Papa – It is the opposite of punya. Literally it means what brings one down. Sometimes it translated as sin or evil.

Punya – It is what elevates, it is virtue or moral merit. Punya leads to happiness that means stay with para whereas papa leads to suffering means stay with apara. Papa (para) and Punya (apara) are two brothers of Prakriti (nature).

Paramatma – HE is the Absolute atma or Supreme soul or Spirit in the Vedanta and Yoga philosophies of India. Paramatma is one of the aspects of Brahman. Paramatma is situated at the core of every individual jiva.

Purusottam – It is comprised of two words purusha and uttam literally meaning ‘highest man’ means God.

Religion establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and sometimes, to moral values. This is a collection of sanskruti (cultural systems), biswas (belief) and Universality.

Sada Repu – Lust-Kama, Anger-Krodha, Covetousness-Lobha, Pride-Garba, Conceit-Ahankar, Hate-Ghruna

Siddhi – From whom all beings have emanated and by whom all this universe is pervaded by self realizing/worshipping Him through the dedicated performance of one’s duty, man attains to spiritual competency that is called siddhi.

Tyaga – The performance of actions without attachment to the results of action. It means renunciation, abandonment.

Upanishads - These are the foundation stones of Indian Philosophy and are 108 in number.

Vedanta Sutra -Veda refers to knowledge and anta means the end. Sutra is a statement that expresses the essence of knowledge in a few words. Vedanta Sutra are also known as Nyaya-Prasthana or fully logical arguments towards conclusive understanding of Sruti-prasthana, the Upanisads. 

Vijnana – It is practical or profane knowledge. It is derived from the prefix vi added to the noun jnana which means “vishes jnana” that is called vijnana.

YOGA – Yoga the joining of the atma with the Paramatma, the soul with the God. In Sanskrit, yuj means to join, to unite and to attach. In English, yoke is cognate with the Sanskrit word yoga. A practitioner of yoga is known as Yogi. There are numerous means of joining with God:

Karma-yoga - through action               

Jnana-yoga - through knowledge

Bhakti-yoga - through devotion                       

Dhyana-yoga - through meditation

Sannyas-yoga - through renunciation