World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 555

Dharma :
Dharma is derived from the root word 'dhr' which means to uphold' or to sustain, (dharayati iti dharma) or (dhriyate anena iti dharma). Thus it is that which upholds or sustains a thing or Being. Ontologically it refers to Rta (cosmic order). In different contexts it refers to satya, custom, culture, virtue etc. In Indian tradition dharma' as a virtue, in the scheme of purusartha acts as the controller of 'kāma' and 'artha' for the attainment of moksa. Manu defines dharma in terms often virtues (1). Similar description is also found in Vishnu stuti where dharma is explained in terms of twelve attributes.(2)
We find dharma performs two functions i.e. primary and secondary. In its primary function dharma seeks to release and redempt man from world process is liberation by self-realisation. But secondarily dharma' can not but imply certain sacraments or duties incumbent upon men in their mutual relation with reference to the affairs of the world. Such duties mainly consist of what are called moral duties and moral obligations. Thus we find a close relation between religion and morality.
Dharma and Religion :
Religion is not the proper synonym of dharma claim the oriental philosophers for which they make a distinction between dharma and religion on the ground that dharma is ethico-centric but religion is mostly theo-centric. Morality is the defining characteristic of dharma and thus value centric. Religion is value neutral.
But such a distinction between dharma and religion falls flat if we analyse the concepts going deep to their root. For this purpose let us concentrate upon certain important definitions of religion.
Webster New World Dictionary defines religion as "belief in a divine or supreme human power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creation(s) and ruler(s) of the universe and expression of this belief in conduct and rituals”.(3) Similarly the comprehensive dictionary of psychological and psychoanalytical terms defines religion a "a system of beliefs by means of which individual or community put themselves in relation to God or to a super natural world and often to each others and from which the religios person derives a set of values by which to judge evenly in the natural world”. (4) For Gandhi religion is the true and sincere pursuit of the Reality. He defines “It is not Hindu religion... but the religion which transcends Hinduism, which changes one's very nature, which binds one indissolubly to the truth within and which ever purifies. It is the permanent element in human nature which counts no cost too great in order to find full expression and which leaves the soul utterly
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