“Mera Dharm mein asisa nahi hai” this is the phrase normally a person uses to showcase the superiority of the religion he believes. But I always wonder if the word used there “Dharm” is different to different people like Hindu Dharm, Muslman Dharm, Isai Dharm, Sikh Dharm…and so on. As I understand there is no separate Dharma while we stupidly or for our convenience use that word and get confused as well as create confusion.
For animals there is one Dharma it is called in modern world “Survival of the Fittest” this is explained in Vishnupurana as “Matsyanyaya” (Maxim of Fish) a big fish gulps down a small fish, meaning the powerful overpowers the weak. Vaivasvata Manu was an ardent devotee of Maha Vishnu. Once he went to a river to perform Sandhyavandana, when he cupped both his palms and lifted the water to give arghya (ablution) a little fish came into that puddle. Manu put it in a pot, which it soon outgrew. Then he moved it to a pond, a lake and then finally to the ocean. The efforts to save the fish pleased Maha Vishnu who was in the guise of that fish. He told Manu about the deluge that is to occur within seven day destroying the entire universe. Hence Maha Vishnu asks Manu to collect all medicinal herbs, all the varieties of seeds, and all humans, animals, reptiles and birds board a boat. Now the attempt made to save the small fish by Manu saved the entire community. This is Dharma, the whole concept of helping the righteous irrespective of the status. Following the path that benefits the society is Dharma.
So is Dharma a kind of rule or principle???
We believe that the pleasant events unfurling in this universe is because Dharma is upheld by its inhabitants. Let us understand the concept of Dharma by the help of the two incarnations of Maha Vishnu.
Shri Rama, the seventh incarnation of Maha Vishnu is adored not just because He killed Ravana but for His ideology. His era which is Tretayuga is known as Rama Rajya which is synonym to the ideal empire and He is Maryada Purshottama meaning ideal man. He was an ideal son, brother, husband, master, friend and also rival. He followed all the rules and principles a king should follow.
Sri Krishna, the eight incarnation of Maha Vishnu is known for breaking rules or if I can put it more appropriately, for bending rules. Dwaparayuga the time when Sri Krishna incarnated was more corrupt than that of earlier yugas. Sri Krishna had to bend the rules to protect the interests of Pandavas. Kauravas very tactfully used Dharma to their convenience and harassed their cousins. So Sri Krishna had to bend rules be while supplying the endless saree to Draupadi or the solar eclipse created to kill Jayadratha or His immaculate plan to make the thighs of Duryodhana venerable for Bhima to attack there.
Dharma is the action with right spirit and not just the right action. Dharma is about helping the righteous to make the society a better place to live. Making rules or following rules, does not benefit society. It is the intention of doing the right thing makes the world a better place to live.......what say???
No comments:
Post a Comment