Dharma and Adharma

Dharma is not just religion. Unfortunately, many Indians and Hindus use the word in that limited sense. They refer to other non-Hindu religions as Christian dharma, Islam dharma and so on. Thus the sanAtana Hindu dharma also is counted as one among the many dharmas. Some people go to the extent that Hinduism is not a religion or Dharma at all. Both are incorrect.

The Manusmrithi mandates - "Vedo akhilo Dharma moolam, Adharmastad viparyayaha". That means Vedas are the root of all Dharma and Adharma is that which is opposed to it. So all other non-Vedic or non-Hindu religions like Christianity and Islam are not Dharma but that which is opposed to it Or Adharma. They could be considered as a mata or view which is limited as opposed to the unlimited Vedic ideal or reality of Dharma.

Dharma is a Sanskrit word and the etymology - "dhAryate iti dharmah" - defines Dharma as "that which sustains". Primarily, it refers to one's own duty performed as a Yagya or sacrifice or service onto the Vedic God manifesting in the form of society/nation/universe. So this cannot be anything other than sanAtana or eternal Hindu religion only. 

What sustains the world is this Eternal or SanAtana Dharma which in simple words is selfless service performed according to one's varna and ashrama - which again translates to one's capability, capacity and constitutional position in the family, society, nation and the universe. 

Many people say that Hindu dharma is not a religion and it is just a way of life. This is absurd as religion gives dos and don'ts which when followed becomes one's way of life. Vedic scripture clearly defines what is Dharma (dos) and a-Dharma (don'ts) and urges all humans to engage in Dharma. In fact every responsible human, whatever may be his or her beliefs or world view, is fundamentally Hindu/Vedic/DhArmic, as long as He or she is engaging in self-service that sustains the world.

The Supreme Vedic Hindu God, Brahman or Sarveshwara is also called Dharma, as He is the very embodiment of Truth and Dharma. The entire universe is Him and through every entity in nature, He is practicing and teaching sanAtana dharma. Every entity in nature like earth, air, water and so on are engaged in discharging their respective duty unconditionally, as a service to others. 

This Vedic God in the form of the universal spirit Self, sacrifices or divides himself mysteriously in order to create/sustain the world and finally appropriates everything into himself. The world of name/form/variety arises, remains and returns back to Him only. As He pervades, sustains and controls everything just like the spirit Self pervades, sustains and controls the body, He is aptly called Dharma. As He is everywhere, obviously He is One without a second. So philosophically Vedic Hindu God alone exists in the form of Dharma. All the many gods/religions coming under the Vedic Hindu umbrella are thus an integral part of the Supreme Vedic God Brahman who is an embodiment of Dharma.

There are many truths / elements in the world on which we depend for our existence and the one absolute Hindu God Brahman/Ishwara indwelling in all of them and so Hindus worship all of them in the form many devatas or gods. All other non-Vedic-Hindu religions obviously are opposed to this Vedic view of many gods or devatas who are integral part of the all pervading supreme Brahman. Could that be one of the reason why non-Hindu Semitic religions are called Abrahamic (or A-BrAhmic) religions? 

Whatever it is, the word Dharma is uniquely Vedic or Hindu and is not found in any other religions. So Vedic Hindu religion alone gets to be called as Dharma as it is eternal, universal and unconditional. Vedic God in the form the universe is Dharma personified as He sustains every being unconditionally. All other religions are simply untrue or ADharma as they are conditional, divisive, limited and whatever good things they have is borrowed from the universal Vedic Sanatana Dharma. 

Namaste

Suresh