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Dharmic religions are a family of religions which originated in the Indian subcontinent. They encompass the Vedic religion (now Hinduism), Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.^[1][2] Dharmic religions are one of the three major schools of religion in the world, the others being Abrahamic religions and Taoic religions. The theology and philosophy of Dharmic religions center on the concept of Dharma, a Sanskrit term for "fixed decree, law, duty", especially in a spiritual sense of "natural law, reality". "for free, alms" in Tamil. It is mostly influential across the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and South East Asia, with lesser influence felt throughout the world. These Dharmic religions are very closely interrelated. Image File history File links Abraham_Dharma. ... Image File history File links Abraham_Dharma. ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... This article is under construction. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... map showing the prevalence of Dharmic (dark yellow), Taoic (light yellow), and Abrahamic (purple) religions in each country. ...   (Sanskrit) (Devnagari: धर्म) or Dhamma (Pali) is the underlying order in nature and human life and behaviour considered to be in accord with that order. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ...

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism

Hinduism (Devanagari: हिन्दू धर्म – Hindū Dharma or सनातन धर्म – Sanātana Dharma or the eternal dharma) is considered to be the oldest living religion in the world.^[3][4] Having its foundation in the Vedic religion of the Vedic civilization which dates back to at least 2,500 BCE, Hinduism has no single founder^[5][6] and is based on a number of religious texts developed over many centuries which contain spiritual insights and practical guidance for religious life. Among such texts, the four Vedas, namely Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda are the most ancient. Other scriptures include the eighteen Puranas and the epic poems Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Bhagavad Gita, which is contained within the Mahabharata, is a widely studied scripture which is believed to summarize the spiritual teachings of the Vedas.^[7] Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Rigveda manuscript in Devanagari (early 19th century) DevanāgarÄ« (देवनागरी — in English pronounced ) (ISCII – IS13194:1991) [1] is an abugida alphabet used to write several Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Bihari, Bhili, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Nepali from Nepal. ... The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Vedas are part of the Hindu Shruti; these religious scriptures form part of the core of the Brahminical and Vedic traditions within Hinduism and are the inspirational, metaphysical and mythological foundation for later Vedanta, Yoga, Tantra and even Bhakti forms of Hinduism. ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... The Sama Veda (सामवेद), or Veda of Holy Songs, is third in the usual order of enumeration of the four Vedas, the ancient core Hindu scriptures. ... The Yajur Veda यजुर्वेद is one of the four Hindu Vedas; it contains religious texts focussing on liturgy and ritual. ... The Atharva Veda is a sacred text of Hinduism, part of the four books of the Vedas. ... Purana (Sanskrit: , meaning tales of ancient times) is the name of an ancient Indian genre (or a group of related genres) of Hindu or Jain literature (as distinct from oral tradition). ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... Bhagavad Gīta भगवद्गीता, composed ca the fifth - second centuries BC, is part of the epic poem Mahabharata, located in the Bhisma-Parva chapters 23–40. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ...

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, with approximately 1 billion adherents (2005 figure), of whom approximately 890 million live in India.^[8] Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... One thousand million (1,000,000,000) is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Buddhism

Main article: Buddhism

Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma (Pali: धमा Dhamma), "the teachings of the awakened one") is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a way of life, a practical philosophy, and arguably a form of psychology. Buddhism focuses on the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha (Pali: Gotama Buddha), who was born in Kapilavastu, ancient India which now falls under modern day Nepal, with the name Siddhārtha Gautama (Pāli: Siddhattha Gotama) around the fifth century BCE^[9]. Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha's passing, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and East Asia over the next two millennia. This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Dharma (Sanskrit: धर्म) or Dhamma (Pāli: धम्म) in Buddhism has two primary meanings: the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment the constituent factors of the experienced world In East Asia, the character for Dharma is 法, pronounced fÇŽ in Mandarin and hō in Japanese. ... Pali (IAST: ) is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... Psychology (from Greek: ψυχή, psukhÄ“, spirit, soul; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is both an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ... Standing Buddha sculpture, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, Musée Guimet. ... Kapilvastu, formerly Taulihawa (or, Kapilbastu Kapilvastu District or Tilaurakot), aprox. ... Ancient India may refer to: the ancient History of India, which generally includes the ancient history of the whole Indian subcontinent the legendary Kingdoms of Ancient India in Sanskrit literature the Iron Age Mahajanapadas the Middle kingdoms of India of Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages Category: ... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... 563 BCE: Siddhārtha Gautama, Buddha-to-be, is born in Lumbini, Ancient India. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... East Asia Geographic East Asia. ... 563 BCE: Siddhārtha Gautama, Buddha-to-be, is born in Lumbini, Ancient India. ...

Today, Buddhism is divided primarily into three traditions: Theravāda (Sanskrit: Sthaviravāda), Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Buddhism continues to attract followers worldwide, and it is considered a major world religion. According to one source ([1]), "World estimates for Buddhists vary between 230 and 500 million, with most around 350 million." However, estimates are uncertain for several countries. ^[10] Buddhism is the fourth-largest organised religion in the world, and the monks' order Sangha is amongst the oldest organisations on earth. Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... Relief image of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin from Mt. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... Buddhism - Percentage by country The percentage of Buddhist population of each country was taken from the US State Departments International Religious Freedom Report 2004 [1]. Other sources used were CIA Factbook [2] and adherents. ... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as association or assembly. It is commonly used in several senses to refer to Buddhist or Jain groups. ...

Most Buddhists also believe that the Dharma as taught by the Buddha predates the Tripitaka. Buddhists believe in a long lineage of Buddhas in the world, with Kassapa Buddha, Konagamana Buddha, and Kakusandha Buddha appearing in the world previous to the present Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha. This article is about Kashyapa Buddha, the ancient buddha. ... Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE. Gautama Buddha was a South Asian spiritual leader who lived between approximately 563 BCE and 483 BCE. Born Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit, a name meaning descendant of Gotama whose aims are achieved/who is efficacious in achieving aims, he...

Jainism

Main article: Jainism

The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahimsa, meaning non-violence. The word in the middle is "ahimsa." The wheel represents the dharmacakra, to halt the cycle of reincarnation through relentless pursuit of truth.

Jainism (pronounced in English as /ˈdʒeɪ.nɪzm̩/), traditionally known as Jain Dharma (जैन धर्म), is one of the oldest religions and philosophies originating in ancient India. A minority in modern India, with growing immigrant communities in the United States, Western Europe, Africa, the Far East and elsewhere, Jains continue to sustain the ancient Shraman (श्रमण) or ascetic tradition. This article is under construction. ... This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) can be both a political strategy or moral philosophy that rejects the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political change. ... Ahimsa (Devanagari: ; IAST ) is a Sanskrit term meaning non-violence (literally: the avoidance of violence - himsa). ... The Dharmacakra (Sanskrit) or Dhammacakka (Pāli), Tibetan , Chinese fălún 法轮, Wheel of Dharma is an auspicious Buddhist symbol representing a Buddhas teaching of the path to enlightenment. ... A common dictionary definition of truth is agreement with fact or reality.[1] There is no single definition of truth about which the majority of philosophers agree. ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... The History of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent from 3300 to 1700 BC. This Bronze Age civilization was followed by the Iron Age Vedic period, which witnessed the rise of major kingdoms known as the Mahajanapadas. ... The borders of Western Europe were largely defined by the Cold War. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... The word ascetic derives from the ancient Greek term askesis (practice, training or exercise). ...

Jains have significantly influenced the religious, ethical, political and economic spheres in India for about three millennia. Jainism stresses spiritual independence and equality of all life with particular emphasis on non-violence. Self-control (व्रत, vratae) is vital for attaining Keval Gyan and eventually moksha, or realization of the soul's true nature. Ethics is a general term for what is often described as the science (study) of morality. In philosophy, ethical behavior is that which is good or right. ... Politics is the process by which decisions are made within groups. ... A millennium (pl. ... Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. ... Egalitarianism (derived from the French word égal, meaning equal or level) is the moral doctrine that people should be treated as equals, in some respect. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... For other uses, see Self control (disambiguation). ... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

The Jain Sangha (संघ), or community, has four components: monks (साधु), nuns (sadhvi), laymen, or Shravakas (श्रावक), and laywomen, (Shravikas). A Shravaka(श्रावक)follows basic principles or "Niyam". Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as association or assembly. It is commonly used in several senses to refer to Buddhist or Jain groups. ... St. ... For other uses, see Nun (disambiguation). ... Sravaka (Sanskrit śrāvaka; Tibetan nyan thos; Pali sāvaka) is a hearer, a term applied to the personal disciples of the Buddha, distinguished as mahā-śrāvaka; it is also applied to hearers, or disciples in general; but its general connotation relates it...

Perhaps the smallest, Jainism has survived and co-existed with the vedic religion. It is a religious system which does not recognize a Godhead, and which reveres liberated souls known as Siddhas. The followers of Jainism firmly reject the Vedas, but strongly adhere to dharma, moksha and nirvana. The concepts of karma, bhagwan, moksha, avtara, dharma, tattvas and devas, although occurring in both Hinduism and Jainism, are viewed by Jains as distinct in meaning and connotation between the two faiths. This article is under construction. ... The Sanskrit word Siddha is derived from the word Siddhi meaning Perfection, referring to physical as well as spiritual perfection or enlightenment. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ...   (Sanskrit) (Devnagari: धर्म) or Dhamma (Pali) is the underlying order in nature and human life and behaviour considered to be in accord with that order. ... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... ( Sanskrit: ; Pali: निब्बान Nibbāna; Vietnamese: Niết bàn; Chinese: 涅槃; Mandarin Pinyin: nièpán, Cantonese: nihppùhn; Japanese: nehan ); Korean: ì—´ë°˜, yeolbhan; Thai: nibpan นิพพาน); Tibetan mya-ngan-las-das-pa; Mongolian É£asalang-aca nögcigsen), is a Sanskrit word that literally means to cease blowing (as when a candle flame... Bhagwan is a Sanskrit word meaning Blessed one. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... A Deva, in Hinduism, is a deity, controlling forces of nature such as fire, air, etc. ...

Jains believe that Jainism is a religion predating the Vedas. According to their sacred texts, the Jain Agamas, the first Jain Tirthankar, Adinath (in the present "kaal"-see infra), was the father of human civilization who later developed the Vedic religions and other traditions. Further, Jain theology believes the universe to be self-sustaining and without any external entity as its benefactor. Thus, Jains do not believe in "God" as the creator of the Universe, or its sustainer or destroyer. Further, another very interesting facet is the Jain belief of time, according to which in each "Avsarpini" and "Utsarpini" "kaal" (Sanskrit for "time period") there is a "Chaubisi" (the set of 24 tirthankars). Thus, per the Jains' scriptures, the universe is much older than the present "Chaubisi" (with Lord Rishabh as the 1st, and Lord Mahaveer as the 24th); there have been infinite "Chaubisis" in previous times, and there would be infinite more, in times to come. Many religions and spiritual movements believe that their sacred texts (or scriptures) are the Word of God, often feeling that the texts are wholly divine or spiritually inspired in origin. ... Genera Many: see text Agamas or Agamids are the Agamidae family of lizards, containing more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. ... The 24 Jinas carved on a rock in Ginjee, Tamilnadu In Jainism, a Tirthankar (Fordmaker) (also Tirthankara or Jina) is a human who by adopting asceticism achieves enlightenment (perfect knowledge), thus becoming a Jina (one who has conquered his inner enemies - anger, pride, deceit, desire etc. ... ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ...

Sikhism

Main article: Sikhism

Sikhism (IPA: ['siːkɪz(ə)m] (help· info) or ['sɪk-] ( info); Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖੀ, sikkhī, IPA: ['sɪk.kʰiː] ( info)) is a religion which began in sixteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the teachings of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism comes from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction."^[11][12] Sikhism is the fifth-largest organised religion in the world. Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Image File history File links Seekism. ... Image File history File links Sikism. ... “Punjabi” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Sikkhi. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a rich, fertile and ancient land encompassing most of northern and eastern India, the most populous parts of Pakistan, and virtually all of Bangladesh. ... Guru Nanak Dev Guru Nanak Dev[1] (Punjabi: , ) (Born in Nankana Sahib, Punjab, (now Pakistan) on 20th October 1469 – 7 May 1539, Kartarpur, Punjab, India), was the founder of Sikhism, and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. ... Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period 1469 to 1708. ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... GURMAT (gur-mat, mat, Sanskrit mati, i. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... The guru-shishya tradition (also guru-shishya parampara or lineage) is a spiritual relationship found within traditional Hinduism which is centered around the transmission of teachings from a guru (teacher, ) to a Å›iá¹£ya (disciple, ). The term shishya roughly equates to the western term disciple, and in some parts of... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ...

The principal belief in Sikhism is faith in one God—Vāhigurū—represented using the sacred symbol of ēk ōaṅkār. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture—the Gurū Granth Sāhib—which includes the selected works of many authors from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctly associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. For the Celtic Frost album, see Monotheist (album) In theology, monotheism (from Greek one and god) is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God. ... Waheguru (Punjabi: , or , ) means The Wonderful Lord in the Punjabi language. ... Stylised Ek Onkar Simple Ek Onkar Ek Onkar (also , , Ä’k ÅŒaá¹…kār, Ek Omkar, Ik Onkar and other variants) means one God and is a central tenet of Sikh religious philosophy. ... Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period 1469 to 1708. ... The Guru Granth Sahib (Punjabi: , ) is the holy book of Sikhism. ... Sobha Singh (painter)s impression of Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (Gurmukhi:ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਿਬੰਦ ਿਸੰਘ), (Born in Patna, Bihar, India, on 22 December 1666 as Gobind Rai – 7 October 1708, Nanded, Maharashtra, India) was the tenth and last of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on November 11, 1675 following... Khalsa Panth is the literal theocracy that manages the affairs of the Khalsa. ... Punjab, 1903 Punjab Province, 1909 Punjab (Persian: ‎, meaning Land of the five Rivers) (c. ...

Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. However, most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India; prior to partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now the Punjab province of Pakistan. Sikhs are now spread all over the world, though most Sikhs live in India. The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh is a practising Sikh. Most Sikh men wear a turban, and are often mistaken for Muslims or Arabs. Interestingly, most turban sporting men in the West happen to be Sikhs. Religions Sikhism Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib Languages English, Punjabi] A Sikh (English: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. ... , This article is about the Indian state of Punjab. ... This article is under construction. ... This article is about the Pakistani province. ... Dr. Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) is the 14th and current Prime Minister of India. ...

What is Dharma?

Main article: Dharma

The word Dharma (Sanskrit; "धर्म" in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, the dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Dharma also is practiced in the Surat Shabda Yoga traditions. In its oldest form, dharman, it first appears in the Vedas.   (Sanskrit) (Devnagari: धर्म) or Dhamma (Pali) is the underlying order in nature and human life and behaviour considered to be in accord with that order. ...   (Sanskrit) (Devnagari: धर्म) or Dhamma (Pali) is the underlying order in nature and human life and behaviour considered to be in accord with that order. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Rigveda manuscript in Devanagari (early 19th century) DevanāgarÄ« (देवनागरी — in English pronounced ) (ISCII – IS13194:1991) [1] is an abugida alphabet used to write several Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Kashmiri, Sindhi, Bihari, Bhili, Konkani, Bhojpuri and Nepali from Nepal. ... The word dharma (Sanskrit; धर्म in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, Dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. ... Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... This article is under construction. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive human gurus. ... Surat Shabd Yoga or Surat Shabda Yoga is a form of spiritual practice that is followed in the Sant Mat and many other related spiritual traditions. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ...

It is difficult to provide a single concise definition for Dharma (life fails to convey its connoted complexity). The word has a long and varied history and complex set of meanings and interpretations. Certain Westerners and Orientalists have proposed a number of possible translations, from "justice" to "religion", however these definitions have evolved with their associated usage in western culture.   (Sanskrit) (Devnagari: धर्म) or Dhamma (Pali) is the underlying order in nature and human life and behaviour considered to be in accord with that order. ... For other uses, see Life (disambiguation). ... Leonardo da Vincis Vitruvian Man, for many a symbol of the changes of the Western culture during the Renaissance Western culture or Western civilization is a term used to generally refer to most of the cultures of European origin and most of their descendants. ... Orientalism is the study of Near and Far Eastern societies and cultures, by Westerners. ...

"Dharma" derives from the verbal root dhri, which simply means "manner of being." "For free or Alms" in Tamil. The term must therefore be understood in its original (i.e. metaphysical) context, that of a conformity to a divine or creative principle at work in an individual and in nature. It represents the individual's internal law, to which obedience must be given if that individual life is to live in accordance with a divine will. This is what Hindus consider the sole or primary purpose of life. It explains how justice finds its place among the many modern definitions of the word dharma. Look up Tamil in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... J.L. Urban, statue of Lady Justice at court building in Olomouc, Czech Republic Justice concerns the proper ordering of things and persons within a society. ...

Rene Guenon, father of the 20th century school of perennial philosophy, defines it as such: René Guénon (aka Sheikh Abd Al Wahid Yahya) (1886-1951) was a French-born author, philosopher, and social critic of the early 20th century. ... The Perennial Philosophy (Latin philosophia perennis) is the idea that a universal set of truths common to all people and cultures exists. ...

It [dharma] is, so to speak, the essential nature of a being, comprising the sum of its particular qualities or characteristics, and determining, by virtue of the tendencies or dispositions it implies, the manner in which this being will conduct itself, either in a general way or in relation to each particular circumstance. The same idea may be applied, not only to a single being, but also to an organized collectivity, to a species, to all the beings included in a cosmic cycle or state of existence, or even to the whole order of the universe; it then, at one level or another, signifies conformity with the essential nature of beings. (Guenon's "Introduction to the Study of Hindu Doctrines")

This said, certain Western definitions of the word must be considered in the light of this original definition—that is, as branches from a single root. Monier Monier-Williams, for example (while covering the entire scope it would seem), gives its primary definition as: Photo of Monier Monier-Williams by Lewis Carroll Sir Monier Monier-Williams (1819–1899) studied, documented and taught Asian languages in England, and compiled one of the most widely-used Sanskrit-English dictionaries. ...

that which is established or firm, steadfast decree, statute, ordinance, law; usage, practice, customary observance or prescribed conduct, duty; right, justice (often as a synonym of punishment); virtue, morality, religion, religious merit, good works,

of which the first, "that which is established or firm" seems to be the most ancient and etymological. Dharma is cognate with the Latin firmus, the origin of the word firm. Meanings related to law, morality, scripture, and teachings were probably acquired through analogy, by being regarded as firm and called as such. For the phenomenological or psychological meaning, see below. Not to be confused with Entomology, the study of insects. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ...

Dr. David Frawley, an expert on Hindu philosophy and religion, describes Dharma as: Dr. David Frawley (born 1950 in Wisconsin, U.S.A.) is currently one of the worlds leading authors on Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Yoga, Ayurveda, and contemporary Indian politics. ...

a universal tradition has room for all faiths and all religious and spiritual practices regardless of the time or country of their origin. Yet it places religious and spiritual teachings in their appropriate place relative to the ultimate goal of Self-realization, to which secondary practices are subordinated. Sanatan Dharma also recognizes that the greater portion of human religious aspirations has always been unknown, undefined and outside of any institutionalized belief. Sanatan Dharma thereby gives reverence to individual spiritual experience over any formal religious doctrine. Wherever the Universal Truth is manifest; there is Sanatan Dharma—whether it is in a field of religion, art or science, or in the life of a person or community. Wherever the Universal Truth is not recognized, or is scaled down or limited to a particular group, book or person, even if done so in the name of God, there Sanatan Dharma ceases to function, whatever the activity is called.

According to the Natchintanai Scripture:

By the laws of Dharma which govern body and mind, you must fear sin and act righteously. Wise men by thinking and behaving in this way become worthy to gain bliss both here and hereafter.

Yama, the lord of death, is also known as Dharmaraj, since he works within the laws of karma and morality, regulated by divine principles. More familiar is the embodiment of Dharma in Lord Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. The eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira was referred to as Dharmaraj owing to his steadfastness to Truth & Dharma. This article is about the deity Yama in Hinduism. ... For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation). ... Rama ( in IAST, in Devanāgarī) or Ramachandra is a legendary or historical king of ancient India. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari ), (honorific: Sri Vishnu) also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being or Ultimate Reality for Vaishnavas and a manifestation of Brahman in the Advaita or Smarta traditions. ... Yudhisthira was the son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti. ...

In scripture translations dharma is often best left untranslated, as it has acquired a lively life of its own in English which is more expressive than any simplistic translation. Common translations and glosses include right way of living, divine law, path of righteousness, order, faith, natural harmony, rule, fundamental, and duty. Dharma may be used to refer to rules of the operation of the mind or universe in a metaphysical system, or to rules of comportment in an ethical system.

Status in India

Followers of the Jain and Sikh faiths are often considered as broader Hindus according to the social-fabric of India.^{[citation needed]} This is due to the coherence in ideologies, interworship and social intermingling of the followers of these faiths.

Constitutionally Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism are not considered religious minorities in India, and are accorded the status of only populous minorities. Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists are governed by Hindu laws of social contracts like Marriage (Hindu Marriage Act) and Inheritance. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

An extra-judicial observation of the Supreme Court of India in 2005 stated that "Sikhs and Jains are part of the wider Hindu community" and "Thus, 'Hinduism' can be called a general religion and common faith of India whereas 'Jainism' is a special religion formed on the basis of quintessence of Hindu religion."^[13] The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. ...

However, In 2006, the Supreme Court opined that "Jain Religion is indisputably not a part of the Hindu Religion". (para 25, Committee of Management Kanya Junior High School Bal Vidya Mandir, Etah, U.P. v. Sachiv, U.P. Basic Shiksha Parishad, Allahabad, U.P. and Ors., Per Dalveer Bhandari J., Civil Appeal No. 9595 of 2003, decided On: 21.08.2006, Supreme Court of India)

Hinduism and Buddhism also share many common features including Sanskrit, yoga, karma and dharma, Nirvana, moksha and reincarnation. India also is home to the government of Tibet in exile under Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditation Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. ... For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation). ...   (Sanskrit) (Devnagari: धर्म) or Dhamma (Pali) is the underlying order in nature and human life and behaviour considered to be in accord with that order. ... ( Sanskrit: ; Pali: निब्बान Nibbāna; Vietnamese: Niết bàn; Chinese: 涅槃; Mandarin Pinyin: nièpán, Cantonese: nihppùhn; Japanese: nehan ); Korean: ì—´ë°˜, yeolbhan; Thai: nibpan นิพพาน); Tibetan mya-ngan-las-das-pa; Mongolian É£asalang-aca nögcigsen), is a Sanskrit word that literally means to cease blowing (as when a candle flame... Moksha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, is a doctrine or mystical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. ... Official language Tibetan Headquarters Dharamsala Head of State (Dalai Lama) Tenzin Gyatso National Anthem Tibetan National Anthem, (Link) The Government of Tibet in Exile, officially named the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is a theocratic government-like entity headed by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai... Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. ... The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933). ...

The tricolour Indian flag has the Ashoka Chakra (Wheel of Ashoka) in the central horizontal band. The Emblem of India is a replica of Ashoka Pillar. The Ashoka Chakra (Pronunced as Ashok Chakra, not Ashokaa Chakraa) is an ancient Indian depiction of the Wheel of Life and Cosmic Order (Sanskrit: Chakra, wheel. ... The Emblem of India The Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. ... Fragment of the 6th Pillar Edict of Ashoka (238 BCE), in Brahmi, sandstone. ...

Birth and history

Further information: Vedic civilization

Further information: Historical Vedic religion

Further information: History of Hinduism

Hinduism, has its foundation in the Vedic religion of the Indo-Aryans, who founded the Vedic civilization--one of the earliest in the ancient India and the world. The civilization is called Vedic, because the 4 Vedas, namely Rigveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda and Yajurveda form the holiest texts of Hinduism. The Vedic religious practices, in turn, have their roots in the original Indo-Iranian religion of the Aryans, from which also sprang the Zoroastrian faith. Jainism and Buddhism, which reject the vedas and caste system, have their foundations in the shramanic tradition propogated by 24 Jaina Tirthankars and Gutama Buddha. Ancient Hindu kingdoms arose and spread the religion and traditions across South East Asia, particularly Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and what is now central Vietnam. A form of Hinduism different from Indian roots is practised in Bali, Indonesia, where Hindus form 90% of the population. Indian migrants have taken Hinduism and Hindu culture to South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and other countries in and around the Indian Ocean, and in the nations of the West Indies and the Caribbean. Ancient Indian Kingdoms of Magadha, Kalinga, Utkal have been either Jain or Buddhists at some point of time. Traditionally, Hinduism did not allow conversion of individuals from other religions to it. The spread of Indian culture coupled with the non-conversion principles of Hinduism allowed later dharmic religions, like Buddhism, to be readily adopted by the natives who took to Indian culture but could not convert to Hinduism. These religions had similar features to those introduced by the ancient Hindu kingdoms which added to their popularity. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period; see Dharmic religions for details of contemporary religious practices. ... Hinduism is the worlds oldest religion in the world. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... The religion of the Vedic civilization is the predecessor of classical Hinduism, usually included in the term. ... The Indo-Aryans are a wide collection of peoples united by their common status as speakers of the Indo-Aryan (Indic) branch of the family of Indo-European and Indo-Iranian languages. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The History of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent from 3300 to 1700 BC. This Bronze Age civilization was followed by the Iron Age Vedic period, which witnessed the rise of major kingdoms known as the Mahajanapadas. ... The Vedas (Sanskrit: वेद) are a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. ... The Rigveda (Sanskrit: , a tatpurusha compound of praise, verse and knowledge) is a collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns dedicated to the gods. ... The Samaveda (Sanskrit: सामवेद, sāmaveda, a tatpurusha compound of ritual chant + knowledge ), is third in the usual order of enumeration of the four Vedas, the ancient core Hindu scriptures. ... The Atharvaveda (Sanskrit: अथर्ववेद, , a tatpurusha compound of , a type of priest, and meaning knowledge) is a sacred text of Hinduism, and one of the four Vedas, often called the fourth Veda. According to tradition, the Atharvaveda was mainly composed by two groups of rishis known as the Bhrigus and the... The Yajurveda (Sanskrit , a tatpurusha compound of sacrifice + veda knowledge) is one of the four Hindu Vedas. ... Indo-Iranian can refer to: The Indo-Iranian languages The prehistoric Indo-Iranian people, see Aryan This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article is about the term Aryan. For Arian, a follower of the ancient Christian sect, See Arianism. ... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Hinduism in Indonesia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Bali is an Indonesian island located at , the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... “West Indian” redirects here. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Exchanges with Abrahamic religions

Further information: Comparing Eastern and Western religious traditions

Dharmic religions and Abrahamic religions were conceived over 3,000 years ago in two distinctly separate parts of Asia, and share a complex and conflicting dynamic. Possible connections between Indo-Aryan traditions and Hebrew culture may date back to Abraham himself, since the Mitanni influenced areas associated with him, notably Haran. The inscriptions found from excavations in ancient Mitanni sites reveal agreements entered into by invoking the names of Vedic gods such as Mitra and Varuna, thus possibly indicating that the Vedic religion predated the Abrahamic religions by a fair amount of time. This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Small Text For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Kingdom of Mitanni Mitanni (cuneiform KUR URUMi-it-ta-ni, also Mittani Mi-ta-an-ni, in Assyrian sources Hanigalbat, Khanigalbat cuneiform Ḫa-ni-gal-bat ) was a Hurrian kingdom in northern Mesopotamia from ca. ... Haran (הָרָן) was a son of Terah, and brother of Nahor and Abram. ...

Some speculative writers have claimed that Jesus visited India and learned spiritual practices there from Buddhist and Hindu monks. There is a passage in Bhavishya Purana mentioning a man named Issa from the Middle East which has been used to support this theory. The Bhavishya Purana is an ancient Sanskrit text authored by Rishi Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedic texts. ...

In Indonesia, many Javanese Muslims practice a version of Islam deeply influenced by Indonesian Hinduism, and are known as Abangan. Javanese is a term used to describe a native of the Indonesian island of Java. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Agama Hindu Dharma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Abangan form a large majorty of the Javanese Muslims. ...

Dharma and Taoism

Taoism, which is rooted in ancient Chinese philosophies, includes philosophical ideas which are similar to Dharmic concepts. Tao, the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of the character Way, is somewhat similar in the meaning to "Dharma". Taoism (Daoism) is the English name referring to a variety of related Chinese philosophical and religious traditions and concepts. ... This article is about the Chinese character and the philosophy it represents. ...

Dharma and Zoroastrianism

Like the historical Vedic religion, which is the historical predecessor of Hinduism, Zoroastrianism also derives from the religious principles of Indo-Iranian times. As such, and although Zoroastrianism is not considered a Dharmic religion, it is not surprising to find fundamental concepts similar to dharma and rta in the Gathas as well. This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period; see Dharmic religions for details of contemporary religious practices. ... Map of the Sintashta-Petrovka culture (red), its expansion into the Andronovo culture during the 2nd millennium BC, showing the overlap with the BMAC in the south. ... The Gathas (Gāθās) are the most sacred of the texts of the Zoroastrian faith, and are traditionally believed to have been composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. ...

In Zoroastrianism however, arta - the Zoroastrian equivalent of rta - is the better developed of the two concepts, while daena - the equivalent of dharma - plays a far less prominent role. In Zoroastrian tradition, both principles are also divinities, with Arta [Vahishta] "[Best] Righteousness" being one of the "great six" Amesha Spentas. In comparison, Daena and her alter-ego (Upamana) Chista are both much less significant. Daena is a Zoroastrian deity or angel representing insight and revelation. ... In Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas are the Holy Immortals, the equivalent of Archangels in Christian theology. ...

Zoroastrianism does however preserve the ethical implications of daena/dharma as the 'right way of living', and "daena" is hence frequently translated as "religion". A linguistic relationship to the Avestan adjective dahman "devout" has been postulated but is not certain. Avestan is an Eastern Old Iranian language that was used to compose the sacred hymns and canon of the Zoroastrian Avesta. ... Dahm, also known as Dahman or Dahman Afrin, is the middle Persian name of a Zoroastrian concept, later considered to be the embodiment of prayer, and ultimately (also) as a divinity, one of the Yazata. ...

See also

Buddhism Portal

Hinduism Portal

Jainism Portal

Sikhism Portal

• Abrahamic religion
• Taoic religion
• Historical Vedic religion
• Indo-Iranian religion
• Buddhism and Hinduism
• Zoroastrianism

Image File history File links Portal. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... map showing the prevalence of Dharmic (dark yellow), Taoic (light yellow), and Abrahamic (purple) religions in each country. ... This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period; see Dharmic religions for details of contemporary religious practices. ... The ancient Indo-Iranians were the founders of Persia and of Indian Vedic culture. ... Hinduism and Buddhism are two closely related Dharmic religions[1][2] that are in some ways parallel to each other and in other ways divergent in theology and practice. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ...

References

1. ^ Frawley, David. From the River of Heaven: Hindu and Vedic Knowledge for the Modern Age. Pg 27. Berkeley, California: Book Passage Press, 1990. ISBN 1878423010.
2. ^ York, Michael.Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion. Pg 166. New York: NYU Press, 2005. ISBN 0814797083.
3. ^ An Introduction to Hinduism, "The Origin of Hinduism" on About.com
4. ^ Hinduism and the Clash of Civilizations by David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri)
5. ^ Osborne, E: "Accessing R.E. Founders & Leaders, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism Teacher's Book Mainstream.", page 9. Folens Limited, 2005
6. ^ Klostermaier, K:"A Survey of Hinduism", page 1. SUNY Press, 1994.
7. ^ See Gītā Dhyānam
8. ^ Adherents
9. ^ http://indology.info/papers/cousins/
10. ^ Garfinkel, Perry. "Buddha Rising." National Geographic Dec. 2005: 88-109.
11. ^ Singh, Khushwant (2006). The Illustrated History of the Sikhs. India: Oxford University Press, 15. ISBN 0-19-567747-1. 
12. ^ (Punjabi) Nabha, Kahan Singh (1930). Gur Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh/ਗੁਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਰਤਨਾਕਰ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼ (in Punjabi), 720. Retrieved on 2006-05-29. 
13. ^ Supreme Court of India judgment, CASE NO.: Appeal (civil) 4730 of 1999 Bal Patil & Anr. vs. Union of India & Ors ;DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/08/2005

Khushwant Singh , born on 2 February 1915 in Punjab (Hadali, now a part of Pakistan) is one of the most prominent novelists and journalists of India. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• Eastern Religion: Origins - Beliefs - Practices - Holy Texts - Sacred Places, ed. Michael Coogan. Oxford University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-19-522191-5