Dharm

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Dharm

Dharm may mean any one, more than one or all of the following - (1) Religion - relationship between a person and God, (2) Duties according to one's Varn and Aashram. (3) Duties toward men (4) Duties toward God, (5) The rules of conduct approved by God (God means Shaastra or Ved etc), (6) Prescribed code of conduct, or nature - such as a scorpion's Dharm is to sting, or lion's Dharm is to eat other animals, (7) Justice, (8) Law, (9) Attribute.

Dharm is those Karm which are prescribed for a person according to his Varn and Aashram. Dharm stands on four legs - Vidyaa (knowledge), Daan (donation), Tap (austerity), and Satya (truth). In Sat Yug Dharm's all legs are present; in Tretaa Yug it stands with three legs; in Dwaapar Yug, it stands with two legs and in Kali Yug it stands with only one leg - Daan.

According to Manu there are 10 characteristics of Dharm - (1) Dhriti (patience); (2) Kshamaa (forgiveness); (3) Dam (controlling one's mind); (4) A-Steya (not stealing); (5) Shauch (cleanliness); (6) Indriya Nigraha (controlling Indiyaan); (7) Saatwik Buddhi (good intellect); (8) Adhyaatm Vidyaa (spiritual knowledge) (9) Satya (Truth); and (10) A-Krodh (politeness).
[Naarad Puraan, p 651] [Agni Puraan, p 335]

[Bhavishya Puraan, p 205] says that there are 10 means to earn Dharm - (1) Ahinsaa (non-violence), (2) Kshamaa (forgiveness), (3) Satya (Truth), (4) Namrataa (polity). (5) Shraddhaa (devotion), (6) Control on Indriya, (7) Daan (charity, donation, alms), (8) Yagya (Havan, Hom), (9) Tap (penance), and (10) Dhyaan (meditation).

Manu Smriti, 1/86, says that Tap, Gyaan, Yagya and Daan are the four feet of Dharm. In Sat Yug Dharm stands with his four feet. In Tretaa Yug he stands with three feet. In Dwaapar Yug he stands with two feet. In Kali Yug he stands with only one foot - Daan.

Dharm's one leg is of 432,000 years. (Kali Yug is 432,000 years - so one can understand that why Sat Yug is four times longer than Kali Yug - because in Sat Yug, Dharm stands with four feet.)
[Bhavishya Puraan, p 372]

Dharm is said to be of two types - Isht Dharm and Poort Dharm. Doing Yagya etc is called Isht Dharm, and digging wells, ponds etc is called Poort Dharm.
(Bhavishya Puraan, p 21)

King Shataaneek said - "Muni, Now I wish to know about five types of Smriti etc Dharm." Sumantu Muni said - "Hey Raajan, Now you listen to those five types of Dharm which Soorya told his Saarathee Arun. Soorya said - "Hey Garud, Smriti Dharm's root is Ved. Remembering the previously earned Gyaan is called Smriti. Smriti Dharm is of five types. By following these Dharm one attains Swarg and Moksh. First is Ved Dharm, second is Aashram Dharm, third is Varn Aashram Dharm, fourth is Gun Dharm, and the fifth is Naimittik Dharm. Following one's Dharm according to Varn and Aashram is called Varn Aashram and Aashram Dharm. Whichever Dharm is according to Gun (Sat, Raj, and Tam), it is called Gun Dharm. Whichever Dharm is according to a Nimitt (purpose), it is called Naimittik Dharm. This Dharm is based on Jaati (caste), money, and Gun.
[Bhavishya Puraan, p 197]

(1) Dharm literally it means "that which is the support (of the human society) - a complete religious system of duty, ethics, theology and metaphysics.
(2) Intrinsic propensity or nature of a living being or thing, for example the Dharm of fish is to swim, and of gold is to shine.
(3) Statute, ordinance, law or moral law. The books of law are called Dharm Shaastra.
(4) Customary observance or practices, such as to serve our elders is our Dharm.
[Aangiras, p 188-189]

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