Miscellaneous - Religion   

Insight into Dharma religion

CHENNAI: Adherence to Dharma (righteousness) is the cornerstone of the Vedic tradition and the epics, Puranas and the Smriti texts elucidate Dharma on the basis of the Vedas, which are the ultimate scriptural authority. Dharma encompasses human life in all its aspects and hence its nuances have to be understood in order to handle conflicting situations in day-to-day life arising out of following its principles. There are general (Samanya) dictums that are applicable to one and all and also guidelines which are meant for specific (Visesha) circumstances.

In his discourse, Sri Muralidhara Sarma said the Ramayana offered insight into Dharma through its characters at every possible juncture. On a superficial level the epic may seem tragic for the dominant emotion portrayed by Valmiki is pathos. But if one probed a little deeper one will understand that none of the characters underwent suffering per se because they preferred to sacrifice their self-interest and comforts for the sake of Dharma. Bharata is a case in point. As a stickler of Dharma he should have obeyed his mother Kaikeyi who had won the kingdom for him but he did not and, in fact, he chided her for her manipulation and went post haste to bring Rama back to Ayodhya. Bharata disobeyed his mother but carried out his eldest brother Rama’s behest because He was the Lord-incarnate. This was an exceptional situation in which the one who commanded him was the very personification of Dharma and hence there was no room for second thought on the matter.

Kaikeyi, who is much maligned in the epic, was a victim of circumstances. When she married Dasaratha her father had given her in marriage to him on the condition that the son born to them would ascend the throne of Ayodhya. Dasaratha was childless at that time. As per the royal family custom that the eldest among the princes should become king the conflict arose later. Dasaratha had also forgotten about the curse of Shravan Kumar that he would die of sorrow over separation from his son. Kaikeyi sought the boons Dasaratha owed her aware of all this. Dasaratha was helpless and gave up his life as he could not flout Dharma.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword 9004
Solution to Puzzle 9003
Insight into Dharma religion
dated August 30, 1957 (there being no issue of the paper dated August 29): “Degree not necessary”
dated August 30, 1957 (there being no issue of the paper dated August 29): Absence of Ministers
Weather

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu