Word of the Day

Tuesday January 10, 2012

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dharma [DAHR-muh]

noun

1. Basic principles of the cosmos.
2. Individual conformity to religious law, custom or duty.
3. An ancient sage in Hindu mythology worshipped as a god by some lower castes.

• In the same way, Sri Aurobindo observed that the significance of Krishna in the Gita is as a 'symbol of the divine dealings with humanity.' The Gita suggests the alternative of 'just war', for the active and selfless defense of dharma.
  "Controversy over the Bhagvad Gita", The Assam Tribune, Dec 27, 2011
• Even the sastras are not so severely programmed that there is no space for creativity. The Mahabharata shows us that even what is understood as dharma is subtle and undergoes personal interpretations. There is always a constant dialogue between the individual and the collective.
  "Odissi needs experimentation to grow globally", The Pioneer, Dec 26, 2011

Origin of the Word

Dharma, approximately 1796, derives from Sanskrit, "law, right, justice," related to dharayati "holds."