Bhakti Tradition Essay

Dharma in the Indian Religious Tradition:

In Bhakti tradition, dharma is understood as compassion and an act of service to god and fellow creatures. In Buddhism, the concept became very important and one of the central principles of the teachings. It is “a logical element of progression” and it is “used with reference to religion in the very specific sense of socio-ethical laws and obligation” (Klostermeir, 47). In later years, Emperor Asoka took it as the guiding principle of his religious and political thought and the systematization of social and community life during the Mauriyan Empire. Dhammapada expounds this aspect very clearly. The Atharva Veda describes dharma symbolically: Prithivim dharmana dhritam, that is, "this world is

Indian religious traditions accept the concept of reincarnation. It is concerned of the state of an individual in the previous birth and determines the present birth and future ones depending upon the karmic law. Therefore, one's dharmic path in the next life is determined by one’s own karma. The soul assumes birth, according to the karma accumulated. Thus the rebirth is related to the influx of karma through the past and the present life. Accordingly, dharma affects the future course of action of the soul. Here, karma refers to the actions undertaken by the body and mind. These actions are always frutisant and accelerate the influx of karma matter into the soul. The inevitable component of this theory is the performance of dharma without any attachment or aversion to anything or anyone. This involves doing what is right according to the traditions and Sastras and to carry out what is envisioned and entitled as de rigueur for the individual, the family, the class or caste without any affection or repulsion. Dharma is the cosmic norm and if one goes against the norm, it causes the perpetuation and persistence of adharma. Anything that helps human beings to reach the highest realization is dharma and anything that hinders human being from reaching that goal is

Authentic expressions and experiences of life are central to the dharmic vision of life and the exposition of the same differs in every culture. However, the dharma notion is envisioned in social relationship and asserts a hierarchy which is central to the social relations and social positioning in Indian religio-philosophical and cultural thought world. These perceptions are based on and rely upon a shared history, cumulative tradition, myths, symbols, behavioral patterns and thus religion as a whole. Here the role of dharma and karma becomes very important. The experience of the Ultimate and the realization of the Ultimate create values which accentuate the notion of life. The dharmic assertion always expounds the notion of righteous living. Dharma guides the notions of justice, peace and life. The very nature of dharmic injunctions enthused a notion of inter and intra relationship within the created order. However, the social positioning results in hegemonic standardization that is hierarchical. It is closely associated with karma which is the natural law. It is related to the performance of one’s duty entrusted to him by way of positioning him or her in the social ladder. The social order and the hierarchy associated with it define the dharma of a person or