Home | Information | Religious

Back to Index | Next

In our daily lives, we often use the word Dharm. When we are discussing if a particular act is right or wrong, one may ask is this act in accordance to Dharm. We use the word Dharm many times, but do we really know the exact meaning of this word Dharm. So let’s ponder on the definition of Dharm. It is a set of guidelines that have been laid by the Vedas and scriptures and our great Maharshi’s for us to follow. These sages have not only given the set of rules but have also lead a life that exemplified Dharm. They sacrificed their entire life and performed years and years of penance and as a result have given us a set of guidelines that we call Dharm. As long as we follow Dharm, life is going to be joyful. It is akin to a train conforming to the rail-track. As long as the train chugs along the track, the journey is going to be pleasant. Once the train comes out of the track, it is a disaster. Isn’t it? The moment we lose our track of Dharm, sorrow befalls us.

There are two types of Dharm. The first one is called Vaidik Dharm and the second Dharm is called as Bhaagvat Dharm. Vaidik Dharm is a set of rules that have been laid down by Ved. Who is a Vaidik? Any person irrespective of any caste, creed and who accepts that the Ved are the ultimate authority is a Vaidik. Bhaagvat Dharm on the other hand is another Dharm that is shown by the Ved. This Dharm is a result of the great compassion of the sages and Maharishi who had immense for-sight due to hundreds of years of penance. The could perceive how the world would be in Kali Yug and hence bestowed the Jeev with Bhaagvat Dharm in order to enable the Jeev to reach the holy feet of the lord. What is Bhaagvat Dharm? It is all about devotion and Bhakti. That unlimited and unconditional love for God is called Bhakti.

Jeev is advised not to have any desires in life, and the word desire in this context doesn’t refer to worldly life but it only pertains to spiritual life. Take an example. One may go to the Lord and pray for some wish to come true. If that wish comes true, he doesn’t go and see Lord till he has another wish to be satiated by the Lord. On the other hand, if the wish doesn’t come true, it turns his mind towards hatred the very next moment.

There was a village in Tamil Naadu in which there was a Ganapati temple. It was in dilapidated condition and resembled a haunted house. The local villagers did not bother to take care of the temple and it was closed. There was once a boy who passed this temple in that village. He was traveling to a neighboring village on a job hunt. The boy on seeing the pitiable condition of the temple, started to make the temple tidy and in few hours, the temple wore a new look. The boy went and prayed to the lord Ganesh in that temple asking him to bestow him with a job. The Lord was extremely pleased. The Lord thought that none of the local villagers in that village bothered to clean the temple and this took the initiative to clean the temple. He was very happy with this boy and made his wish come true. So what happened? The Lord’s blessing itself became a curse. The boy got his job and it was the end of the story. He never turned back to the temple. That is the difference between desire and love.

When we light a lamp with a motive a mind, we stop doing it the moment our wish is satiated. On the other hand, a devotee lights a lamp to enjoy the beautiful face of the Lord. That’s why the great sages say "do not nurture your desire but nurture only love". Develop the unstinted and unconditional love and devotion to the Lord. Love for the sake of love not just to fulfill your desire. That love is what Bhaagavat Dharm is all about.

Home | Information | Religious

Back to Index | Next