Thursday, December 18, 2025

DHARMA SASTRAM - BASICS ( QUESTION / ANSWER FORMAT)

 

HARI! OM !


Q. 1.  What is the purpose of Human Life?                                                                                                   A. 2. The purpose of Human Life is to do good deeds (सत्कर्मा) in the society, following the Dharma (धर्मा) prescribed for one’s varnam (वर्णम्), i.e, स्वधर्मअनुष्ठानम्, with an attitude of selflessness and thereby gain or earn पुण्या and attain मोक्षःI परोपकाराः इदम् शरीरम् ।

Q. 2. What is the goal of a jiva living in the human body?                          A. 2. The goal (लक्ष्यं) of the jiva (जीवः) living in the human body is to know that he is not the human being but the  ansh (अंश) of the परमात्मन् ( Universal Being or God Principle), that all life or lifeless objects in the universe are but the Universal 1 and relate with everything like how we relate with the human body in which we are housed and enable the body to do sat karma following Dharma anushtanam.

Q. 3. What is meant by Purushartha?                                             A. 3. Purushartha (पुरूषार्थः) is self effort in the current birth.

Q. 4. What are the 4 Purusharthas?                                                A. 4. The 4 purusharthas are Dharma (धर्मः), Artha (अर्थः), Kama (कामः) and Moksha (मोक्षः).

Q. 5. What is meant by Dharma?                                                 A. 5. Dharma can be attributed towards that which enable peaceful, sustainable co-existence of all lives in harmony of the whole frame of things. The Dharma encompasses  one’s duties, rights, character, religion, moral, custom, righteousness etc.

Q.6. Ideas of the Aran Valiyurthal Chapter in Thirukural with respect to Dharma.     A. 6. The chapter explains and asserts the value of Virtue. Virtue is to be honest with one’s own mind. Wealth and excellence will grow for those who are so virtuous. The denial of charity ensures a fall in life. Virtue is the absence of destructive nature, unbridled desire, intense anger, and hard words. Practicing charity wherever possible is very special and good for the life time.

Time is very important and keeping up time is a virtue. All actions need be done without guilt in the mind.

ARAN VALIYURTHAL explains and asserts the value or virtue of righteousness. Any human being should do charity and be of charitable disposition. Any point of time in life the presence of destructive nature, desire and anger, bad speech are all not righteous and should be shunned. Anything or everything need be executed in time in one’s life without any postponement or procrastination. An attitude of guilt or regret in the mind in our rituals or duties or speech etc is very detrimental and should also be avoided. A positive, pleasant attitude should be ever maintained.

Q. 7. The names of the 7 Manus.                                                 A. 7. Each kalpa (कल्प – a day of Brahma) has 14 Manvantharas and we are in the 7th Manvanthara, currently. The 7 Manus until our current Manu are;

1.Swayambu Manu, 2. Swarochista Manu, 3. Uttama Manu, 4. Tapasa /Tamasa Manu, 5. Raivata Manu, 6. Chakshusha Manu, 7. Vaivasvata Manu (CURRENT)

Q. 8. The four types of species, like Jarayuja etc as presented by Manu.             A. 8.  Among the four types of species are;                                        १. जरायुजाः   - (Jarayujaa) These are species born out of a womb, such as Human Beings (मनुष्यः),      पशुः (Cows, Bulls, Goats, Buffalos etc), मृगाः (Deer category), रक्षसाः (Rakshasaa),                     पिशाचाः (Vampires)उभयतोदतः व्यालाः  (Deadly Beasts) , etc

२. अण्डजाः -  Species, Born out of eggs layed. Just to name them, Birds ( पक्षिणः ), Snakes (सर्पाः), Crocodiles (नकृाः ), Fishes (मत्स्या) , Tortoises (कच्छापाः) etc. Species as Birds, Snakes live on land whereas, crocodiles & fishes live in water.

३. स्वेदजम्  (from Sweat), उष्मणः ( Due to heat) and अण्डजाः (from Egg)in such environment and born out of egg are certain kind of insect species as  दंशमशकं (biting mosquitoes), यूका (lice), मक्षिका , (flies)मत्कुणम् (Bed Bugs) etc to name a few.

४.  वृक्षाः – Among the non-mobile species, trees, of which some with ओषध्यः ( with medicinal values), बहुपुष्पफलोपगाः – plants which can bear many flowers, some plants-वनस्पतयः , which could bear no flowers- (अपुष्पाः  but could bear fruits (फलवन्तः ), Species as गुच्छम् -bearing collective flowers,  bearing flowers in creepers - गुल्मं and पतानावत्ल्य - creepers etc.

 

Q. 9. Explain the creation of the five elements, along with their gunas as given in Manu Smriti.                                                                      A. 9. Initially, there was a nothingness / emptiness(शून्यं) then Brahma (ब्रह्मा) manifested himself as स्वयंभू . ब्रह्म, the pure consciousness (सत्) created water (जल, ie आपः) and sowed seed in water and entered the seed and remained there as Narayanan (नारायणन्), ie. One who lives in water. 

The  seed (हिरण्यगर्भ ) now an egg(अण्डजाः ) is split into two. The split halfs become The Earth (भूमि) and Heaven( स्वर्ग:) From भूमि manifested the sky (आकाश) or space and ocean (समुद्र). भूमि is पृथ्वी that which supports and sustains all lives. The whole creation is Pure Consciousness (सत्)  + Maya  Sakthi (माया शक्ति), the  सूक्षम शरिरम् or the MATERIAL CAUSE  + Maya in reflected consciousness (माया प्रतिबिंभ चैतन्यं -कारण शरिरम्)

From Pure Consciousness, Maya manifested and then  जल, the seed, भूमि, आकाश, समुद्र अग्नि, वायु I All these manifested dormant, महन्तम्- महतत्वम्  - मनस or Mind + अहंकारम् ( Individuality). Then on the 3 Gunas(ऋिगुणानि), सत्व, रजस, तमस, emerged and the पचँइन्द्रियाणि ( Five sense powers).

सत् + माया शक्ति + मनस + अहंकारम् + ऋिगुणानि + महन्तम्- महतत्वम् + पचँइन्द्रियाणि +

 पँचभूतानि   == जीवाः

Q.10. What is the greatest Dharma in each Yuga?

 A.10.The greatest Dharma in कृत युगः is Thapah or Meditation                       The greatest Dharma in  ऋैता युगः is Jnaan or Knowledge                           The greatest Dharma in द्वापर युगः is यज्ञा  Yagna or sacrifice                         The greatest Dharma in कलि युगः is दानं or charity.

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