Hindu law is considered to be the most ancient and prolific law in the world.

It has been around every phase. It is about 6000 years old. Hindu law has
been established by the people, not for the purpose of removing any crime or
transgression from society but it was established so that the people will
follow it in order to attain salvation. Originally Hindu law was established so
that the need of the people gets fulfilled. The concept was initiated for the
welfare of the people.

Origin of Hindu Law

In Dharmasastra there is no word such as ‘Hindu’. It is a foreign origin. The
word ‘Hindu’ came into existence through Greeks who used to call the
residence of the Indus Valley nation as ‘Indoi’. Later it became a ‘Hindu’. This
nation came to be known as ‘Hindustan’ and its people as Hindu. In history,
the word ‘Hindu’ not only indicates a religion, but it also indicates a nation
basically. The Hindu law has been modified through centuries and has been
existing since the last 5000 years and has also continued to govern the social
and moral figure of Hindu life by following the different elements of Hindu
cultural life.

Concept of Dharma
We know that the word Dharma is related to Hindu law. Let me explain to
you, the word “Dharma” according to Hindu Mythology means “duty”.
Looking at the contexts and the religious references Dharma has different
meanings just like, the Buddhists believe that the word Dharma means only
a universal law which is very much essential, and the Jains and the Sikhs
believe that it is only a religious path for the victory of the truth.

According to the Hindu Jurisprudence, Dharma means the duties in many

ways. Just like the sociological duties, legal duties or spiritual duties.
Through this context, we can say that Dharma can be referred to as the
concept of justice.

Sources of Dharma
As referred to in the  “Bhagwat Geeta”,  God creates a life using the
principles of Dharma. They are patience, forgiveness, self-control, honesty,
sanctity (cleanliness in the mind, body and soul), control of senses, reasons,
knowledge, truthfulness and absence of anger. Accordingly, The salvation
which means “Moksha” is the eternal Dharma for humans according to
Hinduism.