Dharma & Law

The laws of Bangladesh admit the operation of personal Laws to determine the
rights and obligations of citizens. Personal laws are the traditional laws, sometimes
called the laws of the religion. Hindus are governed by the Hindu law, and Muslims
and Christians are governed by their respective personal laws. The sources from
which knowledge of Hindu law is to be derived are the indices of Dharma. Therefore,
law, as understood by the Hindus, is a branch of Dharma.
According to Manu - the Veda, the Smriti, the approved usage, and what is agreeable
to good conscience are the highest authority on dharma or law.
Dharma is a key concept with multiple meanings. Commonly translated as
"righteousness", "merit" or "religious and moral duties" governing individual
conduct. Also it is translated as “religion,” “law,” “order,” “duty” or “ethics.” The
word dharma has roots in the Sanskrit dhri-, which means “to uphold, support,
bear.” Dharma holds one from falling down. Therefore, it takes the meaning of "what
is established or firm", and hence "law". Dharma is one of the four components of
Purusartha.

Dharma signifies behaviours that are considered to be in accord with Ṛta (ঋত). Rta
means order, rule; truth. Rta is the order that makes life and universe possible. Ṛta
in Vedas is the truth and cosmic principle which regulates and coordinates the
operation of the universe and everything within it.
Dharma is a manifestation of Ṛta. Dharma includes duties, rights, laws, conduct,
virtues and "right way of living".
Dharma designates human behaviours considered necessary for order of things in
the universe, principles that prevent chaos, behaviours and action necessary to all
life in nature, society, family as well as at the individual level. Dharma encompasses
ideas such as duty, rights, character, vocation, religion, customs and all behaviour
considered appropriate, correct or morally upright.
Rigveda
Brahman created the universe from chaos, they hold (dhar-) the earth and sun and
stars apart, they support (dhar-) the sky away and distinct from earth, and they
stabilise (dhar-) the quaking mountains and plains. The gods then deliver and hold
order from disorder, harmony from chaos, stability from instability– actions recited
in the Veda with the root of word dharma.
Dharma also takes a ritual meaning. The ritual is connected to the cosmic, and
"dharmani" is equated to ceremonial devotion to the principles that gods used to
create order from disorder, the world from chaos. It is here that dharma as a
concept of law emerges in Hinduism.
Dharma is an organising principle that applies to human beings in solitude, in their
interaction with human beings and nature, as well as between inanimate objects, to
all of cosmos and its parts.
In Hinduism “dharma” includes the religious duties, moral rights and duties of each
individual, as well as behaviours that enable social order, right conduct, and those
that are virtuous.
All existing beings must accept and respect “dharma” to sustain harmony and order
in the world. Dharma is the need for, the effect of and essence of service and
interconnectedness of all life.
“(Dharma is)- what is followed by those learned in the Vedas and what is approved
by the conscience of the virtuous who are exempt from hatred and inordinate
affection”.
-Manusmiriti