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Hinduism - What Is Svadharma?

 

Svadharma is a Sanskrit word that means "righteousness." 

"One's own dharma" is a phrase that in the context of an individual may also mean "one's own chosen path." 

Svadharma is an individual's unique religious responsibility (dharma) depending on their social position, stage of life, and gender in the dharma literature.

The underlying assumption is that each individual has a social job to play, and that each of these tasks is vital for the upkeep of society, no matter how lowly it may be.

The ultimate authority for each individual is his or her svadharma, which overrides all other religious regulations.

For example, although violence is usually forbidden, it is an unavoidable aspect of a ruler's svadharma—both to defend the kingdom from foreign invaders and to punish offenders inside the country.

In both circumstances, the use of violence aids the king's primary job of maintaining societal order.

Similarly, society relies on a slew of other individuals to carry out their various social tasks.

Through the concept of the Path of Action, this sense of social duty and interconnectedness is linked to religious fulfillment (karmamarga).

Selflessly executing one's social responsibility for the welfare of the world rather than for one's own selfish desires, according to this theory, was also a way to ultimate spiritual satisfaction and soul freedom (moksha).

Since every svadharma has the potential to lead to ultimate liberation, each individual, according to this view, has a path that only he or she can walk.

~Kiran Atma


You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.

Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.