Yuga Dharma
Encyclopedia
Yuga Dharma is one aspect of Dharma
, as understood by Hindus
. Yuga dharma is that aspect of dharma that is valid for a Yuga
, an epoch or age as established by Hindu tradition. The other aspect of dharma is Sanatan Dharma, dharma which is not subject to change.
Hindu sacred writings are broken into two groups: Śruti writings (such as the Vedas
) regarded as timeless in character, and Smriti
, writings that focus on less timeless elements. Sanatan Dharma is based on the Shruti writings, while Yuga Dharma is based on the Smitris.
Some scholars describe Santan dharma as the overall, unchanging and abiding principals of dharma, and describe Yuga dharma as a lesser aspect of dharma, since it is constantly changing. Such scholars distinguish Sanatan dharma as the dharma of religion
, and Yuga dharma as the dharma of social interaction
: law
, ethics
, etiquette
and so on.
Swami Vivekananda
describes the distinction between them in this way. Of Sanatan dharma, he says:
Of Yuga dharma, he says:
the belief that the congegational dancing, singing and chanting (japa
) of the Hare Krishan maha-mantra is the correct Yuga-dharma, based on quotations from their scriptures:
For Sri Vaishnavism,the performance of Prappati or Saranagati
through the ritual called Panca-Samskaram is the Yuga-dharma, according to the older scriptural text; the Vedas
. The ritual initiates one into the protective and saving grace of Vishnu
or Narayana
. For Sri Vaishnavas, another important part of the yuga-dharma, because of Vedic traditions and scriptural references is the chanting of the eight syllable mantra, two sentence mantra of Narayana and the Vishnu sahasranama
or thousand names of Vishnu. These three mantras constitute the original maha-mantras for Vaishnavas during the time of Ramanujacharya and before him. Another aspect of the Yuga-dharma for Sri Vaishnavas, which back by scripture, is surrender and devotion to Sri Venkateshwara
or Balaji. According to various verses from the Puranas and other text; Lord Venkateshwara is the supreme form of Vishnu for the Kali Yuga.
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
, as understood by Hindus
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. Yuga dharma is that aspect of dharma that is valid for a Yuga
Yuga
Yuga in Hindu philosophy is the name of an 'epoch' or 'era' within a cycle of four ages. These are the Satya Yuga, the Treta Yuga, the Dvapara Yuga, and finally the Kali Yuga. According to Hindu cosmology, life in the universe is created, destroyed once every 4.1 to 8.2 billion years, which is...
, an epoch or age as established by Hindu tradition. The other aspect of dharma is Sanatan Dharma, dharma which is not subject to change.
Hindu sacred writings are broken into two groups: Śruti writings (such as the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
) regarded as timeless in character, and Smriti
Smriti
Smriti literally "that which is remembered," refers to a specific body of Hindu religious scripture, and is a codified component of Hindu customary law. Smṛti also denotes non-Śruti texts and is generally seen as secondary in authority to Śruti. The literature which comprises the Smrti was...
, writings that focus on less timeless elements. Sanatan Dharma is based on the Shruti writings, while Yuga Dharma is based on the Smitris.
Some scholars describe Santan dharma as the overall, unchanging and abiding principals of dharma, and describe Yuga dharma as a lesser aspect of dharma, since it is constantly changing. Such scholars distinguish Sanatan dharma as the dharma of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, and Yuga dharma as the dharma of social interaction
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
: law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
and so on.
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
describes the distinction between them in this way. Of Sanatan dharma, he says:
We know that in our books, a clear distinction is made between two sets of truths. The one set is that which abides for ever, being built upon the nature of man, the nature of the soulSoulA soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
, the soul's relation to God, the nature of God, perfection and so on; there are also the principles of cosmology, of the infinitude of creation, or more correctly speaking, projection, the wonderful law of cyclical procession, and so on; these are eternal principles founded upon the universal laws of nature.
Of Yuga dharma, he says:
The other set comprises the minor laws, which guide the working of our everyday life. They belong more properly to the PuranasPuranasThe Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
, to the Smrtis, and not to the Sruti. These have nothing to do with the other principles. Even in IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, these minor laws have been changing all the time. Customs of one age, of one yuga, have not been the customs of another, and as yuga come after yuga, they will still have to change. http://www.hinduism.co.za/yuga.htm
Opinions on Yuga Dharma
The current Yuga Dharma for this age is debated amongst the traditions of Hinduism. Within Gaudiya VaishnavismGaudiya Vaishnavism
Gaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gauḍa region with Vaishnavism meaning "the worship of Vishnu"...
the belief that the congegational dancing, singing and chanting (japa
Japa
Japa is a spiritual discipline involving the meditative repetition of a mantra or name of a divine power. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken purely within the recitor's mind...
) of the Hare Krishan maha-mantra is the correct Yuga-dharma, based on quotations from their scriptures:
"This sixteen-name, thirty-two syllable mantra is the Maha-mantraMaha MantraMaha Mantra may refer to the following:*Any mantra thought to be particularly "great" or important*A common name for the Hare Krishna mantra in Bengali Vaishnavism*a name of the Aum Namah Shivaya mantra*the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra...
in the Age of KaliKali YugaKali Yuga is the last of the four stages that the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga...
by which all living beings can be delivered. One should never abandon chanting this mahamantra."—Ananta-samhita
For Sri Vaishnavism,the performance of Prappati or Saranagati
Saranagati
Saranagati or Prapatti , in the devotional school of Hindu denominations known as Vaishnavism, is the process of total surrender to God...
through the ritual called Panca-Samskaram is the Yuga-dharma, according to the older scriptural text; the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
. The ritual initiates one into the protective and saving grace of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
or Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
. For Sri Vaishnavas, another important part of the yuga-dharma, because of Vedic traditions and scriptural references is the chanting of the eight syllable mantra, two sentence mantra of Narayana and the Vishnu sahasranama
Vishnu sahasranama
The Vishnu sahasranama is a list of 1,000 names of Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the personal supreme God for Vaishnavas . It is also one of the most sacred and commonly chanted stotras in Hinduism...
or thousand names of Vishnu. These three mantras constitute the original maha-mantras for Vaishnavas during the time of Ramanujacharya and before him. Another aspect of the Yuga-dharma for Sri Vaishnavas, which back by scripture, is surrender and devotion to Sri Venkateshwara
Venkateshwara
Venkateswara also known as Srinivasa, Balaji, Venkata and Venkatachalapati , is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara means the Lord who destroys the sins of the people...
or Balaji. According to various verses from the Puranas and other text; Lord Venkateshwara is the supreme form of Vishnu for the Kali Yuga.