The term Dharma is one of the most intractable terms in Hindu
philosophy. Derived from the root dhar (Dhri) to uphold,
sustain, support, the term Dharma denotes ‘that which hold
together the different aspects and qualities of an object into a
whole.’ (Dharanat Dharmam Ithayahu, Dharmena Vidhritah Prajah.’
Ordinarily, the term Dharma has been translated as religious
code, as righteousness, as a system of morality, as duty, as
charity etc. But the original Sanskrit term has a special
connotation of its own which is not captured by any one of these
renderings. The best rendering of the term Dharma that I have
met with so far is, ‘the Law of Being’ meaning, ‘that which
makes a thing or being what it is.’ For example, it is the
Dharma of the fire to burn, of the sun to shine, etc. Dharma
means, therefore, not merely righteousness or goodness but it
indicates the essential nature of anything, without which it
cannot retain its independent existence. For example, a cold
dark sun is impossible, as heat and light are