Kyle Tortora

What is the Buddhist & Hindu Concept of Dharma?

Many people wonder about the Buddhist and Hindu word Dharma and what it signifies. The concept of dharma is key within both Buddhism and Hinduism. When capitalized and referred to as the Dharma, the word means the collective teaching of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, or the Enlightened Buddha. Much the same way Christians study Jesus’s teachings within the Bible, Buddhists study and worship the Dharma. Simply put, the Dharma is the Buddha’s Teachings.

Thai style Buddha statue — View all our Thai Buddha statues

When presented in a lowercase form as dharma, the word translates to mean simply ‘the way things are’. Just as the Taoists follow the Tao, or the Way as they call it, dharma represents the laws of nature or why things are the way they are. It is thought to be our ultimate aim in life to realize the dharma or understand the ways of the universe. Dharma is thought to an unchanging universal law just as gravity is an unchanging presence in the universe.

The first writings about dharma can be found within the Vedas among various ancient writings. At the time it was thought that knowledge of dharma could only be passed on from Sages. Later on, however, it was thought that through ritual practices or duties one could achieve ultimate understandings, the dharma.

Although the dharma was referenced in the Vedas it was never clear how a layperson really could achieve it.

The “sense” of Dharma

Within Buddhism, the dharma was the main focus of the Buddha’s meditations. The concept of dharma was thought to be infinite containing both material and immaterial elements of the world. It is believed to become a sense in just the same way one can smell a flower they can develop the sense of dharma. Dharma carries goodness and it is thought to be a person’s duty to seek it out. Through his meditations, the Buddha sought the dharma, or the ultimate meaning to life. It was underneath the Bodhi tree in which the Buddha ultimately attained it.

What’s your dharma?

Symbols Surrounding Lord Brahma

Hindu God Lord Brahma symboliism — Bronze Meditating Lord Brahma Statue

When one comes across statues of the Hindu God Brahma, the God of Creation, he is dripping in symbolism. Brahma is unique in that he has four faces and four hands. He often carries a book and prayer beads. In all Hindu sculpture the things the gods carry; weapons, books, bowls, the amount of faces and arms the god has, how they wear their clothes, the crown or jewelry they wear each have symbolic meaning going back centuries to the origins of Hinduism. Lord Brahma the creator is no different. Here we will outline some basic symbols of Brahma.

Brahma’s Four Hands: Brahmas four hands symbolize each of the four Vedas: Rk, Sama, Yajuh, and Atharva. The Vedas are a body of ancient Sanskrit texts originating in India.

Brahma’s Four Faces: Brahma has four faces that point in the four main directions north, south, east, and west. In a more figurative sense they represent the more virtuous qualities of the mind, intellect, ego, and self-confidence.

Book: Brahma often holds with one of his hands a book which symbolizes knowledge in the world.

Swan: Brahma is often seen riding a swan, his sacred vehicle for which he travels upon. The swan is a supposed to symbolize grace. The kind of grace fitting of the great Creator.

Crown: Brahma wears a crown which symbolizes his supreme authority over the world as the God of Creation.

Lotus Flower: Brahma is often depicted with a lotus flower. The lotus flower represents nature and the all-encompassing energy of creation. The lotus is more commonly associated with the Hindu Goddess of wealth Lakshmi.

Gold: Brahma’s golden face and adornments represent his most active role in the creation of the universe:

Prayer Beads: Prayer beads symbolize all the substances that go into the creating the universe.

The Vedas: Ancient Sanskrit Works of India

Sarswati holding the vedas — Bronze Meditating Saraswati Holding the Hindu Holy book, the Vedas

For those of you unfamiliar, the Vedas are the most sacred books of India, thought to be some of the earliest written works of their kind. Much like the Bible within the Christian religion, the Vedas hold the earliest religious writings of the Hindu religion. They are said to contain spiritual knowledge encompassing all aspects of living; a guide to Hindu thought and teachings. The word ‘Veda” translates to mean wisdom with their contents acting like a river of Hindu thought. Many believe that the writings are the language of the Hindu Gods, translated into words of human understanding. The laws within hold precedence and regulate Hindu society in social, domestic, legal, and religious matters still to this day.

Many wonder of the origin of the Vedas. We can only speculate as to when they first came into existence it was so long ago, however, by some they are thought to be the earliest works of human kind. Many believe that they were not written by humans at all, but by sages receiving sacred knowledge directly from the Gods themselves. Others believe that sages became enlightened with the ideas to write in the books through sacred transference of the Gods. Whether the Gods actually spoke to the sages or not, the knowledge within the Vedas is not only sacred, but still holds its magnificent power to this day.

The Vedas themselves are broken down into four main sections: hymns for singing, rituals for practice, theological thought, and philosophies. Although they are not widely read by followers in present days, the principles within are strictly followed.

In Hindu sculpture the Hindu goddess of Wisdom, Saraswati is often shown holding a copy of vedas. This is an apt book for the goddess of wisdom to carry as it holds the spiritual knowledge encompassing all aspects of living!

Hindu God Shiva: Destroyer & Creator

Hindu God Shiva as Lord of Dance Nataraja — Shiva destroys and creates the world anew as the Lord of Dance, Nataraja!

When many first hear of the Hindu God of Destruction, Shiva, they automatically think of something evil or alarming. They think him something to be feared. Yet, his powers are constructive, not just destructive. He brings about necessary and beneficial transformation. It can be said that the world is in a constant state of flux. Just as life is given at birth, so too must it eventually cease to exist. In that same regard, the world is constantly evolving and partaking in birth, deaths, and rebirths.

Hindus believe that Hindu God Shiva is responsible for the destruction of the universe in order that he may then re-create it into a more perfect form. They believe that even now he infiltrates the world in order to shed illusion and destroy the worlds many imperfections. Not only is he the Destroyer, he can also be thought of as a god of change or formation, causing a constant cycle of destruction and creation in order to bring about necessary good.

There is no doubt that the world as we know it houses many flaws. In order to bring about real change, Hindus look to Shiva to re-create the world in a better image. Worshipers look to him for guidance in ridding their troubles. They may pray upon a Shiva statue so that he may bring about renewal in the world. Many worship Shiva as their primary God. Join Hindu’s around the world in worshiping Hindu God Shiva for both his destructive and constructive qualities.

Bring a Shiva or other Hindu statues into your home or place of worship from Lotus Sculpture.

Hindu God Vamana, Vishnu Avatar – The Dwarf Brahmin

Bronze Vishnu statue as the brahimn, dwarf avatar, Vamana leaping off the Hands of the Demon, Bali

The fifth avatar, Vamana, appeared in the Tretayuga in order to destroy Bali, the king of demons. The fourth lineal descendant of Hiranyakashyap, named Bali, through his devotion and penance defeated Indra, the Hindu god of firmament, humbled other gods and extended his authority over the three worlds. All the gods appealed to Lord Vishnu for protection and He became manifest in His Dwarf Avatar of Vamana for the purpose of restraining Bali.

When Bali was making a great religious offering, Lord Vishnu in the form of Vamana, a dwarf brahmin, appeared before him in the company of other Brahmins. Bali was extremely pleased to see a holy man with such a diminutive form and promised to give him whatever he should ask. Lord Vishnu asked only for as much land as he could measure by three steps. Bali laughingly agreed to grant the boon of three steps. Lord Vishnu grew in stature and thus stepped over heaven in his first stride and earth in the second stride. Then out of respect to Bali’s kindness and his grandfather Prahlad’s great virtues, Lord Vishnu stopped short and left him in pathal, the subterranean region. Thus, Vishnu as the dwarf brahmin Vamana, vanquished the demon king Bali and restored the three worlds to their rightful moral code. Bali’s capital was Mahabalipuram.

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