(10.3.4) Ten Characteristics of Dharma (Dharma Ke Das Lakshan)

Dharma Ke Das Lakshan 

The Vedas, the Shastras and the Purans say that the universe rests on DHARMA ( the Divine law), that Dharm alone fulfills human life, that Dharm alone guards man against sins and ushers him into the higher life. According to the Manusmriti the ten characteristics of Dharm are as follows -
Dhriti kshmaa damosteyam shouchminindriyanigrah. 
Dheerviddhyaa satyamakrodho dashakam dharm lakshanam. (Manusmriti 6/92)
धृतिः क्षमा दमोS स्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रिय निग्रहः। 
धीर्विद्या सत्यम क्रोधो दशकं धर्म लक्षणम्। (मनु स्मृति 6 /92 )
1. Patience or Fortitude (धैर्य )
2. Forgiveness क्षमा )
3. Self control (दम )
4 . Non-stealing (अस्तेय = चोरी नहीं करना )
5. Cleanliness (external and internal) (शौच  - मन, वाणी और शरीर की पवित्रता )
6. Mastery of the senses (इंद्रिय निग्रह ) 
7. Benevolent intellect or pure intellect (बुद्धि )
8. Spiritual knowledge or wisdom (विद्या )
9. Truth (सत्य )
10. Non anger or absence of wrath ( अक्रोध )  

In the Mahabharat it is said, " Absence of enmity with all creatures, in thoughts,words and deeds, compassion on all, and charity - these constitute the eternal Dharma of the virtuous."
According to the Padmapuran, the fundamental principles of Dharma are - continence, truthfulness, performance of the five daily sacrifices, charity, practice of self restraint, forgiveness, harmlessness, tranquility and non- thieving. 

In the Valmiki Ramayan it is said - "It is only Dharma through which one gets money, happiness and everything. Dharma is the essence of this universe." (Arayanakaand- 9/30)
Related Posts you will like to read :-  What is Dharma   

(14.3.1) Panchdev / Five Gods in Hinduism

 Five Gods (Panch Dev)

 Panchdev(पंच देव कौन हैं ?)

According to the Hinduism five gods are the chief gods. These five gods are Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh, Shakti and Surya. According to the Hindu scriptures, these five gods are worshiped during every religious activity.

The following shloka is mentioned in ' Shabad Kalpadrum Kosh ' -

Aadityam Gananaatham cha devim rudram cha keshavam.

Panch daivatyaamityuktam sarv karmasu poojayate. ( Matsya Puran )  

 आदित्यं गणनाथं च देवी रुद्रं च केशवम्

पञ्च दैवत्य मित्युक्तं सर्व कर्मसु पूजयेत् ( मत्स्य पुराण )

Surya, Ganesh, Durga, Shiva and Vishnu (सूर्य, गणेश, दुर्गा, शिव और विष्णु )- these five are called Panch devas. They should be worshiped in all the religious activities. There are five elements in the  universe. They are earth, water, fire, air and ether. Each of the five gods is the lord of one of the five elements. Lord Shiva is the lord of Earth, Vishnu is the lord of ether, Bhagavati Devi is the lord of fire, Ganesh is the lord of water, Surya is the lord of air 

( Source - Shri Ganesh Ank page 45 and Nitya karam pooja prakash page 105 ).  
Related Posts - 
(14) Material related to different Gods 
(14.1.1) Lord Ganesh
(14.4) Goddess Durga 
(14.6.2) Shiva Gayatri Mantra

13-1-4 Solah Sansakar

What is Sanskar ?  Solah Sansakar / Shodash Sanskar / What are the names of Solah Sanskar ? Which are sixteen Sanskars ?

What is Sanskaar-- (For Hindi translation CLICK HERE)
1. The literal meanings of Sanskaar  are purification, refinement, ceremony,rite, sacrament etc.
2. Sanskaar is an action or a series of actions through which good qualities or virtues are in inculcated and deficiencies or shortcomings are removed.
3. Sanskaar can be defined as the purification of one's thoughts and feelings.
4. Sanskaar removes shortcomings and enhances virtues.
5. Through sanskaar a person gains spiritual progress and achieves liberation .
Solah Sanskaar-
According to the Hindu religion there are 16 Sanskaars or sacraments --
1. Garbhaadhaan Sanskaar 2. Punsvan 3. Seemantonnayan
These  three Sanskaars are pre-birth sanskaars of a child.
4. Jaatakarm 5. Naamkaran 6. Nishkraman 7. Annapraashan 8. Mundan 9. Karanvedh
These six sanskaars are related to the childhood.
10. Vidhyaarambh 11. Yagyopaveet 12. Vedaarambh 13. Keshaant 14. Samaavartan 15. Vivah 16. Antheshthee
Here under is given the short description of the sixteen Sanskaars-
1. Garbhaadhaan sanskaar - This is the first sanskaar. For this sanskaar the husband and the wife must have pure thoughts.
2. Punsavan sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed after three months of conception. Its done for the proper development of the fetus.
3. Seemantonnayan sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed after the sixth or eighth month of conception. This sanskaar is done for the mental development of the child. In this sanskaar the mother is inspired to have excellent thoughts through different holy symbols and inspirational stories.
4. Jaatkarm sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed after the birth of the child. In this sanskaar the Ved mantras are chanted.
5. Naamkaran sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed on the tenth or eleventh day after the birth. In this sanskaar the newly born child is given the name.
6. Nishkraman sanskaar - This is performed after the third or fourth month of the birth. In this sanskaar the child is taken out of the house.
7. Karnvedh sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed after the sixth, seventh or eights month of the birth. In this sanskaar the child's ear lobes are pierced.
8. Annapraashanna sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed after the six month of the birth. In this sanskaar solid food is given to the child first time.
9. Mundan sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed in the first year or in the third year after the birth. This sanskaar is releted to the shaving the head of the child.
10. Vidhyarambh sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed when the child attains the age of five year. The child salutes Lord Ganesh and  Devi Sarswati. The teacher blesses the child and the learning of the alphabet begins.
11. Yagyopavit sanskaaar - In this sanskaar a holy thread is given the child to wear. Guru mantra is given to the child.
12. Vedarambh sanskaar - The child is sent to the Gurukul to study the vedas and other holy scriptures.
13. Keshaant sanskaar - This sanskaar was performed before leaving the Gurukul.
14. Samaavartan sanskaar - This sanskaar was perfored at the end of the child's study the Gurukul. After this sanskaar the child entered the Grihasth Aashram.
15. Vivah sanskaar - This sanskaar is related to the sacred union of two souls. It is the entry into the family life.
16. Antyeshthi sanskaar - This sanskaar is performed after the death of the person.
Note -  (For Hindi translation CLICK HERE)