Indian Political Thought, 2nd Edition

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Dhamma: Buddha’s and Aśoka’s

Mahendra Prasad Singh

“Dharma” (Sanskrit)/Dhamma (Pali) is a foundational concept in ancient India’s social and political thought. Derived from the root dhri in classical Sanskrit, it means to uphold or wear or something worthy of maintaining or imbibing. It is common to Vedic/Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh worldviews— except Sikhism (founded in the 16^th century CE), dating back to early or mid first millennium BCE. It was translated into English for religion, but there is, in fact, no English equivalent to the Indian term. The term religion applies more aptly to the major Abrahmic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, originating in the 7th century BCE, 1st century CE, and 7th century CE, respectively. ...