Dharma means to live in abidance to the society and the rules that have been framed by our elders for social living. It includes not injuring others through thought, word or deed (ahimsa), having compassion to all forms of life (sarvabhoota daya), forgiving others easily (kshama), not cheating others, sharing one’s possesions with others, living in harmony with others and working for the welfare of other members in the society. There are 10 main dharmas in all.

It is imperative for every human being to abide by these rules! As such, these dharmas are applicable to one and all! Thus, working for the well-being of others is dharma (righteous duties). Looking after parents, feeding other living entities including animals and birds, treating everyone equally are all part of one’s dharmic duties.

Devotion on the other hand, is personal. Having a spiritual bent of mind is for one’s own upliftment. It is the pathway one takes to reach Godhead or to experience oneness with that Supreme Essence.

Let us consider one example. Contributing or participating in mass feeding activities in a temple is a righteous deed (dharmic activity). Worshipping God in the temple, offering flowers to Him with love, listening to Guru’s speeches and abiding by His commands is devotion (bhakti).

What is the connection then between the two?

As devotion to God or Guru (bhakti) increases in the person, his inclination to participate in righteous duties (dharma) increases. For instance, due to love for God (bhakti) you offer food to Him as Naivedya. This is bhakti. Thereafter you distribute the food with neighbours and with the poor and needy. This is dharma.

Bhakti causes a spurt in charitable activities (dāna) and in abidance to righteous duties (dharma). Charitable activities (dāna) however form part of both bhakti and dharma.

The person who constructs a temple and pond near it has done a dharmic (righteous) task. Merely because he constructed a temple, it cannot be said that he is overflowing with devotion.

Bhakti means having extreme love for God. It is a supreme love. It includes that which is given to God or Guru with love.

Sadguru alone knows what a person deserves. When you give any object to Sadguru, He identifies the person who is in real need of the object you have given and then passes it on to them. If he so wishes, HE can give away your offering to animals as well.

To sum up, social service is dharma; participating in rituals relating to God is bhakti.

(Source: Narasimha Jayanti 2017)