Maharashtra Dharma: An Overview

Maharashtra dharma is the spiritual background of dharmic resistance to Sultani tyranny that started in the middle of the 17th century in Maharashtra under the leadership of Bhonsale Chhatrapatis. 

Maharashtra is the sole state in the Union of India, having its name associated with the Dharma. It was Samartha Ramdas Swami who is believed to define Maharashtra dharma. The word Maharashtra Dharma first time came in his letter ‘Nishchayacha Mahameru’ to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, where it was said to him that ‘Maharashtra Dharma rakhila kahi, Tumhakarane’ (it is your deeds that saved a part of surviving Maharashtra Dharma). 

The term ‘Maharashtra dharma’ was coined by Samartha Ramdas Swami, and it was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who embodied the same term. However, it is believed that the exact concept behind Maharashtra dharma existed way before them. 

Two letters were sent by Samartha to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which were titled Raj Dharma and Kshaatra Dharma, forming the principle backbone for understanding the concept of Maharashtra Dharma.

Raj Dharma

Raj Dharma, referred to as the duty of the kings, mainly focused on vyavahar neeti that the kings must adopt or follow so that they can keep their kingdom intact and have their servants abide by their side. The core of having a prosperous life is to behave with your intellect intact. Thinking and rethinking things before making an important decision can help an individual avoid major blunders.

According to Raj Dharma, kings should never forget the limiters of justice, as, without justice, everything is considered meaningless. Weak leadership can lead to anarchy. Therefore, it is essential to have a firm hold over the kingdom. While ruling over a kingdom, the kings are surrounded by several people; it is not recommended to measure them using single metrics. Instead, a king must measure them accordingly and assign the respective jobs. 

Kings should follow their royal duties, fight like warriors on the battlefield, and should follow the ritualistic Pooja path swadharma when with Deva Brahmanas. 

Kshaatra Dharma

Kshaatra Dharma, according to Samartha, is not for dimwits and cucks. In his opinion, the depressed dimwits either run away or die on the battlefields. Either way, it is considered to be disgraceful.

The king who fights the battles and wins enjoys the riches. As per kshatra dharma, no matter even if the king dies on the battlefield while fighting, he attains sadgati and gets reborn as a Kulin individual. Similar lines ‘Hato Va Prapsyasi Swargam, Jitwa Wa Bhokshyase Mahim. Tasmat Uttishtha Kaunteya Yuddhaya Kruta Nishchaya’ was said by Shri Krishna to Arjuna in Mahabharata. The same lines were even said by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Raja Chhatrasaal Bundela.

Characteristics of Maharashtra Dharma

The following mentioned are six characteristics of Maharashtra dharma:

1. Aishwarya Kansha, or aspiration for prosperity, is conducive to nationalism: It is Ramdas who propagated the aspiration of prosperity among people. According to him, without motivation for prosperity, it is not possible to create an independent nation. In his words, ‘those people who are accomplished will enjoy prosperity and those people who are not accomplished will become poor’.
2. Prapanch or desire to lead a worldly life: It is the second characteristic of Maharashtra dharma. As per Ramdas, an ideology of renunciation is considered detrimental to nation-building. In his words, ‘an individual must lead a worldly life well before taking the path of spiritual ends, and those individuals who neglect their family or responsibilities and sought to achieve salvation tend to become impoverished.’ 
3. Lokjagriti or enlightening the people: Educating and organizing people and encouraging unity among them are significant objects that lead to nation-building. According to Ramdas, ‘educate people, try to make them wise, and keep them organized by fostering unity among them’. 
4. Shakti or physical strength: when it comes to nation-building, shakti has been given a significant place in the Maharashtra Dharma. No nation gives significance to a weakling. While explaining the importance of shakti or physical strength, Ramdas says that ‘ it is the physical strength by which the kingdoms are won and ingenuity encourages efforts. A person who is capable of combining both physical strength and ingenuity in him becomes an abode of prosperity. As a result, worshipping Lord Ram and Hanuman is considered important in Maharashtra.
5. Yatnadev or activism: Ramdas, in this fiFth characteristic of Maharashtra Dharma, highlighted the importance of efforts by saying that ‘effort or struggle is considered as God and people gifted this particular quality are fortunate enough. Without efforts there prevails poverty.’
6. Swarajya (Self-Government) and Swadharma (duties of one’s Varna): Swarajya here is described as an objective, and Swadharma is a means to achieve the same objectives. According to Ramdas, it is vital for people, especially the ones who belong to Brahmin and Kshatriya Varna, to observe their Swarajya and Swadharma take the nation to its glorious state. 

Conclusion

Maharashtra Dharma, defined by Samartha Ramdas Swami, is the spiritual background of dharmic resistance to Sultani tyranny that took place in Maharashtra in the middle of the 17th century under the leadership of Bhonsale Chhatrapatis. It was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who embodied the term ‘Maharashtra Dharma’. There are a total of six characteristics of Maharashtra dharma, as discussed in the above-mentioned article.