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{{short description|That which is not in accord with the dharma}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2016}}
'''Adharma'''<ref>''Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita, a New Translation and Commentary'', Chapter 1–6. Penguin Books, 1969, p 64–66 (v 40–41), p 262–263 (v 7)</ref> is the [[Sanskrit]] [[antonym]] of [[dharma]]. It means "that which is not in accord with the dharma". Connotations include betrayal, discord, disharmony, [[naturalness (philosophy)|unnaturalness]], [[wrongness]], [[evil]], [[immorality]], unrighteousness, wickedness, and [[vice]].<ref>''Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha. Sutta 22:14.'' Wisdom Publications, {{ISBN|0-86171-072-X}}</ref>

==Description==
''Adharma'' (Sanskrit: अधर्म) is derived from combining "a" with ''"dharma"'', which literally implies "not-''dharma''". It means immoral, sinful, wrong, wicked, unjust, unbalanced, or unnatural.<ref>[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=adharma&script=&direction=SE&link=yes Adharma] Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, Cologne University, Germany</ref>

According to [[Bhagavata Purana]]'s verse 6.1.40, the [[Yamaduta]] replied: the religious principles prescribed in the Vedas constitute as Dharma, and those that are not constitute as Adharma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ŚB 6.1.40|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/6/1/40/|website=vedabase.io|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>

Ariel Glucklich translates ''Adharma'' as chaos, disorder, non-harmonious and explains it as opposite of ''[[Dharma]]''.<ref>Ariel Glucklich (2014), The Sense of Adharma, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0198024484}}, pages 8–10</ref> Glucklich states that ''adharma'' isn't the binary opposite of ''Dharma'' or absolutely unethical in Indian philosophy. Rather it is a complex functional subjective term just like ''dharma'', with shades of meaning, that depends on circumstances, purpose and context.<ref>Ariel Glucklich (2014), The Sense of Adharma, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0198024484}}, pages 9–10</ref>

Gene F. Collins Jr. defines Adharma as irreligiosity. Gene states that it is anything contrary to the laws of existence. According to him, they are those actions which are contrary to one's Dharma. Whatever facilitates spiritual growth is Dharma, and whatever impedes spiritual growth is Adharma. Following an Adharmic path means acting on three vices, which are, pride, contact, and intoxication. According to him, blind faith without regard for spiritual understanding is Adharma.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ph.D|first=Gene F. Collins Jr|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Cosmopsychology.html?id=Fb6MAAAAQBAJ|title=Cosmopsychology: The Psychology of Humans as Spiritual Beings|date=2009-11-21|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|isbn=978-1-4691-2262-5|language=en}}</ref> Following the path of Adharma can result in a bad future.

==Lineage==
The [[Vishnu Purana]] recites a Hindu legend that includes ''Dharma'' and ''Adharma'' as mythical characters, and it is loaded with symbolism about virtues and vices, morality and ethics. The lineage is as follows,<ref name=wilson/>

{{Quote|
The progeny of Dharma by the daughters of [[Daksha|Dakṣa]] were as follows: by [[Śraddhā]] (faith) he had [[Kāma]] (desire); by [[Lakṣmī]] (prosperity), [[Darpa]] (pride); by [[Dhrti|Dhṛti]] (steadiness), [[Niyama]] (precept); by [[Tuṣṭi]] (resignation), [[Santosha|Santoṣa]] (content); by [[Puṣṭi]] (thriving), [[Lobha]] (cupidity); by [[Medhā]] (intelligence), [[Śruta]] (sacred tradition); by [[Kriyā]] (action, devotion), [[Daṇḍa]], [[Naya (religious concept)|Naya]], and [[Vinaya]] (correction, polity, and prudence); by [[Buddhi]] (intellect), [[Bodha]] (understanding); by [[Lajjā]] (modesty), [[Vinaya]] (good behaviour); by [[Vapu]] (body), [[Vyavasāya]] (perseverance). [[Inner peace|Śānti]] (expiation) gave birth to [[Kṣema]] (prosperity); [[Siddhi]] (perfection) to [[Sukha]] (enjoyment); and [[Kīrtti]] (fame) to [[Yaśa]] (reputation). These were the sons of Dharma; one of whom, [[Kāma]], had [[Herṣa]] (joy) by his wife Nandi (delight).
<br>
The wife of Adharma (vice) was [[Hiṃsā]] (violence), on whom he begot a son [[Anṛta]] (falsehood), and a daughter [[Nikṛti]] (immorality): they intermarried, and had two sons, [[Bhaya]] (fear) and [[Naraka]] (hell); and twins to them, two daughters, [[Māyā]] (deceit) and [[Vedanā]] (torture), who became their wives. The son of Bhaya and Māyā was the destroyer of living creatures, or [[Mrtyu|Mṛtyu]] (death); and [[Duḥkha]] (pain) was the offspring of Naraka and Vedanā. The children of Mṛtyu were [[Vyādhi]] (disease), [[Jarā]] (decay), [[Soka]] (sorrow), [[Taṇhā|Tṛṣṇa]] (greediness), and [[Krodha (Hinduism)|Krodha]] (wrath). These are all called the inflictors of misery, and are characterised as the progeny of Vice (Adharma). They are all without wives, without posterity, without the faculty to procreate; they are the terrific forms of [[Viṣṇu]], and perpetually operate as causes of the destruction of this world. On the contrary, Dakṣa and the other Ṛṣis, the elders of mankind, tend perpetually to influence its renovation: whilst the [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manus]] and their sons, the heroes endowed with mighty power, and treading in the path of truth, as constantly contribute to its preservation.
|Vishnu Purana|Chapter 7, Translated by [[Horace Hayman Wilson]]<ref name=wilson>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp041.htm Vishnu Purana], HH Wilson (Translator), Chapter 7</ref>}}

==See also==
*[[Anrita]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]

Adharma - Revision history

imported>Yamaguchi先生 at 23:04, 10 August 2021