Karma is greater than Dharma(religion)

Karma and Dharma are embedded with each other. If you live according to Dharma , then for sure , you can elevate above Karma. Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha ! This means that , if you protect Dharma , then in return Dharma protects you ! There are few examples of people, who rose about their Karma by living with Dharma. Sati Savitri : she abided to wife's Dharma ( utmost loyalty to her husband ) and she was a great devotee of Shiva , thus She won her husband's life back from Lord Yama ( the God for death ).

Another example , where A Spider , snake and elephant ( even though they were born as animals ) with their utmost devotion to Shiva , attained moksha ( Srikalahasthi ) Bhakta Markendeya : When he learns from his parents that, he is short lived, he does tapasya for Shiva , and Shiva himself comes to save Markendeya from Lord Yama’s clutches.

Nandi , the Vehicle of Shiva , attained immortality through rigorous penance and thus could overcome his karma of short life ( Nandi had only 8 years of life span ) .

Sage Valmiki : He was a dacoit , but could elevate above his karma by chanting Rama’s name and thus became a great poet and wrote Ramayana

Shiva , the untouched , who is beyond the vicious cycle of life and death is above karma ( the 3 karmas , namely Sanchit, Prarabdha and Agami ). The 3 lines of ash on his forehead represent the 3 karmas. So, devotees of Shiva , who do earnest prayers to Shiva and live according to Dharma, yes, they can rise above Karma and thus attain Moksha.

Karma is nothing but your actions. Dharma is nothing but your morality. When you do ‘Karma’ with ‘Dharma’ you build good karma. (eg: donation to charity) When you do ‘Karma’ without ‘Dharma’ you build bad karma. (eg: stealing money) That being said, there can not be Dharma without Karma. Having morals is not good enough. You need to take action and implement your morality.

What is Karma? Material action performed according to scriptural regulations; Action pertaining to the development of the material body; Any material action which will incur a subsequent reaction; The material reaction one incurs due to fruitive activities; The above are summarised in the Shrimad Bhagawad Gita (4.17), as “karma (action), vikarma (forbidden action) and akarma (inaction)” Ultimate Karma. The “art of all work - karmasu kausalam” (BG 2.50) is to work for the Supreme Lord “Krsna karma.”

What is Dharma? Bhishmadev , in Mahabharata, tells Yudhistira Maharaja that “dharma is difficult to define” but he continues, “Dharma is that which helps the upliftment of living beings. The learned rishis have declared that which sustains is Dharma.” Importance of Dharma: The Hitopadesh points out, “Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating are the four principles of animal life. These are common both to animals and to human beings. But religion is the extra function of the human being. Without religion, human life is no better than animal life.”

Dharma Protects. The Manu Samhita (8.15) states, “dharma protects those who protect it” i.e. “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha”

Different types of Dharma: 1. Jati Dharma

2. Kula Dharma

3. Sva Dharma

4. Vranasharama Dharma

Further definition of Dharma:

Modern dictionary definition of religion is “a particular system of faith and worship.”

Religion indicates a kind of faith. Sometimes faith changes i.e. from one set of beliefs to other. But Hinduism talk of religion as something eternal (Sanatan dharma) that cannot be changed ie intrinsic property of something e.g. the intrinsic property (religion) of water is its liquidity; the intrinsic property (religion) of fire is heat & light. Similarly, the intrinsic property (religion) of the soul cannot be separated. · The intrinsic property or the religion of the eternal soul is its service attitude towards God i.e the religion for the living entity is being the eternal servant of God, as pointed out by Chaitanya Maha prabhu, “it is the living entity's constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Krsna” (Chaitanya Charitamrta Madhya Lila 20.108)

· The Puarnas thus define religion as: “The supreme occupation [dharma/religion] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” (Bhagavat Purana 1.2.6) Ultimate Dharma: Shri Krishna, while concluding His instruction in Shrimad Bhagawad Gita, defines the ultimate dharma: “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Shrimad Bhagwd Gita 18.66)

Dharma is set of code and conduct that led you towards a social, civilised life based on morality of character. But, are these written rules or spoken rules become Dharma by itself? No, for those rules to become Dharma they need to be followed in action, thoughts, and behaviour. The moment you do any action, think, or behave it is a Karma. Thus, for Dharma to come into existence, it depends on Karma.s o you can say that karma is the vehicle on which Dharma travels, without Karma, Dharma cannot move.

Karma was defined by Lord Krishna beautifully in Bhagwat Geeta. When Arjun was not ready to kill his relatives during the war of Kurukshetra, he was morally correct isn't it. Then, why Krishna told him otherwise? Because he need to chose his Karmas, to kill or not to kill. By not killing, he is showing his brotherhood, his love for his clan, for his elders etc this is also his Dharma , but his greater duty us towards the people, society at large, to fight against injustice, to carve a path for future generations to follow Dharma.

Thus, without Karma, even Dharma would not have survived. Whole Karma yoga defined by Shri Krishna focused on how karmas can liberate you and give you moksha when those are not directed towards a personal motive or its “phaal" I.e. fruits. Hence, until and unless you do something, think something, and bring that into your behaviour, Dharma do not exist. Once, Karmas are done to carve way for Dharma, then Dharma is propagated. That's the reason why Preaching is considered better than Teaching, because former is Dharma with Karma, latter is only Dharma and no Karma. Jay Shri Krishna