Thread by @AhammBrahmaasmi

In whatever way the universe came into existence,why not assume that the beings inhabiting it evolved the system of #Dharma by themselves?These and similar questions are asked by many people.#Srimad #Appayya #Dikshita has very cogently answered them in his work AtmarpanaStuti:1/n

क्षित्यादीनामवयववतां निश्चितं जन्म तावत्..It is a fact that must be accepted by all hands that all things which have parts must have come into existence at some time or other. To say that a thing came into existence but that there was none to make it come into being is quite 2/n

illogical.For, a thing is said to come into existence only when we conceive of that thing as non-existing before that moment.There must be some reason which brings about the coming into existence. It cannot be postulated that the thing itself subjected itself to the operation 3/n

of the causal reason and thus came into existence. Unless it had some sort of existence before, it is impossible to admit the possibility of its subjecting itself to any such process. It stands to reason therefore that, when an effect is produced for the first time from a 4/n

necessarily antecedent cause, there must be an agency capable of acting upon that cause and producing an effect therefrom. The universe therefore being non-existent before its coming into being and being further inert or incapable of action of its own accord, cannot possibly 5/n

create itself. It may be said that the perceptible world made of the gross elements are traceable to the subtle elements. But an Entity has to be assumed as a Creator at least of those subtle elements which transcend our senses. There are innumerable reasons which may be 6/n

advanced for proving the existence of a Creator. For the present, the inference from the fact of the universe having parts is sufficient.
As the individual souls are dependent and have but a little knowledge, it is impossible for them to find out for themselves the rules of 7/n

Dharma. Further, if anybody is able of his own accord to find out what Dharma the means of happiness is and what Adharma the means of misery is, there is no reason at all why anybody should be miserable. On the other hand, everybody would be happy always. It will be clear 8/n

from this itself that the system of Dharma and Adharma cannot be a creation of the individual souls. It necessarily follows that it is a creation of an Entity transcending them all. If everyone of the members of a family unfailingly carry out the duties allotted to them and 9/n

conduct themselves in conformity with the directions of the head of the family, such a family is certainly a very creditable one. If, on the other hand, everyone of them begins to behave according to his own whims and fancies, there can be no doubt that the family will be 10/n

conduct themselves in conformity with the directions of the head of the family, such a family is certainly a very creditable one. If, on the other hand, everyone of them begins to behave according to his own whims and fancies, there can be no doubt that the family will be 11/n

ruined in no time. God, the Head of the family known as the universe, has prescribed the several duties of the members thereof. A state in which all the citizens are permitted to do all kinds of work indiscriminately has no right to be called a state. Only if the officers 12/n

thereof perform correctly and without confusion the several duties attached to their respective offices, will the Government run smoothly. Similarly, for administering this great kingdom known as the universe and for its smooth running, God has enunciated the system of Dharma.n/n