text: what is 'dharma'? is it not the religious beliefs as understood in sanskrit? if not, then, what is 'hinduism'?   dharma is the sustaining base for the creatures born out of the nature. when knowledge is not developed living beings endowed with intelligence live by belief or faith. to that extent, dharma is religious belief by which the society is sustained.  but otherwise its meaning is universal and expanse. it can not be separated from the truth; but the truth does not reveal once and for all. hence, hinduism is a dharma which is revelation of the truth and by that manifested aspect of dharma people have been living for last how many millenia has not been recorded in history. hinduism is a way of experimented living with truth as its basis. it is hence, is an eclectic culture besides a faith supported by science.  i fully agree with what another learned answerer (rav 142857) has said that dharma is derived from the root word 'dhri' that upholds the 'praja' those born of prakriti or the nature. principles of hinduism uphold the entire mankind by protecting the nature who is worshipped as the primordial mother that has given birth to every thing in the infinite universe.