Ṛta

This article refers to Rta in Hinduism. For the Indian playback singer, see Asha Bhosle. For other uses, see RTA.

"Asha" redirects here. For the character from Star Wars: Ewoks, see List of minor Star Wars characters#Asha.

In Vedic Sanskrit, Rta literally means the "course of things." The Vedic deity most closely associated with rta is Varuna.

Rta is cognate to the Avestan word and Zoroastrian conception of Satya – Truth, one of the Amesha Spentas.

In the Vedas, rta lays the philosophical foundation for the Hindu conception of dharma. In current usage, the use of the term rta is eschewed for the more developed and now standard dharma.

Rta became deified as the father of justice and righteousness, unyielding but eminently fair. It grew, as Radhakrishnan states, "from physical divine" in its purvey.

Rta was morality, the equitable law of the universe.

See also

• Upanishads
• Rtu