Ṛta

ʚta (sometimes spelled rta) is an ancient Indian concept which means "order" or "balance". Basically, it means that the universe runs according to a certain structure, with each thing in its proper place and time. This order helps to explain why things happen in certain ways and why certain things are seen as divine and holy. Ṛta also serves as a source of justice, as it implies that if one does things in the correct way, one will be rewarded, and if one does things in a wrong way, one will be punished. This concept is found in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, and it still plays a major role in Indian culture today.