Purusharthas
15
PURUSHARTHAS
Transcript of Purusharthas
PURUSHARTHAS
INTRODUCTION“Purusha” means human being and “artha” means object or objective. Purusharthas means objectives of man. According to Hindu way of life, a man should strive to achieve four chief objectives (Purusharthas) in his life. They are:
Of the four, dharma an moksa are the one that man ought to seek; while artha and kama are the one that man is naturally inclined to seek
DHARMA (RIGHTEOUSNESS)
Dharma means that which upholds this entire creation.
It is a Divine law that is inherent and invisible, but responsible for all existence.
It exists in all planes, in all aspects and at all levels of creation.
It is considered to be the first cardinal aim because it is at the root of everything and upholds everything.
(MATERIAL WEALTH) Artha means wealth. Hinduism recognizes the importance of
material wealth for the overall happiness and well being of an individual.
A person may have the intention to uphold the dharma, but if he has no money he would not be able to perform his duties and fulfill his dharma.
Hinduism advocates austerity, simplicity and detachment, but does not glorify poverty.
KAMA (DESIRE) Kama in ordinarily termed as
PLEASURE. It can be mental pleasure, sensuous
pleasure, pleasure derived through satisfaction of work etc.
Kama is the enjoyment of the appropriate objects by the five senses assisted by the mind together with the soul.
The urge to enjoy pleasures and satisfy desires is the most powerful and effective incentive to individual progress.
MOKSHA (SALVATION) Moksha (‘Freedom’, ‘release’ or ‘rid
off’) from the cycle of birth and death is the ultimate goal of Hindu religious life.
Moksha is called Mukti (freedom) by Yogis , Nirvana by Buddhists and in Christianity moksha is termed Salvation
Highest end of life, attainable only by the individual himself, with the help and guidance of DHARMA.
It is total destruction of egoism. Moksha is also called as the ‘sublime
goal’
Rebirth and Salvation Pattern of Life• Hindus believe universe, everyone in it, part of
continual pattern of birth, death, and rebirth• After death atman reborn in process called
reincarnation, or samsara New Life• Nature of person’s new life shaped by karma—
sum effect of deeds, actions• Good karma, reincarnated to better station in life;
bad karma, lower station in life• Ultimate goal of human existence, moksha,
escape from cycle of rebirth Dharma • With moksha, atman leaves world, reunites fully
with Brahman• To achieve moksha is to fulfill one’s dharma—
spiritual duties, obligations• By fulfilling dharma, one creates good karma,
breaks free from rebirth cycle
ELABORATIONEach of the four canonical purusarthas was subjected to
a process of examination and elaboration which produced several key works in the history of Indian philosophy, including the Kamasutra of Vatsyayana
(treating kama, particularly as "sexual gratification"), the Arthashastra of Kautilya (treating artha as "material
pursuits"), the Dharmashastras of various authors, most notably Manu (treating dharma as "religious,
social and personal ethics") and the principle sutras of the six orthodox schools of philosophy or darsanas, all of which are principally concerned with the attainment of moksha, often referred to as the parama-purusartha
or "chief end of human life".
CONCLUSION Dharma is always held higher than Artha
and Kama. In the attainment of moksha only dharma
can help, provided it has been cultivated through artha and kama.
Moral decay and disintegration will follow. However with all these things also he is not
seen to be happy and contended. It can definitely help us to find PEACE OF
MIND which is the birth right of every human being.
BIBLIOGRAPHY www.hindubooks.org www.swamij.com www.hindunet.org BUSINESS ETHICS AND CSR
(Himalaya Publications)
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