THE PURUSHARTHAS

• What is the purpose of man on earth? Why is he born? Is it simply because he should eat, sleep, reproduce and disappear from the surface of the earth? If it were so what is the difference between human beings and animals? Every creature has a specific purpose for which it is created.You may say that it is one's karma in the previous birth that is responsible for human birth. Even here, birth is necessary to enjoy or suffer the consequences of one's actions in the previous birth! In short there is a purpose or aim in the birth of every creature on earth. The Vedas and our ancient scriptures have earmarked specific goals for human beings. They have pointed out what are important for human existence and how men can live ideally and happily. These goals are otherwise called the “Purusharthas”-- the need for every human being in the world. They are Dharma or Righteousness, Artha or money, Kama or Desire and Moksha or Mukthi or Salvation. It is now clear that these goals have to be pursued relentlessly if man wants to be really happy. Is it possible to live without any of these goals? No. All these Purusharthas are absolutely essential for an ideal life on earth!

• First and foremost is Dharma or Righteousness-- living according to the principles laid down by the Vedas and the shastras. But mere Dharma is not enough. Artha or money is essential to practice Dharma. Without money nothing can be done. In the Ramayana sage Vasishta tells Rama that money is absolutely essential in this world and that he sees no difference between the man without money and the dead! “ Dhanamarjaya Kakutsa dhanamula midamjagat antaram nabhijanami nirdhanasya mrutasyacha.” Money earned should be according to Righteousness-or Dharma, not through crooked or devious ways! The Taittiriya Upanishad ordains, “ Satyam vada, Dharmam Chara” Don't stray away from the the path of Dharma and Satya! The third goal of man is Kama or Desire. It should also be according to Dharma. No desire can be fulfilled without ‘Artha’ or money. So after living a life according to the principles of Dharma and earning money one should satisfy his desires sanctioned by Dharma! The next stage after this Dharmic life, is to prepare for Mukti or Salvation! These are the four Purusharthas to be achieved by every human being on earth!

“Earn wealth through righteousness and use wealth for promotion of righteousness. And let liberation to your only desires. Man should actually have only one desire in this lifetime, that of liberation- getting rid of bondage ie bond of ignorance (ajnana) and realize that living is only another name given to the acquirement of alternate misery and happiness; hunger and contentment; desire and fulfilment; illness and health” (SSS Vol X page 69) counsels Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. Too much of money is dangerous! Too little makes one poor and struggle for life! “Arthanamarjitham dukham arjiithanancha rakshanam nase dukham vyaye dukham ki marthm dukha bajanam?”-there is sorrow in earning money, sorrow in protecting it, sorrow in its destruction and sorrow in spending! Why this money that brings sorrow in everything? Money just essential for a simple happy living is enough! “Artha manartham bhavaya nityam” declares Adi Sankara in his Bhajagovinda Stotra and says there's practically no happiness with it!

Kama or Desire is the root cause of all sorrows! Desire is insatiable! Fulfillment of one rakes up another. It is similar to adding fuel to fire. Non fulfilment results in frustration that engenders anger! Extreme anger results in imbalance of mind leading to actions irrespective of consequences! It thus leads to the doom of the individual! Desire for trivial and transitory things should be avoided. Man should discriminate between what is eternal and what is evanescent or temporary. Desire for God is always good as this leads man to devotion and spirituality! The word Kama has another meaning and denotes lust, physical satisfaction of the senses! Many a great sage and devotee and scholar has fallen victim to this evil! Kama is the worst of the six inner enemies in human beings called “Arishadvargas” It works havoc in their lives! Sage Viswamitra had a bitter experience with the heavenly damsel Menaka! Ravana, king of Lanka suffered the worst and had to pay the heavy price of his life by going after every woman he saw including Sita, Rama's wife

What is the present trend in society? Dharma or Righteousness and Moksha or Salvation are almost extinct and forgotten! It is said that in Kaliyuga Dharma stands on one leg ie only one fourth. Even that is doubtful! All principles of Dharma are being flouted with impunity! Man thinks that he is God himself! Where is the question of salvation or mukthi? He has become the worshipper of Mammon! He goes to any extent to earn money breaking all principles of propriety! Fraud, forgery cheating, smuggling and other devious ways are being practiced assiduously! On the other side abuse of women, abduction, and rape have become the order of the day! The old order has changed totally but not for the better! The world is drowned in materialism and there seems to be no hope for the future since the priorities are completely different! The Purusharthas have almost no relevance in the present set up of society!