Purusharthas in Hinduism

In Hinduism, it is believed that life has a meaning. There exists a purpose for the existence from the smallest living being to the largest one. Hence, their main aim should to achieve the meaning to their life. Translated from Sanskrit, Purusha means human being, while Artha means purpose, an object or objective. Hence, in general Purusharthas mean objectives of a person or a human being. To realise the meaning or ‘Purushartha’ in one’s life, it is important to realise four aspects. They help or guide a human being in the way of living their own life. In Hinduism, it believed that this meaning of life is four-fold:
1. Dharma : Righteousness or one’s duty
2. Artha : Wealth
3. Kaama : Desire
4. Moksha : Liberation
It is believed that the purpose of his life upon earth is to follow the law (Dharma) of God and achieve salvation (Moksha) or freedom from his false self or ignorance (ahamkara) by leading a balanced life in which both material comforts and human passions (Kaama) have their own place.

These four aspects are collectively known as Purusharthas in Hinduism. It is important on a person’s part to fulfil the four Purusharthas and hence attain meaning of life. It is because these four aspects are not independent of each other and hence cannot be learnt about individually. Different Purusharthas play major role in different phases of a man’s life. One cannot ignore one of these aspects and its objectives, and further progress in life. It might further create imbalance in one’s life and prevent from reaching the ultimate destination in life.
The below verse clearly describes how one must spend equal time and efforts in attaining each of the four Purusharthas – Dharama, Artha, Kaama:

कच्चिदर्थं च धर्मं च कामं च जयतां वर।
विभज्य काले कालज्ञ सर्वान्वरद सेवसे।।
– The Ramayana

This loosely translates to: “One who is victorious and knows the world, divides adequate time for attending to all the three expedients of life like Dharma, Artha and Kaama.”

It is necessary that each of these aims of life are given individual priorities. Ignoring one of them proves to be harmful or prevents one from attaining the ultimate objective in life.

To quote an example: The desire to earn wealth (Artha) alone, may prevent one from realising the ultimate goal of life. This singly might blind the person through the materialistic desires and prevent him from attaining the objective of life – Moksha.
Of the four Purusharthas, Dharma Purushartha (righteousness) is believed to be the most important of all. This is then followed by Artha (Wealth or prosperity) Purushartha. Although, Moksha is not the least of these four aims of life. It is the ultimate ideal which becomes more and more visible and attainable as the wheels move forward with strength. It is considered that out of the four purusharthas, Dharma and Moksha Purusharthas are realised for one’s own well-being and inner satisfaction or peace. Whereas, the other two – Artha Purushartha and Kaama purushartha are said to be attained or realised for the well being of the others around them or for the society one lives in. Artha and Kaama are important wheels of the social life, and imperative for the functionality and continuity of society. They propel the man forward, but Dharma is best described as the spokes of a wheel – more the spokes, more the strength. Below is the detailed description of each of the four aims of life:

• Dharma
The first Artha or Purushartha is known as Dharma. Although, this word has been defined differently in different contexts. Dharma is therefore, the most complex goals of human life, to both understand and define. It is often described as the true purpose of the birth of a person. It decides what the person becomes in life.

In today’s era, Dharma Purushartha can be easily defined as the occupation or job of a person. Dharma of a person can be to treat patients as a Doctor, to educate students as a Teacher, or even to run the household as a Housewife. Dharma states down the way how these occupations are to be carried out by a person. It might just one job or a combination of many. Dharma might be decided right at the birth of a person or in due of course of time. At different phases of a person’s life, their Dharma varies significantly.

A person’s dharma can be a combination of things, and as a person progresses through life, different stages of life may call for different dharmas and purposes. Tuning into the inner guide of the heart allows a person to identify their dharma, their true calling.
Dharma deals with two main things:

o It reveals the essence of things, customs, religions, and so on. This is when Dharma is viewed from a wider sense.
o It sets the obligations of a person living in the society. This is when Dharma is viewed from a narrower sense.
Although Dharma Purushartha is said to be spiritual in nature, to follow or act according to Dharma has got nothing to do with spiritual works or worship. Dharma is the law of nature. It provides a clear distinction between what is wrong and what is wrong. It leads a person towards what he ought to do. Due to this nature, Dharma Purushartha is given the most priority in the four Purusharthas in Hinduism.

• Artha
Artha literally translates to ‘that which is desired or earned’. Individually, it is the attainment of material advantage and wealth. Artha is the Sanskrit word for “wealth” or “property,” but it has other meanings depending on the context. It also translates as meaning “goal,” “essence” or “purpose.” Any human or any house holder requires wealth (Artha) because he has to perform his own duties and take care of the needs of his family and the society, he lives in. It is also to uphold Dharma.

Artha is the acquisitive aspect of Purusharthas. This means that it can be acquired by an individual in his course of life. It is considered to be one of the basic human dignities – it drives you to earn enough assets for yourself and to take proper care of your family. Artha Purushartha is something that provides the foundation or base to Dharma and Kaama. Without having a financial stability in life, one cannot attain the spiritual aspects of life. Hinduism therefore places material wealth (Artha) as the second most important objective or aim in a human’s life. While Dharma and Moksha are meant to be followed for the sake of ones’ own self, Wealth (Artha) and desires (Kaama) are meant to be followed and pursued for the sake of others.

The best examples could be Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna in his human form. Lord Vishnu is served by the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, herself. He is believd to be a role model for any householder. It is because he himself leads a luxurious life with Goddess Lakshmi by his side, but is very dutiful, responsive and righteous in his actions. Similarly, lord Krishna led a luxurious and royal life in his human form. However, he remained strong to his roots and the cayse of his birth on Earth. He fulfilled his duties thoroughly.

Paramhansa Yogananda said, “Seek spiritual riches within. What you are is much greater than anything or anyone else you have ever yearned for. And remember, the fear of not having, disguises the reality that we have everything.”

• Kaama
Kaama means desire, wish, affection, love or other worldly pleasures. These desires may come in various forms — for one to be wealthy, powerful, sexual needs, for recognition, and so on. The Kama Purushartha states that one’s desires need to be fulfilled in their lifetime, in a state of awareness and without harming anyone in the process. It is believed that having such desires and fulfilling them is healthy unless it comes in the way of Dharma, Kaama, or Moksha. Also, it denotes the fulfilment of one’s internal or physical desires. The religious texts state that one’s desires are to be fulfilled in a lifetime without harming anyone else in the process.

In Hinduism, Kaama or a sense of desires and pleasures is considered the cause of suffering. According to the Bhagavad Gita, a sense of desire leads to delusion and bondage to the cycle of births and deaths. This can prevent one from achieving the ultimate objective- Moksha (liberation). For someone to evolve spiritually, this barrier of desires has to be crossed. This can be done either through fulfilment of these desires or by supressing them. As one becomes aware of their desires and one goes about fulfilling them in awareness and without judgement, then one soon reaches the stage of being able to sublimate them.

Although most of the people wrongly perceive Kaama as just sexual or physical pleasure. There are many references and texts in Hinduism like the Kamasutra, that describe Kaama to be more than just attaining physical pleasures by human beings. Therefore, Kaama has a broader meaning involved. It can be believed that Kaama Purushartha is anything that brings in joy, happiness or pleasure into one’s life.

• Moksha
Translating to ‘liberation’, Moksha means to attain the ultimate objective of life. It is achieved when one realises their own inner self. It is generally known to be the ‘Paramapurushartha’ (most important Purushartha). In Hinduism, Dharma, Artha and Kama are actually the original Purusarthas, Moksha is a later inclusion.

In Hinduism, attaining Moksha Purushartha is considered to be the supreme goal of human beings. It is the experience of the flow and fusion of the Shiva and Shakti energies in one’s self. The experience of union, oneness or Ekatvam with one’s Higher Self is Moksha. This is considered as the supreme Purusharthas, which a person generally attains at a very older age.

Jantunam Nara Janma Durlabham
This verse translates to: “Of all living beings, human birth is the rarest”
– Bhagavat Gita

The Bhagavat Gita makes special emphasis on the attainment of Moksha or liberation. The above verse aptly justifies this statement. Living the life of Human beings, which is considered to be the rarest of all, we should thrive for liberation. One should adopt the path of self-realisation, instead of seeking only worldly pleasures. It is believed that it is only out of our delusion and ignorance that one takes the worldly life seriously, but life is meant to develop and realise only the chittha shuddhi- Purity of Consciousness. This connects one to the ultimate supreme being.

It is attained through freedom from Earthly things or pleasures and emerge out spiritually. It enables the person freedom. This is:
o Freedom from the chain of birth and deaths.
o Freedom from sufferings.
o Freedom from karma (action).
o Freedom from attachment to the objects of desires, or materialistic things.

The concept of Dharma-Artha-Kaama is about the way of life. This concept of Dharma Artha Kaama is described in the Valmiki Ramayana in an elaborate way by Lord Rama himself. In Hinduism, Lord Rama is considered an ideal human being who realised the aims of life and it is the duty of the later generations to follow the same path taken by him. When Lord Rama was in exile, he visited by his brother, Bharat in Chutrakoota, he then says:

कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्ममर्थं धर्मेण वा पुनः।
उभौ वा प्रीतिलोभेन कामेन च न बाधसे।।
– Ramayana
This further translates to: “The Dharma (duties and righteousness) cannot be compromised when performing Artha (earnings, awards or wealth). He adds that also Artha should not obstructed by Dharma. And both Dharma and as well as Artha should not be obstructed due to pleasure activities of senses (Kaama).”

This clearly states the importance that one has to give to each of the four Purusharthas. One should not compromise for one Purushartha to obtain another. A distinct line must be drawn in order to fulfil and realise the four Purusharthas. Although, the four aims of life are dependent on each other for their existence, one must know the individual importance of these objectives.