GOALS IN HUMAN LIFE - PERSPECTIVE OF HINDUISM

From the very ancient times in India, Purshardhas- Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha have been considered as values, and formed its essential value system. Means `desired by purusha(human being)’ in other words `human needs’.

Study of these acknowledged as Sastra. These Sastras are known as Dharmasastra, Arthasastra, Kamasastra and Mokshasastra.


1. DHARMA – First, every human being needs to obey the law of nature by strictly following dharma. Dharma is stability of the society, the maintenance of social order, and the general welfare of mankind. And whatever conduces to the fulfilment of this purpose is called 'dharma'. Elaborately can be discussed later

2. ARTHA: Acquisition of wealth. Sutrakar has given a fairly large list of arthas as "Education, Land, Gold, Money, Household utensils, friends...."

3. KAMA (TO DESIRE): This leads to the next purusartha i.e., Kama. “Kama is the enjoyment of the appropriate objects by the five senses of hearing, feeling, seeing, testing and smelling, assisted by the mind together with the soul.” It is implied what one desires need to be within the threshold of one's wealth and within dharmic values! As a matter of fact this lies in the root of any activity. But only desire can not produce result or object; for this we require to have a relation of artha and kama.

DHARMA IN DETAIL:

But there are some problems associated with the artha and  kama purusarthas, for example, one may think to fulfil that desire or that kama, which is against the welfare of others. Therefore, here comes the need for the higher guiding principles which can guide or regulate the kama. For the purpose of this, Indian thinkers conceived Dharma. Dharma, in its very early meaning is in the form of natural law, is the maintenance of the order (Ethical order) of Universe.

The acquisition of wealth is through dharmic actions and wealth needs to be used in the preservation of dharma.

It is also an omnibus term which probably does not have any translation in English. Various meanings have been associated with dharma, with the progress of Indian civilization. Some of these are rita, yajna, satya, a characteristic, property, law, social code, conduct, morality, merits, virtues, rituals, and duty. Therefore, dharma consists of all meanings which are important and essential for sustenance and maintenance of mankind and Universe.

Hence, in the purusartha scheme the role of dharma is a guiding principle, a regulating authority. Almost all the places in Sastras, it is equivocally stated that through the dharma, artha and kama become real value otherwise become disvalue and get condemned. Therefore, it is priscribed in Sastras to pursue only those artha and kama which are aligned or not opposed to the rules of dharma.


Thus, the society, with the right kama, right artha and abiding by the regulation of dharma is bound to flourish. Therefore these three purusarthas are also considered as sufficient with regard to social life of a person.

4. MOKSHA:

But the Indian thinking does not stop at here, as it seeks to attain the highest goal. This has been described as moksha.

At one level of consciousness or one level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction one finds little interest in worldly affairs and then question looms what is next? What is higher reality? The Higher Reality and ultimate puruShArtha is Moksha

The three recognized states to the path for Moksha are: shravaNa, manana and nididhyAsana. shravaNa is the study of scriptures under a qualified Guru. manana means constant reflection upon what has been learnt so that intellectual conviction may be produced in the mind. Finally, nididhyAsana implies meditation that helps to cause a direct realization of the unity of things in God.

When Mahakavi Kalidasa writing Raghuvamsa Kavya illustrated about life of the Kings of Raghuvamsa as

Saisavaebhyasta vidyanam, yaune vishayeishinam, vardhake muni vrutteenam, yogenante tanutyajam

which means- learning sastras including dharma sastras in childhood , getting artha and kama while in youth in the footsteps of dharma, saintlyhood in old age and leave the bodies at their will i.e. moksha

We can say proudly that this is the way of living of Hindus.