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Dictionary Of Hindu Religion | Dictionary
Dictionary-P-Q | |
Purushaarth |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Q R S T-U V-W-X Y-Z Aims or objectives (of life) or human values to achieve in life. The pleasures and gains of the humans are called Purushaarth, in its axiological meaning. Hindoo have four such Purushaarth or human values - Dharm which is probity, Arth which is prosperity, Kaam which is pleasures of Indriyaan, and finally Moksh which is atonement or blessedness. Of these four only the first three - Dharm, Arth, Kaam are usually referred, and they are called Tri-Varga . The final one - the Moksh, is not often quoted. Dharm is the driving force. Hence Dharm is the prescribed conduct, either by scriptures or by the society, and it does not entail any merit or demerit, but just an obligatory conduct or duty. The other
two - Arth and Kaam, are the means of Dharm, and all leading
to Moksh. These two great epics Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat are structured
on these Purushaarth alone. Thus though Raamaayan is abounding with the
accounts of richness and glory of all kinds of wealth, which is secondary
to human values, its main import is the virtuosity of human living. A Hindu has four Purushaarth or four goals of his life -
(1) Dharm - the first and the foremost goal of life. Actions
according to Ved and Shaastra, Varn and Aashram, leading a moral and
spiritual life with faith and trust in God.
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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on
06/09/11