Dr.
Shanker Adawal
Part 1
Human
Life is viewed and looked upon buy Hindu thinkers and sages as the training
ground (sadhana kshetra) for man to unfold the potentialities and integrate tem
into a pattern. The human being is a blend of the divine and disbolic, he is
dust and divinity combined. The human being has to put himself to such a
training as to hold back the cursedness and lust on him and grow the divine
element in him. Hinduism has proclaimed a scheme of fourfold values
(aspirations) as governing the growth of human life. Human life has to be lived
according to plan and not left to itself to shape as it grows.
The
four-fold values can be classified under two heads, the first, the values artha
and kama are the basis of human existence. They are possessions and passions.
The life of man consists in his desires. Man is described by the Upanishads as
a collection of desires. As is his desire, so is his nature. To fulfil the
desires, man has to earn and gather material aids, i.e., wealth. All such
material aids go under the name of artha. It is an instrumental value. It
should not be pursued as an end in itself.
Man
is not merely an economic being for he has other aspects characterizing his
life. The pursuit of wealth becomes value (Purushartha) only when it does not
contravene the canons of social justice and morality (Dharama); otherwise it
becomes a dis-value and stands condemned. Both passions (kama) and possessions
(artha) have to be regulated by dharma.
The
term artha comprises the whole range of tangible objects that can be possessed,
enjoyed, shared and lost and that we daily require for the upkeep of our life
and family.
Artha
is absolutely necessary for man’s life It is the source and sustenance of all
virtues, not so speak of the mere gratification of desires. Without wealth
virtues become impracticable. Poverty is never glorified as a virtue. At the
beginning of all our spiritual ceremonies we resolves (samkalpa) that it is
performed for securing all the four values. Wealth is not neglected.
The
common-sense poet Bhartrihari sings the praise and function of wealth in ten
verses. He points out to us how it is necessary for all men to live a dignified
life. It is wealth and money alone that enables us to live a live of
independence without appeal to others for our livelihood. One is asked to
adventure forth appeal to others for our livelihood. One is asked to adventure
forth on the high-seas for securing fortune. If a man cannot support himself
and his family on the material plane, how could he work for moksha which is
very difficult. Even those who talk of sanyasa (renunciation) must acquire
something to give it up. They cannot renounce nothing; it is empty sanyasa, a
mockery of the concept.
The
Hindu ethicists have insisted on the necessity of man to ear his livelihood by
the sweat of his brow while he is fit, strong and young. For achieving anything
substantial in human life, one must be free from indigence and misery and enjoy
a certain degree of economic competence. He must seek as far as possible to be
self-sufficient.
Poet
Nilakanta Dikshit writes that “Dharma is earned by artha and by dharma artha is
earned. The one is the means and support of the other. Artha is the source of
the whole world. The loss of wealth spells ruin. Moksha cannot be attained by
poverty.”
Arjuna
in the Mahabharata holds the view
that dharma and kama are the limbs of artha. In the Ramayana Lakshmana
eloquently praises the function and the worth of wealth. He says: “From wealth
amassed and increased all actions proceed as rivers from mountains. To the
person of little power and energy bereft of wealth, all actions are extinct,
like-rivulets in summer. If a person abandons wealth, he seeking happiness,
begins to commit sin and wrong and leads a sinful life with increased longing
for enjoyment. To the wealthy exist friends and relations. He who has wealth is
regarded as a man of importance by people. He is considered a learned man. He
is lucky and he is intelligent. To the man of wealth dharma and kama and all
else are helpful. The man of poverty desirous of wealth and seeking it finds it
difficult to get.”
Dr. Shanker Adawal
Profile and Dr. Adawal’s Astro
Channel
Dr. Adawal’s research work and
articles on Bhrigu Nadi astrology
Dr. Adawal’s approved articles
published on Articlesbase.com
Dr. Adawal’s exclusive articles
on docstoc.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Astrology.Fan.Club/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Astrology.Fan.Club/
Join Dr. Adawal’s Facebook Group
for free Astro Queries
