Purusharthas are the foundation of Hindu Dharma on which rests the smooth functioning of the society. Dharma, Arth, and Kama together form the Trivarga Purusharthas. These three are necessary for leading a moral life in the material world. It excludes Moksha which seeks to liberate a being from the material world, even though some believe that Moksha refers to achieving happiness through detachment in the material world itself.

In this three part series, we shall learn about the Trivarga Purusharthas and the role they play in the life of a Hindu along with their importance in Hindu Samaj.

What is the meaning of Purushartha?

Purushartha is a Sanskrit word that means the goals or purposes of human life. In Hindu philosophy, there are four main Purusharthas that guide a person towards a balanced and meaningful life. These are:

Dharma – duty, righteousness, and moral values

Artha – pursuit of wealth and prosperity through honest means

Kama – desire, pleasure, and emotional fulfillment in a rightful way

Moksha – spiritual liberation or freedom from the cycle of birth and death

These four goals are meant to be followed in a balanced way. Dharma is the guiding principle, ensuring that Artha and Kama are pursued ethically. Moksha is the ultimate aim, where the soul seeks union with the divine and freedom from worldly attachments. The Purusharthas reflect the holistic nature of Hindu thought, which embraces material success and emotional satisfaction, but always within the framework of ethical and spiritual growth. By following these four goals, a person can lead a life that is both useful to society and fulfilling to the self.

We shall begin with the very basic Purushartha – Kama, which is the basis of creation and responsible for its continued existence and sustenance.

Kama

Humans can attain happiness through worldly and spiritual means. In the material world, Artha (wealth), Kama (desires), and Dharma (righteousness) are collectively known as the Trivarga, paths to happiness. Pursuit of Dharma and Artha follows Kama which is the foundation of all the Purusharthas as it makes creation and existence possible.

Kama Purusharth refers to wishes, desires, longing, attachment, and passions. It is human nature to have desires and the pursuit to fulfil those desires is one of the Purusharthas (goals) in Hindu Dharma. Hindu Dharma does not look down upon Kama but sees it as an essential element to human life and progress.

Kama is the fulfillment of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and artistic desires thereby ensuring their all-round development. It is the soul’s experience of worldly pleasures, sensed through the mind using the five sense organs. It is a driving force that pushes an individual to act and hence, it is essential for every action.

Vedic literature and philosophy consider Kama to be the productive seed responsible for creation and existence. In its absence creation becomes impossible and hence, it plays a significant role in the continuation of the universe and progress of humans. Vedas hold having and fulfilling desires as not just essential but also valuable in Hindu culture.

Vedic philosophy states that the undivided element that existed before creation split into two opposing forces enabling universe’s formation. Prajapati split himself into man and woman whose union became the basis for universe’s creation and continued existence. Rigveda’s Asyavamiya Sukta states in nature every man has a feminine aspect and every female has a masculine aspect. Kama is the most powerful form of desires and attachments within a person’s physical, mental, and vital realms that are interconnected aspects.

Sustenance, possession, and procreation are three basic instincts inherent in every human. They are also known as Trishna (craving), Lobha (greed), and Kama (desire) emanating from the same intent and representing different aspects of the same desire. Desires, existing in the form of attachments, awakens human aspirations and drives them towards material pursuits. Thus, Kama is not only significant but also desirable for the sustenance of the world. However, unbridled and uncontrolled Kama leads to attachment and thus becomes a burden instead of a driving force. Hindu philosophy, therefore, emphasizes on the need for Kama to be bound by and aligned with Dharma and Artha.

Kama is the foundation of Grihasthashram (householder stage) on which all other life stages and the existence of the society are dependent. Veda Vyas says “Desire is the eternal intent of life” and without it no action is possible. Thus, Hindu Dharma recognizes the importance of Kama Purushartha for creation and sustenance of life and society while emphasizing that its pursuit should not be in conflict with Dharma and Artha.

In the subsequent parts of this series, we shall learn in detail about the other Purusharthas and how they shape human life.