Difference between revisions of "Purusartha" - New World Encyclopedia

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In [[Hinduism]], the '''purusharthas''' are the canonical four ends or aims of human life.<ref>For dharma, artha, and kama as "brahmanic householder values" see: Flood (1996), p. 17.</ref><ref>For the ''Dharma Śāstras'' as discussing the "four main goals of life" (dharma, artha, {{IAST|kāma}}, and moksha) see: Hopkins, p. 78.</ref><ref>For definition of the term पुरुष-अर्थ ({{IAST|puruṣa-artha}}) as "any of the four principal objects of human life, i.e. {{lang|sa|धर्म}}, {{lang|sa|अर्थ}}, {{lang|sa|काम}}, and {{lang|sa|मोक्ष}}" see: Apte, p. 626, middle column, compound #1.</ref>  These goals are, from lowest to highest:
 
In [[Hinduism]], the '''purusharthas''' are the canonical four ends or aims of human life.<ref>For dharma, artha, and kama as "brahmanic householder values" see: Flood (1996), p. 17.</ref><ref>For the ''Dharma Śāstras'' as discussing the "four main goals of life" (dharma, artha, {{IAST|kāma}}, and moksha) see: Hopkins, p. 78.</ref><ref>For definition of the term पुरुष-अर्थ ({{IAST|puruṣa-artha}}) as "any of the four principal objects of human life, i.e. {{lang|sa|धर्म}}, {{lang|sa|अर्थ}}, {{lang|sa|काम}}, and {{lang|sa|मोक्ष}}" see: Apte, p. 626, middle column, compound #1.</ref>  These goals are, from lowest to highest:
  
* [[Kāma]] - sensual pleasure or love
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* [[Kama|Kāma]] - sensual pleasure or love
 
* [[Artha]] - wealth
 
* [[Artha]] - wealth
 
* [[Dharma]] - righteousness or morality
 
* [[Dharma]] - righteousness or morality
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Historically, the first three goals, ''dharma'', ''artha'' and ''kama'', were articulated first (Sanskrit: trivarga), and the fourth goal, ''moksha'', later (Skt.: chaturvarga). In living tradition, the notion of the four purusharthas represents an holistic approach to the satisfaction of man's physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
 
Historically, the first three goals, ''dharma'', ''artha'' and ''kama'', were articulated first (Sanskrit: trivarga), and the fourth goal, ''moksha'', later (Skt.: chaturvarga). In living tradition, the notion of the four purusharthas represents an holistic approach to the satisfaction of man's physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
  
There is a popular correspondence between the four purusharthas, the [[Vedic ashram system|four stages of life]] (Skt.: [[āśrama]]: [[Brahmacharya]] [student life], [[Grihastha]] [household life], [[Vanaprastha]] [retired life] and [[Sannyasa]] [renunciation]) and the four primary castes or strata of society (Skt.: [[varna]]: [[Brahmana]] [priest/teacher], [[Kshatriya]] [warrior/politician], [[Vaishya]] [landowner/entrepreneur] and [[Shudra]] [servant/manual labourer]). This, however, has not been traced to any primary source in early Sanskrit literature.
+
There is a popular correspondence between the four purusharthas, the [[Vedic ashram system|four stages of life]] (Skt.: [[āśrama]]: [[Brahmacharya]] [student life], Grihastha [household life], Vanaprastha [retired life] and [[Sannyasa]] [renunciation]) and the four primary castes or strata of society (Skt.: [[varna]]: [[Brahmana]] [priest/teacher], [[Kshatriya]] [warrior/politician], Vaishya [landowner/entrepreneur] and Shudra [servant/manual labourer]). This, however, has not been traced to any primary source in early Sanskrit literature.
  
  
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==References==
 
==References==
 
*{{cite book |last=Apte |first=Vaman Shivram |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary |year=1965 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |location=Delhi |isbn=81-208-0567-4 }} (fourth revised & enlarged edition).
 
*{{cite book |last=Apte |first=Vaman Shivram |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary |year=1965 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |location=Delhi |isbn=81-208-0567-4 }} (fourth revised & enlarged edition).
*{{cite book |last=Flood |first=Gavin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=An Introduction to Hinduism |year=1996 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge |isbn= 0-521-43878-0}}
+
*{{cite book |last=Flood |first=Gavin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=An Introduction to Hinduism |year=1996 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn= 0-521-43878-0}}
 
*{{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Thomas J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Hindu Religious Tradition|year=1971 |publisher=Dickenson Publishing Company, Inc. |location=Cambridge |isbn= }}
 
*{{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Thomas J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Hindu Religious Tradition|year=1971 |publisher=Dickenson Publishing Company, Inc. |location=Cambridge |isbn= }}
  
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
  
*Anna Dallapiccola, ''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' (ISBN 0-500-51088-1)
+
*Dallapiccola, Anna. ''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' (ISBN 0-500-51088-1)
 +
 
 +
*Olivelle, Patrick. ''The asrama system: the history and hermeneutics of a religious institution'' New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. ISBN 0-19-508327-X
 +
 
  
*Patrick Olivelle, ''The asrama system: the history and hermeneutics of a religious institution'' (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993) (ISBN 0-19-508327-X)
 
  
 
[[Category: Religion]]
 
[[Category: Religion]]

Revision as of 19:36, 19 December 2007

In Hinduism, the purusharthas are the canonical four ends or aims of human life.[1][2][3] These goals are, from lowest to highest:

  • Kāma - sensual pleasure or love
  • Artha - wealth
  • Dharma - righteousness or morality
  • Moksha - liberation from the cycle of reincarnation

Historically, the first three goals, dharma, artha and kama, were articulated first (Sanskrit: trivarga), and the fourth goal, moksha, later (Skt.: chaturvarga). In living tradition, the notion of the four purusharthas represents an holistic approach to the satisfaction of man's physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

There is a popular correspondence between the four purusharthas, the four stages of life (Skt.: āśrama: Brahmacharya [student life], Grihastha [household life], Vanaprastha [retired life] and Sannyasa [renunciation]) and the four primary castes or strata of society (Skt.: varna: Brahmana [priest/teacher], Kshatriya [warrior/politician], Vaishya [landowner/entrepreneur] and Shudra [servant/manual labourer]). This, however, has not been traced to any primary source in early Sanskrit literature.


Notes

  1. For dharma, artha, and kama as "brahmanic householder values" see: Flood (1996), p. 17.
  2. For the Dharma Śāstras as discussing the "four main goals of life" (dharma, artha, kāma, and moksha) see: Hopkins, p. 78.
  3. For definition of the term पुरुष-अर्थ (puruṣa-artha) as "any of the four principal objects of human life, i.e. धर्म, अर्थ, काम, and मोक्ष" see: Apte, p. 626, middle column, compound #1.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Apte, Vaman Shivram (1965). The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 81-208-0567-4.  (fourth revised & enlarged edition).
  • Flood, Gavin (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-43878-0. 
  • Hopkins, Thomas J. (1971). The Hindu Religious Tradition. Cambridge: Dickenson Publishing Company, Inc.. 

Further reading

  • Olivelle, Patrick. The asrama system: the history and hermeneutics of a religious institution New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. ISBN 0-19-508327-X

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