The traditional focus of Hindu religion has been the Purusharthas(पुरुषार्थ), viz., Dharma(धर्म), Artha (अर्थ), Kaama (कामा), and Moksha (मोक्ष). The पुरुषार्थ has been considered as a goal, end or aim of human existence. These are to be followed in the same order. In other words धर्म(social and/or moral righteousness, both spiritual and ritual) is to be followed throughout one’s life. अर्थ (material and/or financial) prosperity as well as pursuit of meaning) and कामा[(dharmic) pleasure] are to be sought after only in the later stage (गृहस्थ). मोक्ष of course is the liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Even our slokas suggested that one would attain these goals if one chants the sloka with devotion. For example, फ़ल्श्रुथि of Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Stotram states as below:
धर्मार्थीप्राप्नुयाद्धर्मर्थार्थीचार्थमाप्नुयात
कामनवाप्नुयातःकामीप्रजार्थीप्राप्नुयातप्रजाम्
Meaning: He who desires merit will get it, one who seeks wealth would have it, one who wants his desires to be fulfilled will have them fulfilled, and one who desires progeny will get it.
While the Vedic time focused on a value system called पुरुषार्थ, the WWW (World Wide Web) era is going in the direction of WWW (Wealth, Women and Wine). Wealth has replaced धर्म for it is sought after throughout one’s life. While अर्थwas more of a duty as per पुरुषार्थ, wealth is considered a ‘right’ today. Women and Wine come up in the later stage like अर्थ and कामा, but not as late as the गृहस्थ stage. In today’s age one tries to attain these goals far earlier in life. धर्म is unknown. And no one is interested in मोक्ष. Human beings live their life like a honey bee in the sense that a hive of bees will fly 90,000 miles, the equivalent of three orbits around the earth to collect 1 kg of honey. Honey for men is money. Virgin queens go on mating flights away from their home colony, and mate with multiple drones before returning. The drones die in the act of mating. That is what happens to human beings though not in the literal sense. Interestingly, Albert Einstein made the statement ‘If honey bees become extinct, human society will follow in four years.’
धर्मार्थीप्राप्नुयाद्धर्मर्थार्थीचार्थमाप्नुयात
कामनवाप्नुयातःकामीप्रजार्थीप्राप्नुयातप्रजाम्
Meaning: He who desires merit will get it, one who seeks wealth would have it, one who wants his desires to be fulfilled will have them fulfilled, and one who desires progeny will get it.
While the Vedic time focused on a value system called पुरुषार्थ, the WWW (World Wide Web) era is going in the direction of WWW (Wealth, Women and Wine). Wealth has replaced धर्म for it is sought after throughout one’s life. While अर्थwas more of a duty as per पुरुषार्थ, wealth is considered a ‘right’ today. Women and Wine come up in the later stage like अर्थ and कामा, but not as late as the गृहस्थ stage. In today’s age one tries to attain these goals far earlier in life. धर्म is unknown. And no one is interested in मोक्ष. Human beings live their life like a honey bee in the sense that a hive of bees will fly 90,000 miles, the equivalent of three orbits around the earth to collect 1 kg of honey. Honey for men is money. Virgin queens go on mating flights away from their home colony, and mate with multiple drones before returning. The drones die in the act of mating. That is what happens to human beings though not in the literal sense. Interestingly, Albert Einstein made the statement ‘If honey bees become extinct, human society will follow in four years.’
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