Artha

Artha

"purpose", "aspiration"; "thing" or "object" (including object of senses); "welfare", "wealth".

Artha in Hinduism is material well-being, one of the four goals of human life (together they are called "purushartha" or "chaturvarga"). Artha means actions and resources that enable a person to live in the desired way. The concept includes obtaining knowledge, skills, achieving universal recognition, a high position in society, power. Artha is also understood as security in society, prosperity. This is the second stage of purushartha, the previous one being kama (sense gratification). Artha is  followed by dharma (morality) and moksha (liberation).

There are not so many people who can immediately aspire to the ultimate goal of life – liberation, moksha. Developing the right attitude towards artha is considered an important stage in spiritual growth, since the lack of realization in life, dissatisfaction with it creates obstacles in sadhana.

For the traditional Hindu-grihastha, artha is the main duty: it involves the accumulation of wealth, but without the manifestation of greed and attachment to achievements. The focus is on the maintenance of the family.

It is important to understand that the irrepressible desire for material wealth and social prestige leads to anxiety and loss of sobriety of mind. And these states of mind are completely opposite ones brought up on the spiritual path. Balance can be achieved if one is guided by the highest goal of dharma, pays attention to the most essential in the teaching, does not acquire mundane attachments, and controls them.

History

The earliest mention of artha is found in the ancient writings of India, in which it means "goal", often the goal of ritual sacrifices.

In the era of the Upanishads, the concept became broader. Artha was included in trivarga (three categories of human life – dharma, artha and kama), which expanded over time to chaturvarga (four categories, including moksha).

Later, in the times of shastras, separate texts on artha and other purposes of human life were written: "Arthashastra", "Dharmashastra" and "Kamashastra".

Different schools of Hinduism may have different views on artha, as well as on dharma, kama and moksha. Much of the literature of ancient India, from the 5th century B.C. intertwines all four goals of man. Many of the Upanishads, "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" epics use dharma, artha, kama and moksha as themes in their writings.

How do artha, kama and dharma relate to each other

In ancient Indian literature, it is emphasized that dharma is above all other goals. If dharma is ignored, then artha and kama do not lead to moksha.

Vatsyayana in the treatise "Kama-sutra" (one of the parts of "Kamashastra") indicates the value of the three goals as follows:

"Artha is more important and should precede kama, while dharma is more important and should precede both kama and artha."

Kautilya, the author of "Arthashastra", who wrote this treatise primarily for rulers, states that artha is the basis for two other purposes. Without prosperity and security in a person's life or society, both morality and sense gratification become unattainable:

"Poverty breeds vice and hatred, but prosperity breeds virtue and love."

Kautilya adds:

"All three goals are interconnected, one should not stop enjoying life, virtuous behavior or the pursuit of wealth. Excessive pursuit of one aspect of life while refusing the other two harms all three, including that which a person excessively pursues."

A similar thought is found in "Mahabharata", uttered by Rama:

"Morality is well observed by virtuous people. However, it is violated by extreme strivings for two other goals. These are material gain for those who strongly desire it, and sense gratification for those who strongly seek it. One who, without prejudice to dharma and artha, or dharma and kama, or kama and artha, devotes himself to all three goals – morality, prosperity and enjoyment – achieves the highest happiness."