| In fact, all Indian
thinkers are agreed that the Purusharthas can be classified into these four categories and
that all man's aspiration arc comprised in these four. This fourfold Purushartha
classification is so well established that it forms part of the sankalpa that is
pronounced by every Hindu before any ritual, ceremony or other religious or charitable act
is begun. It is a well-recognized principle that
every ritual, ceremony or other religious act is performed for the purpose of enabling the
individual who performs it to realize these four Purusharthas of life. Whenever these are
mentioned the order has always been that dharma was the first, Artha was the
second, Kama was the third and the fourth and last was moksha. No Hindu has ever thought
even in fun or for love of change, to mention these four in any different order. Hence we
see the order in which they are referred to has great significance and there is meaning
behind fit.
A change in the order may alter the scope, content and relative
importance of these four objects of life. We shall now consider the exact significance and
connotation of these four Purusharthas, dharma, artha, kama and moksha. |
