Arishadvargas
Encyclopedia
In Hindu theology, Arishadvarga are the six passions of mind or desire: kama
(lust), krodha (anger), lobh
(greed), moha (delusion), mada
or ahankar
(pride) and matsarya (jealousy); the negative characteristics of which prevent man from attaining moksha
or salvation. In Sikhism
they are known as the Five Evils
as they are referred to in Sikh Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib
, which does not include matsarya (jealousy). They are:
kama
— lust, craze, desire
krodha — anger, hatred
lobh
— greed, miserliness, narrow minded
moha — delusory emotional attachment
mada
or ahankara — pride, stubborn mindedness
matsarya — envy, jealousy, show or vanity, and pride
Kama
and krodha or lust and anger are responsible for all kinds of difficult experiences which we have in our lives.
With mada
or ahankar, the false ego ("I-ness") up and active, all our acting in the world becomes selfish. Hence there is no other factor causing the illusory duality of differentiating between us and them and the repeated pain and delusion it entails than the psychological ego-sense. When the materially identified ego has sided with the materialistic forces of creation (Maya), it is said to have the following faults: kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada or ahankara, and matsarya. Also called evil passions, man's Spiritual heritage constantly gets looted by these internal thieves (and their numerous variations), causing him to lose knowledge of his True Being.
If a fellow is virtually a prisoner of arishadvargas (the six internal enemies of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya) then his life is totally governed by the destiny. As a person moves ahead on the path of Self-Realization, the grip of the destiny over him loosens and he gets more and more leverage to change his destiny. When a person identifies himself with the Self, then, he becomes part of the destiny power. His power of mere sankalpa is good enough to materialize and change any situation either for good or bad according to his sankalpa.
Kama
Kāma is often translated from Sanskrit as sexual desire, sexual pleasure, sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, or eros54654564+more broadly mean desire, wish, passion, longing, pleasure of the senses, the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love, without sexual connotations.-Kama in...
(lust), krodha (anger), lobh
Lobh
Lobh is a Gurmukhi word which translates in English to greed; it is a strong desire for worldly possessions and a constant focus on possessing material items, especially the urge to possess what rightfully belongs to others. According to Sikhism, it makes an individual selfish and self-centred. It...
(greed), moha (delusion), mada
Mada
Mada is a term from both Hindu theology and Hindu mythology.-Hindu theology:In Hindu theology means "pride, stubborn mindedness". It is seen as a major obstacle to attaining moksha or salvation...
or ahankar
Ahankar
Hankār is the Gurmukhi word originated from a Sanskrit word Ahankāra which translates to mean ego or excessive pride due to one's possessions, material wealth, intelligence or powers. It gives an individual the feeling that he is superior to others and therefore they are at a lower level than he is...
(pride) and matsarya (jealousy); the negative characteristics of which prevent man from attaining moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
or salvation. In Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
they are known as the Five Evils
Five Evils
The Five evils or five thieves are, according to Sikhism, the five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence. The common evils far exceed five in number, but a group of five came to be identified because of the obstruction they are believed to cause in man's...
as they are referred to in Sikh Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
, which does not include matsarya (jealousy). They are:
kama
Kama
Kāma is often translated from Sanskrit as sexual desire, sexual pleasure, sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, or eros54654564+more broadly mean desire, wish, passion, longing, pleasure of the senses, the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love, without sexual connotations.-Kama in...
— lust, craze, desire
krodha — anger, hatred
lobh
Lobh
Lobh is a Gurmukhi word which translates in English to greed; it is a strong desire for worldly possessions and a constant focus on possessing material items, especially the urge to possess what rightfully belongs to others. According to Sikhism, it makes an individual selfish and self-centred. It...
— greed, miserliness, narrow minded
moha — delusory emotional attachment
mada
Mada
Mada is a term from both Hindu theology and Hindu mythology.-Hindu theology:In Hindu theology means "pride, stubborn mindedness". It is seen as a major obstacle to attaining moksha or salvation...
or ahankara — pride, stubborn mindedness
matsarya — envy, jealousy, show or vanity, and pride
Kama
Kama
Kāma is often translated from Sanskrit as sexual desire, sexual pleasure, sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, or eros54654564+more broadly mean desire, wish, passion, longing, pleasure of the senses, the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love, without sexual connotations.-Kama in...
and krodha or lust and anger are responsible for all kinds of difficult experiences which we have in our lives.
With mada
Mada
Mada is a term from both Hindu theology and Hindu mythology.-Hindu theology:In Hindu theology means "pride, stubborn mindedness". It is seen as a major obstacle to attaining moksha or salvation...
or ahankar, the false ego ("I-ness") up and active, all our acting in the world becomes selfish. Hence there is no other factor causing the illusory duality of differentiating between us and them and the repeated pain and delusion it entails than the psychological ego-sense. When the materially identified ego has sided with the materialistic forces of creation (Maya), it is said to have the following faults: kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada or ahankara, and matsarya. Also called evil passions, man's Spiritual heritage constantly gets looted by these internal thieves (and their numerous variations), causing him to lose knowledge of his True Being.
If a fellow is virtually a prisoner of arishadvargas (the six internal enemies of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya) then his life is totally governed by the destiny. As a person moves ahead on the path of Self-Realization, the grip of the destiny over him loosens and he gets more and more leverage to change his destiny. When a person identifies himself with the Self, then, he becomes part of the destiny power. His power of mere sankalpa is good enough to materialize and change any situation either for good or bad according to his sankalpa.