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Artha (/ ˈ ɑːr t ə,-θ ə /; Sanskrit: अर्थ; Pali: Attha, Tamil: பொருள், poruḷ) is one of the four goals or objectives of human life in Hindu traditions. [1] It includes career, skills, health, wealth, prosperity and the means or resources needed for a fulfilling life.
Artha – signifies the "means of life", activities and resources that enables one to be in a state one wants to be in. [20] Artha incorporates wealth, career, activity to make a living, financial security and economic prosperity. The proper pursuit of artha is considered an important aim of human life in Hinduism. [21] [22]
Artha (prosperity, wealth, purpose, meaning, economic security) is one of the four aims of human life in Hinduism (Puruṣārtha), [35] the others being dharma (laws, duties, rights, virtues, right way of living), [36] kama (pleasure, emotions, sex) [37] and moksha (spiritual liberation). [38] Śāstra is the Sanskrit word for "rules" or "science".
Hindu art found its first inspiration in the Buddhist art of Mathura. The three Vedic gods Indra , Brahma and Surya were actually first depicted in Buddhist sculpture, as attendants in scenes commemorating the life of the Buddha, such as his Birth, his Descent from the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven , or his retreat in the Indrasala Cave . [ 13 ]
The Gupta-era writer Pushpadanta in his Mahimnastava refers to this form as dehardhaghatana ("Thou and She art each the half of one body"). Utpala , commenting on the Brihat Samhita , calls this form Ardha-Gaurishvara ("the Lord whose half is the fair one"; the fair one – Gauri – is an attribute of Parvati ). [ 6 ]
In Hindu traditions, moksha is a central concept [6] and the utmost aim of human life; the other three aims are dharma (virtuous, proper, moral life), artha (material prosperity, income security, means of life), and kama (pleasure, sensuality, emotional fulfillment). [7]
Gṛhastha is considered to be the most intense of all four stages, where a man or woman pursues all four goals of life, with greater emphasis on first three - Dharma, Artha and Kama. [4] [5] [12] In contrast, Sannyasa is the stage where the individual renounces Artha and Kama, and pursues Moksha with a single minded pursuit. [4] [7]
Unlike the precepts of some religions, kama is celebrated in Hinduism, as a value in its own right. [31] Together with artha and dharma, it is an aspect of a holistic life. [5] [32] All three purusharthas—Dharma, Artha and Kama—are equally and simultaneously important. [33]