Moksha मोक्ष
Let’s now discuss the four motivations of life, the Purushaarthas पुरुषार्थ. They are Dharma धर्म, Artha आर्थ, Kama कामा, and Moksha मोक्ष. The Purushaarthas are also called the four aims, pillars, purposes, and urges. The first three, Dharma, Artha, and Kama are human pursuits, which eventually lead us to our final purpose of liberation, Moksha. In Jyotisha (Vedic Astrology), these four motivations help to determine and indicate our purpose(s) in this lifetime. Each Nakshatra is influenced by a specific Purushaartha. They are also reflected through the houses in our birth charts:
Dharma is duty and righteous action (towards ourselves and others). Our personal Dharma is our main purpose in this lifetime. Dharma is reflected by the first (individual self), fifth (creativity), and ninth (spirituality) houses.
Artha is respectable and meaningful activities, goal-orientated behavior, and practical matters, such as work and finances. Artha is reflected by the second (finances), sixth (work, service, health), and tenth (career) houses.
Kama is our desires and passion driven activities. These desires motivate us towards progress in this physical life. Kama is reflected by the third (communication), seventh (relationship), and eleventh (profits, social activities) houses.
Moksha is the urge to detach from the three urges above that bind us to the physical realm, and from the cycle of death and rebirth. It is liberation, nirvana, enlightenment. Moksha is reflected by the fourth (emotions, home, family), eighth (death, transformation), and twelfth (loss, moksha) houses.
When looking at our natal charts it is most important to look at the Purushaartha influences on the Ascendant, Ascendant lord, the Sun, the Moon, and the Nakshatras to get an understanding of the deeper impulses we sense in different aspects of our lives and of our souls’ purpose(s) in this incarnation. They can also show us the karmic challenges we must face on our journeys towards Moksha.
All the Nakshatras, Vedic (Sidereal) Zodiac signs, and more can be found in my book, Shedding Light on Jyotisha, Vedic Astrology For Beginners.
Through the Peacock's Eyes 
I just realized (again) why I received the name Kamalana! OH MY. Well, if Kama is my “Shtick,” then I must be doing a poor ‘job’ of it – or perhaps I relinquished it, and I’m still hanging on to the fact that I did. Thanks for letting me share on your wall, dear Julianne. 🙂 Isn’t life beautiful?! ❤
Your name might not be from “kama” but from Kamala, which means Lotus. 🙂
🙂
Excellent and concise summary! 🙂 Moksha is very much my focus in life now
Thank you and wonderful! 🙂
Reblogged this on Apolinary Protas.
Thanks for the re-blog! Namaste _/l\_
Dear Julianne,
If we follow Dharma the most important of the purshuaarthas, then the factors like planetary influences reduce.
Critical things are:
1. Do your duty without any adharma
2. Prayers
Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Namaste
When talking about Dharma in general as righteous action, then yes planetary influences and karma can reduce. Astrologically though, the Dharma of the four Pururshaarthas is more individually specific, and one’s duty or purpose in a given lifetime may not necessarily be of the spiritual sense, though one may be able to shift it in that direction.
Thanks for responding Julianne. You are correct. Dharma is performing one’s duty righteously whether being religious or not!! I always think of the western scientists/thought leaders as Rishis as they perform their Dharma without any failings!!
Namaste!! It has been wonderful reading your blog and insights and thoughts!!
Thank you! Namaste _/l\_
Very interesting!
thanks for your comprehensive summary of Purushartha ( the meaning and goal of being ) and Jyotish astrology so precisely explained.
Thank you Indrajit! Namaste _/l\_
Can you chart the celestial positions on the natal house chart, and interpret it ?
That, I feel, would be such a tremendous thing – both the skill and the knowledge !
If you do, or wish to, I can offer you the date and time data of one who had Uranus – the implacable lord – in his Ascendent ! Could you confirm or deny that ?
With your study, construct and analysis, you could point out every influence in his spirit and his life-events … a body of knowledge that could do so much good to anyone who is willing, and to humanity. All it needs is the daring to check it out for ourselves.
You could put out that knowledge in public space.
Seems a great way to me,
to inform your interested audience.
It only expands online, in time.
I use a computer program and Ephemeris to draw up someone’s natal chart. The mathematical calculations would take many many hours without these aides. And yes, I do interpret charts, though I have to say I will also be studying astrology for my whole life and lifetimes to come. There is just so much to learn! 😉 I also read charts intuitively, that is, my intuition also draws me to what part of someone’s life/chart needs focus.
Yes, I can easily look up a chart to confirm or deny if Uranus is on this person’s Ascendant. I need date, time, and place of birth. Who is this person? I have thought of maybe putting some chart analyses on the blog, so I may consider doing so. I am currently writing a book that involves an extensive chart analysis, so it would likely be after I’m done with that.
🙂
_/|\_