Karma is the law of cause and effect enacted in the world of the Indians which governs the future conditions of a person calculated on his/her actions, or, according to the Sanskrit karman, an act. First of all, it developed as a moral value since it began in the form of ritual action as part of Vedic period and it is now prevalent in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jains. It works independently, without God interference, and the actions are connected to the results over the lifetimes. Conjoined to dharma, it is the path to ethics of living and spiritual evolution. The notions operate as a moral incentive and a statement of understanding as to why human beings suffered in the rebirth cycle.

Key Points for RAS Mains

What is Karma?

• Meaning: The Sanskrit word karman (Pali: kamma) means “act” or “deed”.
• Definition:In Indian religion and philosophy, karma is the universal causal law by which good or bad actions determine future modes of existence.
• Significance: It plays a central role in Hinduism, Buddhist and Jain religion, as an ethical concept associated with rebirth (samsara) and liberation (moksha).
• Function
  • Motivates moral living.
  • Explains the existence of suffering and evil.

Historical Development

• Vedic Period (1000-700 BCE)
  • Originally karma was used to refer to sacrificial and ritual activities.
  • Perceived as an independent ritual law working independent of the will of Deity.
• Upanishad Period (Middle 1st Millennium BCE)
  • Spread out to the ethical arena.
  • Yajnavalkya: Through good action man becomes something good and with bad action he becomes bad.
  • Increasingly, the moral aspect was starting to become more dominant but at the cost of purely ritualistic aspects.
• Buddhist and Jainism
  • Denied priestly ritualism; interested in moral and ascetic life.
  • Made karma a self-governing moral law.

Philosophical nature of Karma

• Causal Law: Acts mechanically without god working (nontheistic theodicy).
• Act & Effect association:
  • Jainism: Karma are fine particles of matter which cling to the soul (jiva), and weigh it down during re-incarnation.
  • Vedic Tradition: apurva, latent potency of action, which manifests itself in future.
  • Yoga & Buddhism Psychological residues (samskaras, vasanas) influence future tendencies.

Key Principles

• Individual Responsibility:
  • Karma that is involved tends to affect oneself.
• Popular Belief: Karma Transfer:
  • Merit transfer: Good karma can be transferred (e.g., Buddhist/Hindu rituals, pilgrimages).
  • Offerings to the ancestors to realize the health of the spirits.

Social Relation with Dharma

• In Hinduism:
  • Dharma = Moral & religious law.
• Two forms:
  • Universal duties (truth, non-violence, generosity) Sadharana Dharma.
  • Svadharma- prescriptions according to caste, stage of life or occupation.
• In Buddhism:
  • Dharma = cosmic truth as given by Buddha.
  • One of the three refuges (Triratna) which are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
  • In plural (dharmas): Elements of reality.

Moral thought in India Significance

• Describes moral order which is not arbitrarily divine.
• Comes to promote ethical life towards improved rebirth or liberation.
• Combines cosmology and moral causality.

Conclusion

Karma of Indian thought developed as an element of ritual in the technological process and became a universal moral law that determines personal fate. It is also connected to dharma in order to govern ethical behavior and spiritual improvement. The fact that it is spread in all the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism helps to emphasize its main importance in the Indian worldview.

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