Arishadvargas

Arishadvarga — the six passions of mind or enemies including desire, Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (delusion), Mada (pride) and Matsarya (jealousy), the negative characteristics which prevent man from realizing the atman (Reality that is his True Being).

Kama

kāma or kām, (Sanskrit: काम, “self-indulgence; sensual gratification; pleasure; lust”) — the passionate desire for all sensual and material pleasures such as for riches, property, honor, status, fame, children etc. and abnormal desire which includes drugs, alcoholic drinks, tobacco, or foods eaten only for taste. It is the principle of sickness and degradation in the Kali Yuga. kāma is regarded as one of the four purusharthas (goals of life), the others are artha (worldly status), dharma (duty) and moksha (liberation). It is also one of the arishadvarga (six passions of mind) or enemies of desire, the others being krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (pride) and matsarya (jealousy).

kāma leads to krodha (anger) if it is unfulfilled. As the fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by dust, and as an embryo by the amnion, similarly the Self-knowledge gets obscured by kāma. kāma is powerful. It carries a flowery bow equipped with five arrows, viz., mohana (fascination), stambhana (stupefaction), unmadana (maddening), soshana (emaciation) and tapana (inflaming).

Krodha

Krodha or Krodh (Sanskrit: , “wrath, anger or rage”) — One of the Arishadvarga (six passions of mind) or enemies of desire, the others being Kama (lust), Lobha (greed), Moha (delusion), Mada (pride) and Matsarya (jealousy).

Lobha

lobha (Sanskrit: “covetousness; cupidity; avarice; greed; craving; possessiveness;”) from the verbal root lubh (to desire greatly) — stands for impatience, eager desire for or longing after. It is regarded as one of the arishadvarga (six passions of mind) or enemies of desire, the others being kama (lust), krodha (anger), moha (delusion), mada (pride) and matsarya (jealousy).

Moha

moha (the delusion caused by false evaluation). The delusion that some people are nearer to one than others and the desire to please them more than others, leading to exertions for earning and accumulating for their sake. It makes a false thing appear as true. The world appears as real on account of moha. The body is mistaken for atman (or pure Self) owing to the delusive influence of moha. Regarded as one of the arishadvarga (six passions of mind) or enemies of desire, the others being kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), mada (pride) and matsarya (jealousy).

Moha does three things:

It creates the idea of ‘mineness’ — my wife, my son, my house, etc.

It produces infatuated love and attachment for body, wife, son and property.

It creates the ‘Nitya-Buddhi’ (the idea of stability) in the perishable objects of the world and ‘Dehatma-Buddhi’.

Mada or Ahamkara

Mada (Sanskrit: “pride, being maddened, of the intoxication of pride;”) — regarded as one of the arishadvarga (six passions of mind) or enemies of desire, the others being Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (delusion) and Matsarya (jealousy).

Matsarya

Matsarya or Matsara (Sanskrit: “envy or jealousy;”) — regarded as one of the arishadvarga (six passions of mind) or enemies of desire, the others being Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (delusion), and Mada (pride). Matsarya is the combination of the obstacles: Kama , Krodha , Lobha and Mada. By indulging in these passions we become jealous (matsar).

Kama and krodha or lust and anger are responsible for all kinds of difficult experiences which we have in our lives. With the false ego (“I-ness”) up and active, all our acting in the world becomes selfish and evil. Hence there is no other factor causing the illusory duality 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 Ahamkara, 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.