Artha (Hinduism)

One of the four great aims of life according to Hindu philosophy, the pursuit of wealth is seen as quite legitimate as long as it is done in harmony with dharma (righteousness), when it may lead to moksha (liberation). The desire for power and property, the economic and political aspects of human life, all these are seen as natural and not fundamentally at war with the spiritual life. However, the harmonious balance within and between political and spiritual lives is to be achieved in the regulations of dharma. Artha may also refer to spiritual wealth, to love, faith, devotion, goodness, beauty, peace and joy within. In this context, artha is also seen as one of the three categories of knowledge, the true knowledge about an object or its meaning which, according to Patanjali, is normally confused with shabda, knowledge based only on words and jnana, knowledge based on the perception of the sense organs and reasoning of the mind. The three components are separated and their correct relation seen in savitarka samadhi.

According to Patanjali, one of the three forms of knowledge which need to be distinguished from each other and separated if confusion samkirna is to be avoided. Also, with dharma (duty), kama (desire) and moksa (liberation), one of the four goals – purusartha – towards which the individual may direct his life.