Karma in Hinduism

A much slandered and often misunderstood concept of Karma is closely interwoven with Hinduism. Karma literally stands for human actions performed by a human being in his/her lifespan. The ever thirsty human soul is believed to have accumulated knowledge through all human experiences. So, the human being tries to gain more and more experience through his/her Karma irrespective of their types.

Mainly classified as Good Karmas and Evil Karmas, the former are supposed to take the human soul near Brahman whereas the evil ones hinder His recognition misleading the soul. With an experience of the divine bliss, all the desires of the soul become redundant.

This ancient theory of Karma -- which is more about living a balanced life than fatalism or vengeance -- deserves another look. Karma is a vibrant and ingenious process. It is known to produce incessant order out of chaos. It essentially also is a harmonizer that can restore the cosmic balance.

Described in such a deep and rich manner, 'Karma' is regularly seen popping up in films, witty strips, TV soaps and even in the discussions of ordinary people. But as a concept it yet remains misunderstood and even misused at times. Despite a wealth of material available on the subject, Karma juggles up an array of images ranging from a severe law of merciless retribution to deterministic fatalism leaving no room for human free will in mass consciousness.

Some people deplore Karma as such a canon which was fashioned to validate social inequalities, like the Hindu caste system. It also served as an apology to shrivel from creative engagement with life. The essence underlying the doctrine of Karma states that we all live in a unified, inter-reliant universe where everything exists in a complex and dynamic web of interrelationships.

This upcoming holistic archetype is overlaying the accommodation of Karma in the modern world-view. This concept -- along with its implications -- is being studied currently by scholars, psychologists, astrologers, economists, and open-minded scientists from all over the world.

Karma or human actions are important because they are believed to leave an indelible imprint on the soul. They are known to affect and caste an impending effect upon the form and circumstances of life in the next cycle of its birth.