1. STRESS
AND
PURUSHARTH
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. In English there are words like bravery, gallantry, daring,
fortitude, adventure, fearlessness etc to indicate a positive and
victorious spirit of man. But more often than not; these
attributes point towards victorious spirit that is limited to
physical and material victories. These attributes therefore do not
reach the core of life. They remain superficial and hollow.
Indian (Bharatiya) literature has given a word PURUSHARTHA
that embodies a wholesome, holistic, sublime and fulfilling
victory of the deepest divine core in every being over life that is
benevolent to the universe.
We are tempted to interpret it as masculinity, manly, macho or
he-man behavior and so on; which is totally wrong. These
attributes are restricted to crude male sexual competence and
sexuality and are too superficial and shallow to be equated with
PURUSHARTHA.
The culmination of the evolution of universe with all its splendor
and richness is always in the omnipresent, omnipotent,
omniscient and eternal SACCHIDANANDA. This culmination at
individual level; can be viewed as union YOGA with
SACCHIDANANDA through personal and social endeavors,
which are called DHARMA and embody our yearning for the
YOGA and union itself MOKSHA.
It is obvious that our behavior (vision, thinking, feelings and
actual actions conducive to universal welfare; i.e. MOKSHA); is

3. the soul of DHARMA. (Hence in the PHALASHRUTI of
VISHNUSAHASRANAMA; is stated that AHARA PRABHAVO
DHARMAH).
The most essential aspect of our behavior (the soul of DHARMA)
is the remembrance of the union with SACCHIDANANDA (our
common destination); that is NAMASMARAN.
NAMASMARAN keeps us oriented and empowered while we are
on the path of DHARMA to reach the destination viz.
SACCHIDANANDA).
In absence of NAMASMARAN (even if we are reading, thinking,
preaching; or actually doing charitable activities, which boost
our ego); our DHARMA gets decomposed and we become
oblivious to our destination and stray away from MOKSHA (the
YOGA; global unity and harmony); in the wilderness of
disruptive, degenerative, destructive and deceitful activities and
downfall i.e. abyss.