It may refer to the idea of material prosperity. In Hinduism, artha is one of the four goals of life, known as purusharthas. It is considered to be a noble goal as long as it follows the dictates of Vedic morality. The concept includes achieving widespread fame, garnering wealth and having an elevated social standing. It is the second lowest rung on the ladder of purusharthas, above kama (physical or emotional pleasure) but below dharma (righteousness) and moksha (salvation).
Artha is one of the dharmas (duties) of a person in the third stage of life, the householder stage, and during this a person must accumulate as much wealth as possible, without being greedy, to help and support his family.
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Last updated on Sunday June 08, 2008 at 16:06:44 PDT (GMT -0700)
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