Sri Bharatamata

 Ashtottaram 11

 

 

 

 

 

11) OṀ KARMA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

   OṀ (AUM) - KAR- MA - BHOO- MYAI- NA--MA-HA

 

(Karma: means 'that which is done', action and result, law of duty)

 

‘Karma’ is one of the most widely used words in Hinduism. Derived from the root-verb ‘kṛ' –to do, its general meaning is anything that is done. In this sense, it means: work, profession; and, duty. However, more often than not, it is used in a technical sense, as an action that binds one to saṃsāra or transmigratory existence. This type of karma can be accomplished either by the body (kāyika) or by speech (vāchika) or by the mind (mānasa).

 

The utmost superior life is human being and God gave us the free will with which responsibility also comes. At the same time, this karma associated with free will also produces its fruits that result in either good or bad results based on the type of action you perform. You only have a choice in your actions but have no choice in the results your actions produce. Based on the cumulated fruits of your actions (karma phala) your next life will be determined. All this is built in the law of nature.

 

 Again, this karma with the potential to produce its fruits can be classified as sanchita (accumulated over millions of lives), prārabdha (begun to bear fruit in this life) and āgāmī (being performed now and in future). All the darśanās or philosophies that accept this theory of karma also concede that:  a) the effect of karmas done in one life cannot be expected to be exhausted in that life itself. Hence rebirth or punarjanma has to be accepted. b) jnāna or spiritual wisdom resulting in the realization of one’s nature as the immortal soul destroys sanchitakarma completely and makes āgāmī incapable of producing its results like as a burnt seed cannot sprout. However, prārabdhakarma, since it has already started giving its results, has got to be exhausted only through experiencing it.

 

From another standpoint, karma is of two types: nishiddhakarma or prohibited or sinful actions that must be avoided; vihita-karma or actions ordained by the scriptures as duty, to be performed. The vihita-karma again, is of three types: 1) Kāmyakarma (desire-motivated actions); 2) nityakarma (daily duties); 3) naimittika-karma (occasional duties).

Sometimes, karmas or actions are classified according to their nature, good or bad. Actions done without being tainted by likes and dislikes or selfish motives, (but with noble intent) are called sāttvika (good). If done with these, they become rājasika (mixed). If they are motivated by evil designs, to harm others, they are dubbed as tāmasika (dark or evil). Occasionally the word ‘karma’ is also used to indicate the samskāras or sacraments.

The only country on the earth which explains fruits of your actions that bind one to saṃsāra or transmigratory existence is our Hindu nation and it is ‘karma bhūmi’.