Arishadvarga, the six negative characteristics of human nature are the greatest hindrance to Salvation or Moksha. In Sanskrit Ari means enemy, shad means six and varga means group. So the word arishadvarga means a group of six enemies. These six enemies are within you. So only you can eliminate them. If you don't, they will corrode or eat away your innate spirituality and gradually you will forget about your True being.
These are the Arishadvarga(s):
- Kama - Lust / Desire
- Krodha - Anger
- Lobh - Greed / Covetousness
- Moha - Temptation / Delusion
- Mada / Ahamkara - Pride / Intoxication
- Matsarya - Envy / Jealousy
When one is filled with anger or greed, one succumbs to delusion or temptation (moha). Such a person is unable to perceive the Truth.
When ones greed is fulfilled one becomes intoxicated or becomes overcome with pride (mada). Anger too gives rise to intoxication. A person overcome with anger can cause physical, mental and emotional harm to others.
Pride makes one egocentric, such a person can't stand the good fortune of others. Thus envy (matsarya) sets in.
Bhakti (Devotion to the Supreme Being) and renunciation are the only ways through which one can overcome the arishadvarga. In the Bhagvad Gita, this is what Krishna says : "When the feelings of I and Mine disappears, the mind at once becomes pure and is fit enough to lead you to me. The pleasures and pains of the world will not affect it any more. When it is equipped with Vairagya (detachment or rather non-attachment), with Bhakti which is devotion to me and with Gyana (Jnana) which is knowledge about the truth about me, the mind is able to perceive the Brahman."
A person controlled by his passions is like a person lost in a dense forest. He is controlled by the forest. Here the forest represents the destiny. But when one begins to walk on the path of Self-realization, one is able to visualize one's goal - the Brahman. The grip of the destiny loosens and one is able to change one's own destiny. When a person identifies himself with the Self, he becomes a part of the Power of Destiny. His intentions, then, start materializing and he is able to change any situation - good or bad.
The more each individual fights these negative passions, the more is the life of dying dharma in Kali yug. Practice of meditation and and other purification techniques can gradually eliminate these harmful characteristics.
Religions play an important role in strengthening the self-control of their followers. They put up role models and encourage the public to follow them. It is found that self-control is contagious. Thus the religions try their best to maintain peaceful societies.
"prakritim yanti bhutani,
nigrahah kim karishyathi"
(The living beings follow their own innate nature, what can repression do. - Bhagvad Gita)
