Review of 'Efflorescence 2022' published by Chennai Poets' Circle

Karma theory – A professional research & an amateur’s posers Part 1- The professional research Just like ‘Avtar’, the word ‘Karma’ is used all over the world in a straight forward meaning. In India those who use the word ‘Karma’ expect the second person or an audience to connect it to the way it has been defined in the scriptures. In this backdrop, Rohit Kumar’s paper ‘Understanding the origin and development of Karma and rebirth in Early Indian Ethos: Perspectives from Manavadhamashastra’ demands our attention. The following are the highlights of a professional research: 1. A.K.Ramanujan underlined the three common or basic elements of the ancient Indian theory of Karma: (i) Casualty ethical or non ethical, one or several lives, (ii) Ethicalization or the faith that the good and bad action causes certain sort of result in one life or several lives, (iii) Rebirth 2.While Patrick Olivelle argued the Karma meant only the ‘sacrifice’, that is, ‘Yagna’ in Vedic literature, Gananath Obeyesekere called ‘ethicalisation’ was a later development. 3.According to Herman W.Tull, the first reference to the theory of Karma was found in Brahmanas which continuity in Upanishads, particularly between ‘Satapada Brahmana’ and ‘Brahadranyaka Upanishad’. But even in Brahmanas Karma and rebirth were not connected. 4.Paul Deussen and David M.Knipe threw light on the ritual ‘Srardha’ and ‘Sapindikarma’ (post death rituals) came in when cultivation of rice improved. Ahead of rebirth the departed soul was fed with rice and ghee and sesame seeds etc. 5. In ‘Brahadranyaka Upanishad’, (Verses 3.2.12 & 4.4.7) Yagnya Valkya explains to disciple Arthablaga ‘according to one’s good or bad deeds his rebirth is determined.” 6. Social inequalities are attributable to Karma theory according Chandogya Upanishad (Verse 5.10.7) 7. The tradition of feeding the departed soul was borrowed from the traditions of peasants and tribals. 8. Bagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 14, highlights Karma alone is the decider of the fruit which is separate from divinity. 9.Trigunas (three attributes) that is Satva, Rajas and Tamas were linked to caste hierarchy by Adi Sankaracharya: Satva with Brahmanas, Rajas with Kshatriyas and Tamas with Sudras. 10.Manu Smriti refers to Trikarna, that is, Mental Action, Verbal Action and Body Action and all or any bad deeds in Trikarna concept have consequences. In short, according to your deeds in this birth, you will be born in Upper caste or lower caste or one of the animal species. This is a gist of an elaborate paper from Rohit Kumar ‘Understanding the origin and development of Karma and rebirth in Early Indian Ethos: Perspectives from Manavadhamashastra’ published in ‘Quarterly Journal of the Mystic Society- Oct- Dec 22 issue. He is a scholar in the Centre for Historical studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. His mail id is rohitarunkumar@gmail.com. The next part will be ‘An amateur’s posers’ (to be continued)