Hinduism believes in concept of Punarjanma (Rebirth)
and also Karma Siddhantha (Doctrine of Destiny) which is unique to this
religion. It simply says Karma of previous births (Purva Janma Karma) also gets
added to the present Birth and life pattern goes on accordingly.
A European lady came to Kanchipuram and met Kanchi
Mutt Acharya (Old Swamiji) and discussed the Karma Siddhantha. When the
Paramacharya was explaining her she asked for scientific proof. She said, “Swamiji,
religion accepts as such all happenings whereas science demands proof for
everything around us”.
Swamiji told the lady to visit all maternity
hospitals in Kanchipuram and get a note on all those who were born and asked
her to meet him in the evening.
Lady did so and met Swamiji in the evening. Swamiji
asked what did you see in the hospitals, to which Lady replied “Swamiji, I saw
varieties of new born babies some were short, some were long, some fair, some
black, some with physical defects, some blind, some had rich parents, some had
poor parents, some sick and crying and some healthy and laughing.”
Swamiji asked the Lady, “What do you understand from
it. These children just born have not done any Karma (action) so far but then,
why are they born differently. This is explained by Karma Siddhantha it is due
to their Karma (Resultant Fruit) of previous birth that they are born
differently. If not for Rebirth everyone would have born same as the source was
the same.”
European lady got her answer and thanked Swamiji for
enlightening her.
I had a particular question about karma and the way
it works. I understand that karma is for us to learn to take responsibility for
our actions. But there is another dimension to it too. Let's say someone is
born blind or is crippled from birth because of past karma. Does that mean that
they will always be like that from lifetime to lifetime???
As I understand Karma Siddhantha, every Karma has a
definite start and an end. This is called Prarabdha Karma Phala it starts at
birth and ends with death and it is inevitable that an individual has to endure
it. It is like the arrow which is left the bow, it has a start and it ends at
the target. Generally any karmic trail should end with current life, but
consider a terrorist who has blown off several people in the previous life.
Obviously he will have to endure the result for several lives until the Karma
seed is destroyed completely. That is Sanchita Karma (Accumulated Karma Phala).
It is the arrows in the quiver, which is fired one at a time. In this situation
the disabilities may be over several lives, though not necessary but it is a
possibility. It is very difficult to tell. Also if the Agami Karma (the result
of present action) is good then Sanchita Karma gets dissolved. “Mysterious are
ways of Karma” says Sri Krishna to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita.
The whole lot of Sanchita Karma can be destroyed by
attaining the Knowledge of Brahman. It can be greatly modified by entertaining
lofty, divine thoughts, and doing virtuous actions. The sure way to sever the
cycle of birth and rebirth……What Say???
