KAMA (LUST) SURELY CAUSES HUMAN DOWN FALL

Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao (Retired)

Desire for sexual gratification is one of the various needs of a human being. Kama does not single out sexual desire. Humans are never satisfied of this aspect and are after it vigorously. Great amounts of money and efforts are spent around the world in research to find medicines and herbs etc to overcome various short comings in humans in this direction. This singular aspect also has contributed to the rise of various venereal diseases and the gift of the nature to the world was the dreaded AIDS during last century apart from the regular sexually transmitted devises (STD).A separate branch of medicine has sprung up to deal with the problem. The AIDS is tormenting the humans all over the globe and no medicine has been found to cure this dreaded illness.
Scriptures across the globe are clear on the aspect of Kama. This particular activity has been ordained by the God as a natural requirement for the continuation of the species. In all forms of life except the human being this activity is purely seasonal and by nature and instinct. However in humans, there is no natural control or restriction and the Kama (Lust) is eternal round the clock to put it precisely. Why this variation? Human being is gifted with reasoning power and can distinguish between Good and bad. But alas! Mostly he is more inclined towards the vices than virtues. In this context following is relevant (1):

Janami Dharmaam na Chame Pravrittihi Janami Adharmaam na chame nivritthi

(Knowing it is dharma ( Virtue) I am unable to abide by it and knowing it as Adharma ( non virtue) I am unable to leave it.

This was the trait of Duryodhana the Kaurava prince in Hindu epic Mahabharatha. Duryodhana was the wicked prince whose conduct finally destroyed the Kaurava race. Most of the humans are following the footsteps of Duryodhna resulting in their down fall. Although scriptures differ on the aspect of acquiring human birth in this world there is no doubt that human birth is the most gifted for any soul.
In Hinduism, human birth is considered as the most gifted form of life for the wandering soul caught in the spin of cycle of birth and death based on the fruits of karma ( actions). In the human birth, a man has the option of seeking union with the God by the right conduct and self realization or realization of truth. Jesus on extra marital relations that no doubt is immoral said (2):

“Be faithful in marriage. But I tell you that if you look at another woman and want her. You are already unfaithful in your thoughts. If your right causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It is better to loose one part of your body than for your whole body to end up in hell. If your right hand causes you to sin, chop it away and throw it away It is better to loose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5.27-30 CEV)

The above from Bible indicates that extra marital relations owing to passion for women and sex lands men in hell. Thus in the words of Jesus uncontrolled Kama (Lust) is no doubt a sin and the gate way to hell.
But sadly throughout the world, sex goes on unabated with flourishing flesh trade. There have been many instances where girls have been smuggled out of India to indulge in flesh trade in the markets of Middle East gulf countries. Arab Sheikhs from Gulf countries land up in Hyderabad of India and aged and sick Arabs marry very young poor girls and parents are lured with fat bundles of money and the poor and desperate Muslims from old city part with they dear daughters to be carried away to Gulf countries to satisfy the lust of aged Arabs. The middle men tamper with the certificates to prove that the girl is not a minor to escape police intervention. Skeletons would roll out of cup boards if this issue is touched in India. There is no doubt that this is the result of lust. These Arabs are not marrying widows with children to take care of them. But after young virgins. Islam sanctions taking four wives and in the good olden days of founding of Islam many men perished in wars fought by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and the families lost the bread winners and protectors. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) sanctioned such plural marriages in those days to provide protection to the orphaned families and children and women and it is claimed that the sanction is not to satisfy lust. This is the argument put forward by Muslim scholors who defend plural marriages in Islam. Following is highly relevant in this context from Holy Quran(3):

“If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four, but of ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with them , then only one, or that which right hands possess. That will be more suitable , to prevent you from doing injustice.” ( Holy Qoran, Sura 4:3)

There is no doubt of truth in such genuine step in those days although some critics do not agree. Critics however question the necessity of such sanction in present days where things are far better. The answer is that the scripture can not be questioned as it is a divine revelation and stands for all times. Islam is very rigid on the scripture and no deviations are accepted by the Muslims. Here ends the matter. However many educated and modern Muslims abstain from such practice and are happy with one wife. There is no doubt that the aged and infirm Arabs marrying young girls in Hyderabad is purely out of lust and surely not out of any concern as prescribed in the scripture.Why an Arab sheikh should run to Hyderabad and get hold of virgin girls hwose documents are tampered and forged to make things legally right. It is purely out of lust and get away from the crime with the help of scripture. For such men, I am sure hell would be waiting to welcome them to suffer eternally. But these Lust ridden sheikhs have no fear of God or hell and take advantage of distorted versions of scriptures by some shady men.

Having acquired human birth, it is up to the man to utilize the human birth gifted to him accordingly or just fritter it away by indulging in various un prescribed activities and becoming a slave to traits of Kama ( lust) , Krodha ( anger), Lobha ( Greed) , Moha ( Desire and attachment) and Matsarya ( Jealousy). Each one of these traits is an enemy in the form of devil forcing and luring the man to deviate from right path of spirituality. In Christianity devil has been given status of a wicked identity luring the people away from the path prescribed by Lord Jesus.
Accordingly the Bible clearly subscribes these aspects to the devil that has caused the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Hindu scriptures are full of the incidents that highlight the ills of lust ( Kama). Even Gods have fallen prey to the vise and suffered. Indra the ruler of demi Gods in the heavens became infatuated with the beauty of Ahalya the wife of the great learned sage Gautama. He devised a plan and taking the form of Gautama he entered the hut of the sage at an hermitage when he was away and violated Ahalya who submitted to him ignorant of the truth. Indra thus morally fell and deserved severe punishment. The sage Gautama having returned and come to know of the truth cursed his wife to turn into a stone for getting involved in adultery although she was deceived. He also made Indra to suffer great shame by cursing him that his entire body would be covered all over with female genitals (4). This is because Indra was overtaken by lust and forgotten what is good and bad. Ahalya could regain her form only when Sri Rama (Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) accidentally touched the stone with his foot while wandering in the forest accompanied by Sage Vishwamitra enroute to Mithilapura. This was foretold by the sage Gautama. This has been described in the most pious Hindu scripture Ramayana (5). Indra suffered great shame and was unable to show himself to any one. He however did penance praying to lord Shiva and the Lord much pleased blessed Indra that all the vaginas on his body would be changed into markings of eyes. Then onwards Indra is being called Sahasraksha ( One with thousand eyes). Even the greatest sages became victims of the trait of passion and lust. Example of distinguished sage Viswamitra can be quoted. He was the most accomplished one. While he was undergoing penance to attain distinction among the sages, Indra sent a divine nymph Menaka to lure him away. She appeared infront of him and seduced the sage by dance and song. Viswamitra could not control himself and became a victim of lust. He left the penance and out of the union of the sage and the nymph Menaka Shakuntala the girl was born. The newly born baby was abandoned and was brought up by Sage kanwa and she finally married King Dushyanta to whom the prince Bharatha was born who became a great ruler of India. India derives its name Bharath from the king who was most illustrious.

Thus we find that Lust follows the men very closely causing their down gradation and lures them away from truthful living and spiritual path. Distinguished sages and men of high achievements have fallen from the altars bit by the trait of Kama. The love affair between Lady Mountbatten ( wife of Lord Mountbatten the last viceroy of India) and Former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is widely discussed even today. The story of Cleopatra of Egypt is well known to all. Thus Kama is the villain in the world and it is very difficult to get out of it. It causes human down gradation. The person bit by lust becomes a victim of evil and other bad traits too take over him soon and causes complete downfall. Therefore it is essential that men have self control and lead balanced lives.

Bibliography

1. Dr Sandhya vandanam Laxmidevi, Pradhama Sopanam ( Telugu) ( First step) Vedanta bheri, samputam 40, Sanchika 6, June 2008, PP 10

2. The New Testament, contemporary English Version, Commemorative edition.American Bible Society, New York, PP 6-7

3. The Holy Quran, Transliteration by MA Haleem Eliasii, English translation by Abdullah Yousuf Ali, Al Ittehad publications, B 35 Basemnt, Nizamuddin west, New Delhi, India, Edition I, 2004

4.Ahalya, Wikipedia, http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:uqAPB09sS_0J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

5. Dasarathi Rangacharya, Sri Madramayanamu ( Telugu), SriRama Book House , Secunderabad, India, 1974, PP