"The Sanskrit term "Karma," is derived from the root verb "Kri," that is to act. Taken in its literal sense, therefore, Karma signifies action, and refers to all actions whether of mind or body. Wherever there is activity of any kind, it is Karma.
In this sense devotion, love, worship, meditation, concentration, discrimination are all Karma; as are also, for the same reason, eating, drinking, walking, talking, or performing any organic function.
Again, every action, as we are aware, is followed by reaction. No action can be separated from its result, as no cause can be absolutely disconnected from its effect. Consequently the secondary meaning of Karma embraces all reactions or results of actions. The chain of cause and sequence, known as the "law of causation," is also called Karma; and every action of body and mind is governed by the Law of Karma or of action and reaction. Being subject to this natural law, we have been working in this world from the beginningless past, and reaping the results of our efforts, whether pleasant or unpleasant, good or evil.
When, furthermore, we consider that the effect of each action leaves its impression on the mind-substance, which impression becomes the seed of a fresh action of a similar nature, we understand the third meaning of the term. In this sense the word Karma includes the accumulated results of past actions or rather the seed forms of future activities. Hence the character of an individual, which is the aggregate result of the works of his previous life may be called Karma. In the same way, the future life will be the sum-total of the results of the mental and physical actions of the present life."......
(The above definition of "Karma" is a quote from Swami Abhedananda's writings on Karma Yoga . Swami Abhedananda is direct disciple of Ramkrishna Paramhansa and a Gurubhai of Swami Vivekananda)
In continuation of the Karma theme , Acharya Shriram Sharma takes us through simple explanations that govern the Laws of Karma, in a fascinating book titled "The Absolute Laws of Karma". The enclosed quoted text below are from this book (refer pages 5-7) and the writings explains to us how the good deeds and bad deeds in our lifetime get recorded, and who exactly documents these records and how these records are maintained and managed?
Quoted Text:
"A verse in the Hindu scriptures (Garura
Purana) states that a suppressed conscience takes one to hell and an awakened
conscience leads to heaven. This statement tries to explain the enigma of Heaven and
Hell, i.e. an individual himself is responsible for creating heaven and hell in
his life.
The Hindu scripture (Garura Purana) describes this phenomenon metaphorically. It is mentioned that in the astral world (Yamlok) there lives a deity named Chitragupta, who maintains the record of good and evil deeds of a sentient being. When a living being dies and its soul enters the astral world, this deity presents the record of its good and evil deeds and, based on this account, the soul is assigned to live in either heaven or hell. Common sense would not accept the existence of a deity like Chitragupta.
The Hindu scripture (Garura Purana) describes this phenomenon metaphorically. It is mentioned that in the astral world (Yamlok) there lives a deity named Chitragupta, who maintains the record of good and evil deeds of a sentient being. When a living being dies and its soul enters the astral world, this deity presents the record of its good and evil deeds and, based on this account, the soul is assigned to live in either heaven or hell. Common sense would not accept the existence of a deity like Chitragupta.
The number of human beings
inhabiting this earth itself is in billions. If we take into account the other
living beings of millions of non-human species, the total number would be
beyond mathematical calculation. It would be an impossible task for an
individual to work day and night without rest for millions of years maintaining
records of each moment of life of innumerable beings of the cosmos.
Impracticability of maintenance of such a stupendous record puts a question
mark on the very existence of Chitragupta.
However Modern Science substantiates the existence of Chitragupta .Modern science, today explains the
reality underlying the
metaphorical descriptions given in the scriptures. Science has now established
that all mental, verbal and physical activities carried out by an individual
having a discriminative mind leave subtle impressions on the deeper levels of
the psyche.
In this way, like the compressed audio-visual recordings of events on a microchip of the computer or compact disc, all good and evil deeds are being recorded in the secret chambers of the sub-conscious mind. This record, like a C.D remains in storage till it is required to be played at a desired moment through an appropriate mechanism.
Along with this thought let us also discuss the concept of karma and see how that ties in with the concept of Chitragupta. Since time immemorial, enlightened persons in India have wondered about the role of fate in human life. Sanskrit and Hindi literature has abundant references to the “footprints of Karma” (Karma Rekha), which it is said, cannot be erased by any degree of intellectual endeavor.
In Indian spirituality, Karma stands for any physical, verbal, mental or social activity. It means that each karma produces an imprint (Rekha), which cannot be erased before creating a reaction (Karmaphal). There is a belief that the Creator (Lord Brahma) inscribes the destiny on the forehead of a human being and this Divine Inscription cannot be erased by anyone.
In this way, like the compressed audio-visual recordings of events on a microchip of the computer or compact disc, all good and evil deeds are being recorded in the secret chambers of the sub-conscious mind. This record, like a C.D remains in storage till it is required to be played at a desired moment through an appropriate mechanism.
Along with this thought let us also discuss the concept of karma and see how that ties in with the concept of Chitragupta. Since time immemorial, enlightened persons in India have wondered about the role of fate in human life. Sanskrit and Hindi literature has abundant references to the “footprints of Karma” (Karma Rekha), which it is said, cannot be erased by any degree of intellectual endeavor.
In Indian spirituality, Karma stands for any physical, verbal, mental or social activity. It means that each karma produces an imprint (Rekha), which cannot be erased before creating a reaction (Karmaphal). There is a belief that the Creator (Lord Brahma) inscribes the destiny on the forehead of a human being and this Divine Inscription cannot be erased by anyone.
Let us also examine this concept from a scientific point of view. Microscopic examination
shows innumerable furrows in the grey matter all over the brain. Medical
science has not so far come to know the biological implications of these
indentations. Comparative microscopic
research studies have shown that the density of these crenulations in the grey
matter of highly evolved persons and thinkers is much more, than in the case
of the common masses.
It shows that these microscopic lines in the grey matter of the brain are nothing but compact subtle impressions created by external activities, which we take as imprints of mental, vocal and physical actions. This record of activities (good and evil deeds) on the neurons of grey matter proves the existence of an intelligent mechanism, which Hindu Mythology refers to The Absolute Law of Karma as the deity Chitragupta.
In Sanskrit language too, the word “Chitragupta” means “a hidden picture”. It shows that there exists in the human mind a hidden chamber, an inner sentient mechanism (Antaha Chetana) or a subtle state of consciousness (Sookshma Man). (We may compare it with a back-up file of executable programs in computer parlance).
It shows that these microscopic lines in the grey matter of the brain are nothing but compact subtle impressions created by external activities, which we take as imprints of mental, vocal and physical actions. This record of activities (good and evil deeds) on the neurons of grey matter proves the existence of an intelligent mechanism, which Hindu Mythology refers to The Absolute Law of Karma as the deity Chitragupta.
In Sanskrit language too, the word “Chitragupta” means “a hidden picture”. It shows that there exists in the human mind a hidden chamber, an inner sentient mechanism (Antaha Chetana) or a subtle state of consciousness (Sookshma Man). (We may compare it with a back-up file of executable programs in computer parlance).
It is well known that the subtle
body (Sookshma Sharir) coexisting with the physical human body has four
components “Man” (pronounced as Munn)- the source of desires, longings and
aspirations; “Buddhi”- the discriminative faculty which deliberates, takes decisions and
determines a course
of action; “Chitta”- which
stores traits, habits inclinations
and temperament and “Ahamkar”- the overall personal sense of selfhood (Ego).
It is also established that “Chitta” carries forward its record of good and bad impressions after dissolution of the body. It appears the expression “Chittagupta” of scriptures came to be known as “Chitragupta” in course of time. Hence the internal mechanism of mind, which creates the compact subtle recordings of human activities, could be taken as the deity “Chitragupta” of human mythology.
No doubt, this intelligent mechanism (Chitragupta) is continuously engaged in maintaining records of all living beings. Since each being has its own personal Chitragupta and, therefore we can say that for the entire population of animate beings there is an equal number of Chitraguptas. Thus maintenance of records of innumerable beings does not seem to be an impossibility.
It is also established that “Chitta” carries forward its record of good and bad impressions after dissolution of the body. It appears the expression “Chittagupta” of scriptures came to be known as “Chitragupta” in course of time. Hence the internal mechanism of mind, which creates the compact subtle recordings of human activities, could be taken as the deity “Chitragupta” of human mythology.
No doubt, this intelligent mechanism (Chitragupta) is continuously engaged in maintaining records of all living beings. Since each being has its own personal Chitragupta and, therefore we can say that for the entire population of animate beings there is an equal number of Chitraguptas. Thus maintenance of records of innumerable beings does not seem to be an impossibility.
The human mind has an infinite
capacity for the storage of information. It is quite possible for the subtle
sentient mechanism of subconscious mind to maintain a systematic record of
activities of a living being. There is also no contradiction in the one
Chitragupta of mythology being countless Chitraguptas in innumerable beings.
Divine powers of God are omnipresent - The
universal life-force-Prana is one, but it is individually present in each
living being.
Similarly, the subtle celestial elements designated as deities Indra, Varun, Agni, Shiva and Yama in mythology are also all-pervasive. Air, for instance, in spite of being identified as fresh air of a garden or polluted air of an industrial area, is an integral part of the same atmosphere enveloping the earth. Similarly, though inhabiting and operating in numerous bodies independently, the deity Chitragupta is a single universal celestial entity and its definitely clocking and categorizing our deeds every single moment of our lives".
In a seperate article on this blog we discuss in detail other laws of Karma- how does " Chitragupta" categorize a deed as good or bad. What is the criterion of classification ? Is it the deed itself or is it the motive behind the deed?
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Similarly, the subtle celestial elements designated as deities Indra, Varun, Agni, Shiva and Yama in mythology are also all-pervasive. Air, for instance, in spite of being identified as fresh air of a garden or polluted air of an industrial area, is an integral part of the same atmosphere enveloping the earth. Similarly, though inhabiting and operating in numerous bodies independently, the deity Chitragupta is a single universal celestial entity and its definitely clocking and categorizing our deeds every single moment of our lives".
In a seperate article on this blog we discuss in detail other laws of Karma- how does " Chitragupta" categorize a deed as good or bad. What is the criterion of classification ? Is it the deed itself or is it the motive behind the deed?
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Source and References to the above article:
To read the Book "The Absolute Law Of Karma" click on the below mentioned link:
To know more about Shriram Sharma Acharya please click the link below: