101. DASAHARA or DASAPAPAHARA or the 10 deadly sins/doshas to be Removed
- Apr 13
- 4 min read
So, what are the qualities of a soul that bind it to the great cycle of birth and death?
Some Hindu scriptures talk about the term – DASAHARA or DASAPAPAHARA or taking away the 10 deadly sins!
The 10 deadly sins to be avoided are:
1. Ahankara (Ego) – Usually manifesting as dominating person attaching too much self-importance over others often times leading to reckless decisions.
2. Amaanvata (Cruelty) – The souls experiencing the other/nether end of the experiences spectrum may have this trait of cruelty. As humans we always have to watch out from this demon that will suddenly manifest when opportunities present itself. There are social experiments about humans that try to explore this particular trait in humans such as in the Standford Prison Experiment (https://www.simplypsychology.org/zimbardo.html) and in the art exhibition Rhythm 0 (https://www.artandobject.com/news/marina-abramovic-challenging-art-through-use-her-body). There are also instances where other species have been seen exhibiting this trait when opportunities arise.
Some other vulnerable conditions that present opportunities for this demon to manifest in human minds are when the form of government is autocracy/dictatorship, or when some maids working for dubious rich families in vulnerable/exploitable conditions or when some low-paid employees with no legal basis and as illegal refugees are living under strict conditions of employment etc.,
For a spiritual person, this demon is easily identifiable, and he can kick it out the door the moment it tries to arise its head or even better - for a more matured spiritually grounded person- this demon may not manifest under any conditions. But for a shady person, this demon may be more overpowering than normal. This is also that particular demon that is extremely dangerous for women.
This sin is usually a second derivative to one’s personality. If the personality is dominated by bad qualities such as wrath/resentment/disturbance etc., this demon arrives too quickly perhaps in increased frequency. There may not be a lack of resentment for the activities arising from cruelty- sometimes as seen among the psychopaths.
3. Anyayya (Injustice) – In a corrupt society, injustice exists everywhere. The feeling of resentment and anger inside the victims may create powerful forces of retribution which will strike the perpetrator at a very inopportune time.
Some of the crimes that raise tremendous resentment and anger in victims are – sexual exploitation, a poor soul losing all its hard-earned money, a family losing its land due to usurping activities etc., any crime resulting in helplessness and heavy loss including loss of human lives.
The currency for evaluating karma is the state of the body and/or the mind of the doer and the receiver. A poor man losing £20 and a rich man losing £20,000 may some times raise an emotional state that are similar!
4. Kama Vasana (Lust) – As long as there are shady people who see that sex is a basic/unavoidable need and that women are exploitable, lust resulting in crime or depravity may manifest and hence a society should have deep knowledge about allowed and dis-allowed practices of sex. Too many indulgences result in new normal and as time progresses, these new normals(!) may become diabolic and hurting to human-conscience. Please refer to the last line of the 2nd deadly sin.
5. Krodha (Anger) – Anger should be practised as a wearable only and backed by the innate feeling of fighting for justice. Please refer to my article – https://www.mayoan.com/post/63-the-psychology-of-anger. A momentary madness sometimes accompanied by bad luck and bad turn of events can result in great harm. It is an inferior form of mental state that drains one’s energy and focus.
Some Hindu gods hold the pashankusham – a goad and a rope, in their hands. The goad signifies that her anger is externally manifested (wearable) out of her personality and is to be used in a focussed manner only when great evil manifests. Similarly, the rope signifies the control of senses that is easily accomplished by these gods.
6. Lobha (Greed) – Greed is lust for money/power/followers/status/command commonly accompanied by megalomaniac tendencies and sycophancy. This is a sin because of the 2nd derivative effects of this tendency!
Remember - when God’s will rules, everyone will benefit and there is a state of content and happiness; But when the beast dominates, all 10 deadly sins arise are only those who are successful with ‘Lobha’ will be in an apparent state of illusionary bliss! I call this ‘illusionary bliss/happiness’ because – everybody may crave for success in ‘Lobha’ and it will be a dog-eat-dog world!
7. Mada (Over Pride) – The synonym for this is ‘Frenzy’ or ‘Intoxication’ or as ‘Unmattham’ in Tamil. Now try to link this with some negative qualities and try to predict the outcome to see why this is listed as a deadly sin.
Frenzy + Power ->?
Frenzy + Lust ->?
Frenzy + Money ->?
Frenzy + Command ->?
Frenzy + Anger ->?
Frenzy + Superiority-complex ->?
8. Matsarya (Jealousy) – A calm and composed mind will see all the activities of this world as divine will and/or as cosmic play to expend karma. Such a soul will see – ‘a man riding an expensive yacht’ or ‘a man living in a great mansion’ as activities that are resolving someone’s Prarabdha karma. It is ‘just an act of experiencing fruits of good karma’! Definitely Gods cannot have this sin as they are witness to the expending of karmas – good or bad.
But for ordinary mortals these sights and similar experiences result in jealousy – sometimes leading to clouded judgements and/or to a disquieted/unsettled mind!
9. Moha (Attachment) – This attachment can happen in a one-sided or expired love affair, or on the accumulated and vaulted wealth, or on the powers/positions/statuses. A graphic representation of this sin will be a old man in his death bed not letting go of his money box or his young-bride or his work-title!! He is terrified at the outcome of losing them!
10. Swartha (Selfishness) – I think this does not need any special introduction. Everybody knows – grabbing more food or stealing somebody’s work or putting self over service or family etc., all are acts of selfishness.
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