Hindu Beliefs about Life and Death » Moksha and the Three Margas
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 1, 2.2 (Hinduism)
- What Hindus mean by moksha and enlightenment
- The three margas, or paths, to liberation: knowledge, selfless action and loving devotion
- Two Hindu views of what moksha is like
- Whether one path is better, and whether life has meaning only for religious people
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Unlock This CourseMoksha: the goal of the journey
The lesson What Is Life For? Meaning, Purpose, Salvation and Liberation explained that some religions teach liberation, being set free. In Hinduism, this is the main answer to the question ‘What is life for?’ The lesson Karma and Suffering in Hinduism introduced samsara, the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Hindus hope to escape from it.
Moksha means release from samsara. The atman (the real self) no longer has to be born again. Hindus say it is a state of lasting peace and freedom, and that the atman is united with, or close to, Brahman, the ultimate reality behind everything.
Key terms:
- Enlightenment: realising that the atman is not the body or the mind. It is the end of avidya, the ignorance explained in Avidya and Maya: Why People Go Wrong in Hinduism.
- Marga: a path or way. The Hindu texts describe three margas to moksha.
- Jnana marga: the path of knowledge.
- Karma marga: the path of selfless action.
- Bhakti marga: the path of loving devotion to God.
Enlightenment: seeing the truth
Hindus say people stay trapped in samsara because of avidya. They think ‘I am my body’ or ‘I am my thoughts’. Enlightenment is the moment of seeing the truth, that the atman is something deeper than both. When the ignorance ends, the cause of rebirth ends too, and the atman can reach moksha.
The three margas
📚 Jnana marga
The path of knowledge. Followers study the Upanishads, think deeply and meditate, often with a guru (teacher). The aim is to know for themselves that the atman is not the body or mind, so that avidya ends. It is often seen as the hardest path.
🤝 Karma marga
The path of selfless action. Followers do their duty and help others without asking for rewards or praise. Acting without selfish desire stops actions from tying a person more tightly to samsara. Karma and Freedom described the idea of acting without clinging to results.
💖 Bhakti marga
The path of loving devotion. Followers love and trust God, shown in puja, singing devotional songs (bhajans), repeating God's name and thinking of God throughout the day. Many Hindus see this as open to everyone, whatever their learning.
These paths link to the four yogas in Hindu Nurture, the Vedas and the Four Yogas: jnana yoga, karma yoga and bhakti yoga are the same three ideas, seen as ways to unite the self with God.
Two Hindu views of what moksha is
Hindus do not all agree on what moksha is like. The teachers behind these views, Shankara and Ramanuja, are studied in Paper 2.
- One with Brahman: in the Advaita view, the atman and Brahman were never really separate, so moksha is the atman realising it is one with Brahman.
- Close to a personal God: in the view of Ramanuja and many devotees, the atman stays distinct and lives for ever in loving closeness to a personal God, such as Vishnu.
Is one path better?
Hindus give different answers.
- Yes, one is best. Some Hindus stress knowledge, because only seeing the truth ends avidya. Others stress devotion, because loving God is open to all and many Hindus believe God's grace helps a person.
- No, they suit different people. Many Hindus say people differ: one is thoughtful, one is active, one is warm-hearted. The paths are not rivals. Many followers combine them, for example by working for others with love for God and by studying too.
Is meaning only for religious people?
Hindus again have different views. Some say the deepest purpose of life is moksha, so full meaning comes from the religious search. Others say every person has a duty and a chance to serve others, so a good, caring life has meaning for anyone, with or without belief. Hinduism has many paths, and its teachers have often said that people reach truth in different ways.
Common mistakes
- Saying moksha is a heaven. Heavens (svarga, met in Samsara, Karma and Reincarnation in Hinduism) are temporary places between lives. Moksha is release from rebirth itself.
- Saying all Hindus think moksha means becoming one with Brahman. Some teach lasting closeness to a personal God.
- Saying karma marga means doing good to earn a better rebirth. Its aim is to act without selfish desire for rewards.
- Saying one path is the only correct one. Hindus disagree, and many combine the paths.
Exam-style question
(a) Identify three Hindu beliefs about moksha. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two ways in which liberation can be achieved in this religion. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why there are different attitudes to what liberation is in this religion. [6 marks]
(d) ‘The best way to reach liberation is through devotion to God.’ Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
Model answer
(a) 1. Moksha is release from samsara (1). 2. It is union with, or closeness to, Brahman (1). 3. It comes with enlightenment, the end of avidya (1).
(b) Hinduism: Jnana marga is the path of knowledge (1), in which a person studies and meditates to realise the atman is not the body or mind (1). Bhakti marga is the path of loving devotion (1), shown through puja and singing to God (1).
(c) Hindus disagree because their texts and teachers can be read in different ways. Advaita Hindus believe the atman and Brahman are one, so moksha is realising this oneness, and the self is no longer seen as separate. Other Hindus, such as followers of Ramanuja, teach that the atman stays distinct and lives in loving closeness to a personal God, so love and worship matter more than losing oneself in Brahman. These views arise because Hindus think about God in different ways, as the formless Brahman or as a personal God, and Hinduism has no single leader who decides one view for everyone.
(d) Plan. For: bhakti is open to everyone, not only to those who can study; many Hindus believe God's grace helps; love for God is a way to reduce selfishness. Against: jnana marga says only knowledge ends avidya, so devotion alone cannot free the atman; karma marga says selfless action matters most; many Hindus say the paths suit different people, so there is no single best way. A possible conclusion: devotion is the best way for many Hindus because it is open to all, but because the paths suit different natures and are often combined, it is hard to call it best for everyone.
Exam tip
In a 12-mark question, cover the key word ‘best’ by comparing paths and ending with a judgement that picks a side. Do not just list the three margas.