Sanathana Dharma And Its Revulsion To Attatayi (6 Gravely Sinful Behaviors)

On this Living-Smartly.com website, we have written extensively on Sanathana Hindu Dharma and its focus on forbearance and tolerance. Many Samanya Dharmas and Atmagunas encourage stoically bearing pain, nuisance, and discomfort. However, a few behaviors are looked down upon and discouraged very strongly.

Who is an Attatayi?
The term ‘Attatayi’ refers to a set of behaviors describing a person who does unpardonable sins. The behaviors that force the label of ‘Attatayi’ or ‘Atatayinah’ on a person are based on 6 grave sinful behaviors:

• 1. Who sets fire to another person’s house
  2. Who takes another’s wife
  3. Who takes another person’s farms, land, or houses
  4. Who robs wealth belonging to others
  5. Who takes up a weapon with bad intentions or kills randomly without any reason
  6. Who poisons another to death

Sanatana Dharma’s revulsion to Attatayis
Now that we are aware of the meaning of “Attatayi”, details specific to the Hinduism view on “Attatayi” can be discussed.  It is said in the various Bharatiya texts that it is no sin to kill any of the attatayis.   This viewpoint is quite different from the typical ahimsa viewpoint.  Such a strong and tough reaction to an Attatayi may feel a bit odd to those who think Sanathana Dharma is much more focused on ahimsa.

An Attatayi is not any ordinary wrong doer, but a debased human being who does not even hesitate to kill other people or cause great harm  to others interests that makes it difficult for victims to recover or destroy the fundamental ethics in society.

Maybe due to foreign rule and the lack of proper exposure to our value system, the situation has created a biased view of Sanathana Dharma in our minds. Common perception is that our behavior should be submissive and focused on only ahimsa for resolving all issues.

It also means that these sins are considered so repulsive that the response to it is very different.  Once the person makes these 6 grave sins, they are very unlikely to correct themselves.

Vali and Ravana in Mahabharata were Attatayis. In the Kurukshetra war, just before the battle, Arjuna was unwilling to punish his cousins Kauravas – even after they committed all the 6 behaviors that define an Attatayi. However, Bhagwan Krishna was very clear that they must be punished by killing them in the war for committing such grave sins. Both Bhagwan Ram and Bhagvan Krishna were in agreement that there is no negative karma in taking such extreme step.

Attatayis – additional viewpoints
While the samanya dharma speaks of significant ethical principles that are timeless; they have to be followed at all times and in all places. Adherence to many noble traits/behaviors is encouraged under samanya dharma.

At the same time, there is strong revulsion and condemnation of the 6 grave sins of Attatayis. Not just that, many revered personalities in Hinduism have suggested that an Attatayi should be killed immediately.

A Kshatriya varna person a protector of dharma – was supposed to punish as prescribed to protect dharma and discourage dharma. By punishing appropriately with self-control as per pre-defined norms – a Kshatriya goes to Swarga or heaven for doing proper karma.

There are no grounds for confusion given for anyone to support an Attatayi or the 6 grave sins. The scriptures are crystal clear about the need to distance ourselves completely away from such behaviors and also to swiftly and strongly punish people who indulge in them.

There is not much recourse given to a person who has committed such grave sins – if the person has done the behavior – it is concluded the person is uncorrectable.

Concept of Attatayi – Implications for ordinary people:
Sanathana Dharma guidelines direct us to shun evil people’s company. If this key tenet is ignored and others actively or passively support the Attatayis then large numbers of virtuous people have to suffer. This is just because ordinary people couldn’t distance themselves from those unscrupulous elements or discourage the 6 grave sins of Attatayis.

The dharma understands that not everyone possesses the power to punish the Attatayis. But, it’s the bound duty of every Hindu at least not to extend support to the nefarious activities of Attatayis.

Attatayis concept – final conclusions
In the context of the topic that is elaborated here, people in Hindu society who are well-educated and hold high positions have a bigger responsibility. They have to initiate steps to discourage the Attatayis in society and support the penalization of them as per the law of the land. If there is mental clarity about the 6 grave sins that make a person an Attatayi – then people from various walks of life can create social pressure. Some professions like musicians and artists can use their talents to discourage the support for grave sins committed by Attatayis.