94 Karmas of Life and the Eternal 6: The Hidden Wisdom of Manikarnika Ghat
On the banks of the sacred Ganga, at the eternal city of Kashi, life and death exist not as opposites but as intimate companions. Nowhere is this union more palpable than at Manikarnika Ghat, the great cremation ground where fires burn unceasingly, where generations have come to complete their final journey, and where the veil between the temporal and the eternal grows thin.
Among the many customs observed at Manikarnika, one tradition carries a profound spiritual meaning that often escapes the notice of outsiders. After the funeral pyre has turned to ashes, when the flames are silent and smoke dissipates into the morning mist, the person who lit the pyre inscribes the number “94” upon the ashes.
Why 94? Why not 100, or any other number?
Behind this quiet act lies one of the deepest spiritual philosophies of Sanatan Dharma, one that reveals the very architecture of human life, the role of karma, and the relationship between human will and divine decree.
The Philosophy Behind the Number 94
According to tradition, human life is made up of 100 karmas (actions or duties). Out of these, 94 karmas lie within the domain of human effort. These are the actions, responsibilities, virtues, and duties that each person can consciously choose, cultivate, or avoid.
The remaining 6 karmas, however, are not in human hands. These belong to the realm of Brahma, the cosmic order, or divine law.
They are:
Life and Death
Gain and Loss
Fame and Defame (Honor and Dishonor)
No matter how much effort one puts forth, these six remain under the mysterious jurisdiction of the cosmos.
Thus, when the ashes of a body are inscribed with the number 94, it signifies that the person’s earthly 94 karmas have now been consumed by fire. What remains are the 6 karmas, which will determine the continuity of the soul’s journey into its next life.
“The flames of Manikarnika do not merely reduce bodies to ashes; they dissolve 94 threads of destiny, leaving only 6 in the hands of eternity.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Scriptural Roots of the Teaching
This philosophy is not without scriptural depth. The Bhagavad Gita points out that when death arrives, the soul departs carrying the mind (manas) and the five sense faculties (Pañcha Jñānendriyas) ~ sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Together, they form the mystical six.
This journey of the subtle body underlines why the number six is sacrosanct and why it symbolizes the realm beyond human control.
The Upanishads, too, affirm that while human beings have agency over choice, conduct, and moral alignment, the ultimate destiny, birth and death, prosperity and downfall, recognition and rejection, lies beyond the sphere of personal will.
The 94 Human Karmas: A Life in Human Hands
The 94 karmas represent the full spectrum of human responsibility: moral, social, familial, personal, spiritual, and ecological. They are not commandments imposed externally, but natural dharmas that govern the rhythm of human existence.
1. Bodily Duties (10)
The human body is the first temple. Its care and discipline form the foundation of dharma. These duties include truthfulness, non-violence, restraint, service, health, and moderation.
2. Duties of Speech (10)
Words are vibrations that carry immense power. Duties of speech include speaking sweetly, avoiding harshness, refraining from slander, honoring truth, chanting, prayer, and encouraging dialogue rooted in respect.
3. Mental and Inner Duties (10)
The mind is the charioteer of life. Duties here involve self-reflection, meditation, surrendering envy, controlling anger, detaching from greed, and cultivating humility.
4. Social Duties (12)
Man is not an island. Service to parents, teachers, guests, friends, neighbors, the poor, the afflicted, and society at large belong to this domain.
5. Familial Duties (12)
The home is the first training ground of dharma. Respecting spouses, nurturing children, honoring elders, performing ancestral rites, and maintaining harmony are vital karmas.
6. Economic and Occupational Duties (10)
Wealth is not evil; misuse of wealth is. Honesty in trade, hard work, fair dealings, responsible savings, and the avoidance of exploitation are considered sacred karmas.
7. Religious and Spiritual Duties (15)
These include ritual purity, worship, prayer, study of scriptures, chanting, pilgrimage, sacrifice, and temple service, each aligning the individual with higher consciousness.
8. Ecological and Environmental Duties (5)
Caring for nature, trees, rivers, animals, and the earth, is not just modern environmentalism but an ancient dharmic responsibility.
9. Self-Development Duties (10)
Study, art, music, yoga, self-reliance, discipline, and self-realization form this category, emphasizing growth beyond survival into higher human potential.
Together, these 94 karmas weave the fabric of a human life. They are within reach, they can be chosen, nurtured, and lived.
“Our 94 karmas are the brushstrokes of human choice; the last six are the signature of the Divine.” ~ Adarsh Singh
The Eternal Six
And yet, when the 94 dissolves, six karmas remain untouched:
1. Birth ~ the moment of entry is never ours to decide.
2. Death ~ the timing and manner of exit belong to destiny.
3. Gain ~ sometimes life offers us wealth or success without clear reason.
4. Loss ~ sometimes even great effort leads to emptiness.
5. Fame ~ recognition arrives, often unexpectedly.
6. Defame ~ criticism and dishonor may strike without cause.
These six are beyond all manipulation. They remind us of humility, of surrender, of the cosmic will that transcends the ego.
A Dance Between Effort and Grace
The symbolism of “94” etched upon the ashes is therefore both humbling and liberating. It teaches us that:
We must act with full responsibility in our 94 karmas.
Yet, we must accept with equanimity the six that are beyond our control.
This is precisely what the Gita teaches when it says:
“Karmanye vadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana” ~ “You have a right to action, but never to its fruits.”
The cremation ground, in its silence, reaffirms this eternal truth.
“Freedom is not the denial of fate, but the mastery of 94 karmas while bowing to the final 6.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Manikarnika as the Eternal Teacher
Manikarnika Ghat is not just a cremation ground; it is a university of existence. Here, every fire is a teacher, every ash a scripture, every silence a sermon. The living who watch the burning pyres are not spectators, they are students of impermanence, dharma, and responsibility.
Those who know the tradition of writing “94” know that life is not endless chaos, but a structured balance between what we can do and what we must surrender.
The Modern Relevance of the 94 Karmas
One might ask, in this age of science and globalization, what relevance do such traditions hold? The answer is: perhaps more than ever.
Today, we are overwhelmed with the illusion of control. We believe technology, power, or money can conquer everything. But the truth of the eternal six remains unchanged: life, death, gain, loss, fame, and defame continue to elude total human mastery.
At the same time, neglect of our 94 karmas has led to ecological destruction, social disintegration, and inner emptiness. To revive the wisdom of 94 karmas is to restore balance in modern existence.
“In a world obsessed with controlling the six, the secret of peace lies in perfecting the ninety-four.” ~ Adarsh Singh
The Call of the 94 and the 6
When one sees the ashes marked with “94,” the heart is invited to reflect:
What am I doing with my 94 karmas?
Am I wasting them in trivial pursuits, or shaping them into a meaningful life?
Am I clinging to the six that I cannot control, or surrendering them with grace?
This reflection itself becomes a meditation, a quiet dialogue with one’s own mortality, and a pathway to liberation.
The Wisdom of Ashes
The act of inscribing “94” upon the ashes is not a ritual of the dead, it is a teaching for the living. It reminds us that:
Life is not random but structured.
Human will and divine will coexist.
Responsibility and surrender must walk hand in hand.
True wisdom is knowing the limits of control and the depth of acceptance.
Manikarnika whispers this truth every day, to anyone who is willing to listen.
“The ashes of Manikarnika do not mourn the dead; they awaken the living to the truth of karma.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Mon Sep 29, 2025
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