What Are the Five Evils?

Kaam - Lust

The voice of Kaam, or lust, depending on the volume, can manifest as rational, or irrational, to serve, or enslave, the soul:

• In Sikhism the ethical voice of desire to procreate is sanctioned by the Anand Karaj matrimonial ceremony.
• Indulging the voice of lustful desire may take the form of recreational pursuit outside of marriage and result in unwanted pregnancy, abortion, children born out of wedlock, divorce, and breakdown of the family unit.
• An excessive increase in volume of the inner voice of kaam can drown the voice of reason to inflame desire resulting in the desecration of morality and abject licentious behavior, perversion, promiscuity, prostitution and rape.

Krodh - Anger

The voice of Krodh, or anger, depending on the volume, can manifest as rational, or irrational, to serve, or enslave, the soul:

• Reasonable anger can manifest in assertive or protective behavior and righteous protest.
• Indulging the voice of krodh can easily trigger rage resulting in hurtful and harmful behavior.
• An excessive increase in volume of the inner voice of krodh can drown the voice of reason inflaming passions and resulting in murder.

Lobh - Greed

The voice of Lobh, or greed, depending on the volume, can manifest as rational, or irrational, to serve, or enslave, the soul:

• An ethical voice inspires honest labor to provide necessities and comfort.
• Indulging the voice of greed can lead to an excessive appetite for food, money, or power, resulting in gluttony, and even addictive gambling.
• The excessive voice of inflamed greed can override the voice of result in obsessive coveting if material possessions and theft.

Moh - Attachment

The voice of Moh, or attachment, depending on the volume, can manifest as rational, or irrational, to serve, or enslave, the soul:

• Ethical attachment to spiritual pursuits, devotion, meditation, and selfless service enriches the soul.
• Indulging attachment to family and home and professional pursuits results in the neglect of spiritual life.
• Excessive attachment to Moh results in addiction and enslavement to substances, fashion, money, pleasure, power, fame and other illusive worldly pursuits, and desires in disregard for spiritual life.

Ahnkar - Pride

The voice of Ahnkar, or pride, depending on the volume, can manifest as rational, or irrational, to serve, or enslave, the soul:

• A reasonable ethical voice of pride inspires dignity, honor and self-esteem and self-respect.
• Indulging the voice of pride can result in self-importance, arrogance, competitiveness, smugness, and self-conceit.
• The voice of excessive pride can result in self-gratification subjecting others to submission, servitude, and slavery.

Five Elements of Evil and the Number 5 in Gurbani

What is the significance of the number 5 in Gurbani and how does it relate to the Five Evils?