Karma in Hinduism

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Karma is a concept of Hinduism which describes a system in which beneficial effects are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful effects from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a soul's (jivatman's) reincarnated lives,^[1] forming a cycle of rebirth. The causality is said to apply not only to the material world but also to our thoughts, words, actions, and actions that others do under our instructions.^[2]

For example, if one performs a good deed, something good will happen to them, and the same applies if one does a bad thing. In the Puranas, it is said that the lord of karma is represented by the planet Saturn, known as Shani.^[3]

According to Vedanta thought, the most influential school of Hindu theology,^[4] the effects of karma are controlled by God (Isvara).^[5][6]

There are three different types of karma: prarabdha, sanchita, and kriyamana or agami.^[7] Prarabdha karma is experienced through the present body and is only a part of sanchita karma, which is the sum of one's past karmas, whereas agami karma is the result of current decisions and actions.^[8]