Abstract

The fear of karma is an age old problem in the Hindu mind. Today, millions of peoples' lives in India and around the world are controlled by the doctrine of karma. ;Hindus are following many margas or ways for the attainment of their salvation and karma marga is one of the ways the majority of the people in India have accepted. Even after the rigorous following of the karma marga there is no guarantee for the soul that it will attain salvation. The soul will reincarnate as long as it has the effect of karma. Peoples' present suffering is the result of their previous karma. ;This study is an attempt to understand the origin, development and interpretations of karma in Hindu thought along with Christian interpretations from a few Indian Christian theologians as well as Biblical responses. It is a three fold study, namely historical, thematic and missiological. ;Historically, this study is an attempt to understand the origin, development of the karma concept along with its interpretations made by Hindu and Indian Christian thinkers. Thematically this study discusses some of the biblical themes intrinsically related to the concept of karma. Missiologically, this is an attempt to offer the way of the cross in which the issue of karma has been dealt with. ;This study concludes with an open and loving invitation to all who are under the fear of karma to have genuine fellowship with Christ, which is the highest attainment