Ari means enemy. Shad means six. Varga means a band or a group. Arishadvarga means a band of six enemies capable of wreaking havoc in the life of a human being.
Arishadvarga is mentioned in the Maitreya Upanishad (3.18) and the Varaha Upanishad (1.10).
The six powerful factors or passions constantly influencing the mind are Kama (Desire, Lust), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Miserliness, Greed), Moha (Extreme Obsession, Delusory Emotional Attachment), Mada (Pride, Vanity and Arrogance) and Matsarya (Envy, Jealousy).
The Bible also warns about seven deadly or cardinal sins which are similar to Arishadvarga. They are Pride, Avarice (greed), Lust, Envy, Gluttony (excessive eating), Wrath (anger) and Sloth (sluggishness or laziness).
Arishadvarga, the set of six enemies spread their tentacles to entrap the mind and hold it under their sway. They act like glasses of colour shades and distort the comprehension of the mind and do not allow the mind to see clearly and impartially as things are.
John Milton says that we need to reign over these passions, otherwise, we would be allowing them to reign over our mind dragging us into a quagmire of fear, anxiety, anger, pain and suffering. These passions derive their power from an inflated Ego. Hence it becomes important to build a strong character and personality through proper Environment, Education and Experience to develop reasoning, discrimination and prudence to bring the Ego under control and overcome the obstacles placed by the Providence in the form of Arishadvarga.
Due to Avidya (ignorance) the Ego becomes strong and hence such a person cannot escape from the clutches of Arishadvarga. Because of Avidya which means ignorance or lack of true knowledge a person wrongly identifies "I" with the body, mind and the thoughts. Ego is nothing but a collection of thoughts about ourselves. On the dawn of Vidya (Knowledge) one would not identify "I" with the thoughts, instead one would identify "I" with the Thinking Ability.
According to Advaita Vedanta this Thinking Ability is nothing but Consciousness, Life Energy, Self, the Atman. On the dawn of this knowledge a transformation happens, the Ego gets automatically subdued and the Arishadvarga, the group of six enemies become powerless.
Mahatria, the founder of Infinitheism, in one of his video lectures nicely explains this transformation and calls it as Acceptance.
When we do not accept what we have it results in Kama, the desires. When we do accept what we have then it results in Contentment.
When we do not accept because we do not like it then it results in Krodha, anger. Even if we do not like it but if we accept it then it results in Forgiveness.
When we do not accept the expenditure even if it is for good cause it results in Lobha, miserliness. When we do accept it then it results in Charity.
When we do not accept the possibility of not being able to possess something, it results in Moha, obsession. When we do accept that we may not be able to get what we aspired, it results in Peace of Mind.
When we do not accept that others might get hurt by our behaviour it results in Mada, pride. When we are conscious about not hurting others it results in Humbleness.
When we do not accept that we do not have what other person has, it results in Matsarya, jealousy. When we accept that we do not have then it results in Inspiration and the possibility of obtaining that thing one day becomes bright.
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