Moksha (Sanskrit: मोक्ष, mokṣa), also referred to as vimoksha, vimukti, and mukti, is a term used in Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism to denote various forms of emancipation, liberation, or release. In its soteriological and eschatological senses, moksha refers to freedom from saṃsāra, the cycle of death and rebirth. In its epistemological and psychological senses, it is associated with self-realisation, self-actualisation, and self-knowledge.
In Hindu traditions, moksha is regarded as a central concept and the highest aim of human life. It stands alongside three other aims: dharma (virtuous, proper, moral life), artha (material prosperity, income security, and the means of life), and kama (pleasure, sensuality, and emotional fulfilment). Together, these four are known as the Puruṣārtha. Within Hindu thought, moksha is often described as oneness with the supreme power and ultimate liberation from nature (prakriti).
In some schools of Indian religions, moksha is considered equivalent to, and used interchangeably with, other terms such as vimoksha, vimukti, kaivalya, apavarga, mukti, nihsreyasa, and nirvana. However, the meaning of terms such as moksha and nirvana can differ across schools of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, indicating distinct states of liberation depending on the tradition.
The terminology itself reflects differing emphases across traditions. Nirvana is the term more commonly encountered in Buddhism, while moksha is the more prevalent expression within Hinduism. Despite these variations, the underlying notion of release from bondage and the attainment of an ultimate, liberated state remains a shared concern across Indic religious traditions.