[animilius]

Fate or freewill – this question is at least as old as Thirukkural. Thiruvalluvar has presented two diametrically opposite views on this and he has left it to our wisdom to decide which one is correct.

ஊழிற் பெருவலி யாவுள மற்றொன்று
சூழினும் தான் முந்துறும்.

ஊழையும் உப்பக்கம்காண்பர் உலைவின்றித்
தாழாது உஞற்றுபவர்

In the first, he says that fate is invincible. In the second, he says that an industrious man can even pierce through fate,

Now let us turn to the Vedas. As far as I know, there is no mention of fate or karma or previous birth in the early part of the Vedas. It came into our scriptures only after non-vedic religions, Jainism and Buddhism, spread.