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96 / Lord Mahavira
2.
Theory
The jiva in samsara in engulfed by desire and aversion. It is because of these desires and aversions that karma clings to jiva and leads him through different states of existence (gatis). Entering into any state of existence, jiva assumes a physical body and gets the senses. Through the senses, arise desire and aversion and on account of desire the cycle of existence continues. This desire produces karma and karma leads to four states of existence. The beings travel in the four states of existence because of diverse kinds of evil deeds. Jiva is in the cycle of existence so long as he associates himself with the activities of the mind, the body and speech. Freedom from achivities leads to moksa (salvation). Samsara is also described as five-fold change-change of matter, sphere, time, thought and destiny. The soul has been in samsara from beginningless time. In the course of its journeying through samsara, it has accepted and given up innumerable times one by one, all the atoms of the universe, all the space points or spheres, all the molecules of time, all the destinies including the hell.
