________________
perception-obscuring karmas and obstruction-causing karmas. All four of these karmas are known as 'ghaatii karmas' since they obstruct the dawn of samyaktva in the soul.
On taming its most fiercely held passions, when the soul attains the power to destroy the primary impact of delusion, it is known as “Granthi bheda" in the karmashaastras (part of the Jain canon that specifically deals with the inflow, bondage and shedding of karmas).
Granthi bheda is the spiritual battle that each soul must do. Attachment and aversion are on one side of the battlefield, and the innate strength of the soul on the other. In this battle, sometimes attachment and aversion win. At other times, the soul is the victor.
The knot of karmas (karma granthi) is a result of the flawed and impassioned dispositions of the soul. The disposition of the soul known as apuurvakarana fights the knot of karmas. Hence, one disposition of the soul (apuurvakarana) destroys another disposition (karma granthi) of the soul!
Thus, we arrive at three conclusions: 1. Karma granthi is a disposition of the soul and it can only be destroyed by another disposition of
the soul known as Apuurvakarana. 2. The disposition that shall destroy the disposition of karma granthi should be completely opposite. 3. The disposition that shall destroy the disposition of karma granthi should be even more intense
and powerful than the disposition of karma granthi.
The disposition of karma granthi can only be destroyed when all three conditions are met.
The victor of this battle with the karma granthi has to cross several levels before attaining samyaktva. This journey has been eloquently described in Jain texts such as Visheshaavashyaka Bhaashya, Karma Grantha, Gommatasaara, Yogashaastra, Sthaanaangaa Suutra Tiikaa, etc. The levels that the soul has to cross are as under:
• Yathaapravrittikarana • Apuurvakarana • Anivrittikarana
Let us understand each of them sequentially.
Yathaapravrittikarana
The maximum duration of karmas is annihilated as soon as the soul reaches this stage. Any mundane pleasure can become a source of sorrow if we are not careful. The only way to make one escape is to rise above the desire for mundane pleasures and to seek liberation instead. Once the seeker is deeply
121