________________
BASICS OF JAINISM
22 Five Venerable Personalities
The Navakär Mantra is the most important Ghäti Karmas are destructive Karmas that prayer in Jainism. While reciting the directly obstruct the true nature of the soul. prayer we bow respectfully to the Arihantas They are Jnänävaraniya karma (knowledge (Tirthankars or Jinas), Siddhas, Acharyas, obscuring karma), Darshanävaraniya karma Upadhyäys, and all Sädhus and Sadhvis. (Perception obscuring karma), Mohaniya Collectively, they are called the Pancha karma (deluding karma), and Antaräya Paramesthis (five great entities).
karma (obstacle creating karma). A
person, after the removal of Ghäti Karma, Arihantas
attains Keval-jnän (omniscience), and is Arihantas are perfected human beings. The known as a Kevali. Now, He has infinite word Arihanta is made of two words: "Ari” knowledge, infinite perception, infinite which means enemies, and "Hant" which power and infinite bliss. He is free from all means destroyer. Therefore, Arihanta means impurities. "destroyer of enemies". These enemies are our vices or inner weaknesses (our passionate emotions) namely anger, ego, deceit and greed. Until we overcome these weaknesses, the true nature of our soul will not be realized. When a person conquers these inner enemies, he/she completely destroys his/her four Ghäti Karmas.
Did you know?
The true victor is one who has
conquered his/ her inner enemies
like anger, ego, deceit and greed
Siddhas
Jainism classifies all Karma into eight major categories. Four of them are Ghäti Karma and they are removed first when a person becomes Kevali or Arihanta. The remaining four are Aghäti Karma, namely Vedaniya
26
THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM
For Private Per Use Only
an
t
ional
