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[ 105 ) PURGING THE SOUL OF KARMA
Now by Nirjara the soul would get rid of all Karma and thus reach its natural state of 'perfection,' if there were not a continual influx of new Karma by which the soul is kept bound to the state of worldly 'existence.' In order there. fore to reach perfection it is necessary to stop the influx of Karma. This is called "Samvara' or covering of the inlets of Karma into the soul. Therefore Samvara and Nirjara, the preventing of new Karma and the purging off of the acquired Karma becomes the object of religion. Right conduct, penances, and medititation are the chief means to realize that end. Penances, especially fasting are believed to purge off Karma which otherwise would have had its bad effect on the ludividual being. When the soul has in the end got rid off all Karma and subsists in its pure nature, then it is no more kept down by the weight of its Karma in this world but freed from matter which by its might kept the soul down, it goes up to the top of the universe, where it stays for ever in a state of absolute perfection; not acted upon by the things of the world nor acting upon them nor caring for them. These are the liberated souls the · Siddhas' and among them are the
souls of the past Tirthankar. The latter are Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
