________________
अनेकान्त 65/4, अक्टूबर-दिसम्बर 2012
karmas with a difference. Gautam asked-Lord! Soul experiences evabhuta or anevambhuta vedana?
79
Mahavira replied-Gautam! Soul experiences both the kinds of vedana. This reference is authentic proof of concept of change in karma. So the karmic atom of dalika type can be changed and in experiencing its fruition man is independent. One is free in experiencing the dalika karma as it is or can be made other-wise. Whereas in nikacita type of karma, all the possibilities of change, ceases in itself. Thus tirtha kara Mahavira possessed anekantic perspective. He didn't give absolute importance either to karma or to self-effort. He established the relativity of soul and karma.9 If we assert that once the karmas are bound, can't be altered in any state. Then, there will be no scope of transformation through meditational practices, auto suggestions and practice of different kinds of austerities. One should not give up ones hard work or efforts by giving importance to the small range of unchangeable karmas. The philosophy of tirtha kara Mahavira is the philosophy of efforts (puruarthavada).
The two most important revolutionary concepts of tirtha kara Mahavira in the context of karma theory are Udirana (pre-maturation of karmas) and sakramaa (change of karmas). On the basis of which we can call the doctrine of karma as the doctrine of puruarthavada in the words of Mahavira. 10 This concept of puruarthvada as propounded by Mahavira must be understood clearly. The doctrine of karma truly speaking is a doctrine of self-effort. It is believed that puruartha or human effort is essential pre-requisite for the maturing of past karmas. The Mahabharata 136.7-8 compares past karmas to seeds which remain fruitless if they are not sown, the tilling of the soil for sowing is human effort which is essential for sown seeds to mature. This proposition is however not universally true. Birth, length of life, death and human sufferings generally has no relationship to human effort. Every soul has a right to do atma sadhana and thereby transforming human-personality through freedom of action. The Bhagvad Gita also emphasizes on "atmaiva hyatmano bandhuratmaiva ripuratmana", ones own self is ones friend and ones own self is ones enemy. Hence one should lift ones self up by ones own effort. As Jain Agama Uttaradhyayana Sutra avers: "appa katta vikatta ya duhaa ya suhaa ya❞11: self or atma is the maker of sorrow or happiness. As compared to animals, man is endowed with the capacity to counter his pravrttis (actions) born of saskaras through the process of udavartana, 12 apavartana, 13 sakramana, 14 udiraa,
