Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Bhagavān Mahāvira
and man's puruṣārtha can be explained only from a relativistic point of view. Puruşārtha produces karma, i.e., karma is a product of puruşārtha. In case karma had an unlimited power, it would render puruşartha ineffective. In such a state, the effect of past karma would begin to manifest itself and force man to produce another karma. The result would be again the rise of karma and again the bandha. This vicious circle would have deprived man of his freedom. He would have become totally enslaved by karma. We should not forget that Bhagavān Mahāvīra was the instructor of the gospel of Anekänta. He did not perceive the truth only from a single perspective. He realized the truth that karma influences man. But at the same time he also emphasized the other aspect of this very truth that the powerful puruşārtha of man, in its turn, influences karma. When we consider the efficacy of karma and puruşārtha from the relativistic stand-point, we bave to conclude that karma neither allows perfect freedom to man nor does it usurp his freedom completely. Once the karma has been completely obliterated, man's power to know, to be detached and to act freely begins to operate fully. If karma remains only partially dissolved or subdued, then man's power expresses itself oply occasionally and not continuously. This process of manifestation and suppression of man's power goes on. During this process, sometimes karma and sometimes man's power has the upper hand.
In the light of this changeability of karma, Bhagavān Mahāvīra laid down some special theses in accordance with karma. These theses provide a sort of correction to the prevalent one-sided beliefs regarding karma. It is a general notion that man is under the domination of karma. In other words, karma is identified with man's destiny. According to this belief, man reaps the fruits of his own karmas and his puruşārtha is of no avail. These beliefs being one-sided had been proved false. Bhagavān Mahāvīra expounded these beliefs in the light of anekāntavāda. He said that the notion that man is under the domination of karma can be true only