Doctrine of Karman in Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia
Publisher: Vijibai Jivanlal Panalal Charity Fund Mumbai

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II.]
THE DOCTRINE OF KARMAN
no sexual organs. The sexual desire is with them exceedingly strong, because it is directed towards men and women. The effect of the napumsaka-veda therefore corresponds to that of bile and phlegm, which together produce the desire for majjikā mārjikā, probably=marjitā, curdled milk with sugar and spices (?) Or, it is to be compared to the burning of a town, which lasts long and finds no satisfaction.
All caritra-mohaniyas are produced through corresponding karmans. Caritra-mohaniya-karman has accordingly 25 uttara-prakṛtis, the mula-prakṛti mohaniya-k in all 28 uttara-prakṛtis.
V. AYUS-KARMAN.
The ayus-k confers on a being a certain quantum of life in one of the 4 states of existence. One therefore distinguishes :
1. deva-ayus, the celestial ayus,
2. manuṣya-ayus, the human ayus,
3. tiryag-ayus, the animal ayus,
4. nāraka-ayus, the infernal ayus.
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The ayus-k bestows a certain quantity of life, but not a definite number of years of life. For, as with a sponge, the quantity of water that it absorbs is determined, but not the time it takes to leave it, so also the quantum of life is determined, but not the time occupied in its consumption. The word ayus would, therefore, be approximately interpreted by "quantity of life", "quantity of vitality"; but it is better to leave it untranslated as a terminus technicus. The ayus of the new existence is always bound during the life immediately preceding it, especially in the 3rd, 9th, or 27th part or within the last 48 minutes of it (Lp. III, 88)
4 States of Existence.
VI.
NAMA-KARMAN.
The nama-k causes the individual diversities of the jivas. It is divided into 93 uttara-prakṛtis, which are mostly quoted in a definitely fixed succession in 4 groups (pinda-prakṛtis, pratyeka-prakṛtis, trasadasaka, sthāvara-dasaka). They are the following:
(a) The 65 pinda-prakṛtis.
1. deva-gati-nama-k bestows the celestial state of existence, 2. manusya-gati-n-k bestows the human state of existence, 3. tiryag-gati-n-k bestows the animal state of existence, 4. naraka-gati-n-k bestows the infernal state of existence.