Hajarimalmuni Smruti Granth

Author(s): Shobhachad Bharilla
Publisher: Hajarimalmuni Smruti Granth Prakashan Samiti Byavar

Page 988

पंचम अध्याय : ३५
Nirjară (Elimination of Karma) : The eighth principle is Nirjarā. It means the sloughing off or elimination of the coating of Karma from the soul. It has been said above that the Karma which has once attached itself to the soul becomes active when it is time for it to bear fruit, and is subsequently exhausted; but if one fails to throw it out just before it starts bearing fruit, it becomes difficult to attain liberation, for, new Karma flows in by the actions and re-actions of the old Karma while it begins bearing fruit. Therefore, it is necessary for those who aspire for liberation to exhaust all Karma by the prescribed means of meditation, contemplation etc. This process of exhaustion or elimination of Karma is called Nirjarā. Nirjarā is effected by regorous austerities, which are of two kinds : external and internal. Fasting, abstemiousness, suppression of desire, renunciation of the Rasa or pleasure of the palate, physical mortification and sitting, tucked up, in a solitary place-these are the six kinds of external austerities. Penance, humility, nursing the sick and ailing monks, study of the scriptures, giving up of all attachment to the body, and contemplation-these are the six kinds of internal austerities. Moksha or Liberation : The ninth or final principle is Moksha or liberation. The soul's recovery of its own eternal self by the complete exhaustion or elimination of all Karma is Moksha or Mukti. When the soul breaks out of the kārmic envelope, it realises its innate attributes of infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite power, infinite bliss, and infinite light, and ascending to the crest of the “Loka”, remains there immersed in the termless beatitude of its unconditioned existence-it never returns again into the wheel of material existence made up of birth, decay and death. Ascent is the natural movement of the soul. Stripped of the covering of Karma, the pure soul wings straight upwards and settles upon the highest region of the Loka, that is to say upon the farthest frontiers of Dharmāstikāya and Adharmāstikāya. This state of the soul is the liberated or perfected state--this is Nirvana. As a lamp lit in a house irradiates the whole house with its light, and if other lamps are lit, their lights too mingle with each other and remain there, so the liberated souls, which are each an effulgence, mingle with each other and remain on the crest of the Loka for ever. For them there is no return to the agony of mortal existence. What is Karma; how it adheres to the soul; how, developing and fructifying, it determines the movements—the coming and staying and passing-of the Jiva, and its happiness and suffering etc.; and how the soul becomes free by Nirjarā or the shuffling off of all Karma--these things have been minutely analysed and exhaustively described in the sacred books of Jainism. What is given here is just a brief outline, and nothing more. Triratna or the Three Gems : I have dwelt in brief upon the nine essential principles including the last principle of liberation. Now I propose to give an idea as to how liberation is attained. A simultaneous practice of Samyak Darshana or right faith, Samyak Jnāna or right knowledge, and Samyak Charitra or right character and conduct leads to liberation. These are three gems of Jainism Samyak Darshana or Right Faith : Samyak Darshana is also called Samyaktwa. It is a faith in the nine essential principles
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