Jain Journal 1982 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 30

JULY, 1982
(Uttaradhyayana 29). As Madhavacarya, (Ibid., 15.23) says ātrava bhavahetuh syätsamvaro mokṣakāraṇam: atravas are the cause of birth in this world, samvara is the cause of liberation.
Nirjarā or liquidation of the already accumulated karmas is achieved through prayascitta (expiation) (Uttaradhyayana 29.12(16), austerities (Uttaradhyayna 29.27 and Sutrakṛtānga 2.2.15), by turning away from the world (Uttaradhyayana, 29.32), by renouncing activity, he obtains inactivity, by ceasing to act he acquires no new karman and destroys the karman he had acquired before. (Uttaradhyayana 29.37). Again "...a man destroys by austerities or penance the bad karman which he had acquired by love and hatred" (Uttaradhyayana, 30.1). Madhavacarya(Ibid., 15.23) defines nirjarà thus: arjitasya karmaṇastapah prabhṛtibhinirjaraṇam nirjarākhyam tatvam nirjarà is that element which destroys the accumulated karmas through austerities. He adds that long accumulated karmic matter (cirakāla pravṛttakāṣaya) is destroyed through experiencing the results (sukha, dukkha) and through the body (deha) (by subjecting it to mortification). He also classifies nirjarā into two categories: yathākāla and aupakramika : the first type of nirjarā is the result of exhaustion of karmas though experiencing their results (karma phala pradatvenābhimatam); the second type of nirjara is achieved through austerities (tapobala) practised by one's Own volition (svakāmanāya).
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These austerities are of two kinds: external and internal. External austerities are: anaŝana, fasting, kāyakleŝa, mortification of the body such as pulling out the hair of the head kesa luñcana, abstinence etc. (Uttaradhyayana, 30.8)
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Internal austerities are: prāyaścitta or expiation of sins, dhyāna (meditation), svādhyāya (study of scriptures) etc. (Uttaradhyayana, 30.30).
The Sutrakṛtanga 2.2.15 says kamam khavai tavassi mahan, karma decreases through austerities. In the preceding sutra 2.2.14 tapas is defined as fasting etc.
Since karmas can be purged, the Jainas recognise that karmas fall off or are got rid of in two ways: (a) svavipāka on their maturing themselves, that is after experiencing the consequences of karmas, (b) avipāka, before maturing in natural course with efflux of time. These are karmas
• Madhavacarya (Ibid., 15.23) defines tapa as kesolluncanadhikam tapah pulling out of hair from the head etc.