________________
Jain Philosophy of Soul
121 (d) Parisaha, the patient endurance of the 22 troubles.
(e) Cáritra or conduct'"' . (2) Nirjarā : Shedding of the Karma
Nirjarā is so important that often it is understood as another word for Moksa. But then Nirjară and Moksa are not the same. Had both of them to be the same there would be only eight Tattvas instead of nine, Nirjarā is the elimination or annihilation of the accumulated Karma. Nirjarā does not mean getting freedom from the effects of the Karma already bound to the soul. Nirjarā means an effort to realize the Karma much before they realize in their natural course. This, according to Jainism, can be done by austerities."?? The austerities prescribed as Nirjarā are not to be treated isolatedly. It is in continuation to or alongwith the Samvara.
The austerities are of two types : External and Internal. Again each of these two consists of six kinds of austerities. External austerities include
(i) fasting, (ii) eating less, (iii) taking a secret vow regarding food (iv) renouncing delicacies, (v) sitting and sleeping in a lonely place, and
(vi) mortifying the body with mental equanimity."}} Internal austerities include
(i) expiation, (11) reverence (iii) service (iv) study, (v) detachment, and
(vi) renunciation."74 Moreover, Jainism insists for the practice of penance for shedding of the previous accumlated Karmas. The Jain conception of penance and the motive behind it is highly psychological and scientific one. The practice of penance is based on the psychological law or habit, It talks
71. Tattvarthasutra IX. 2 72. Tattvarthasutra LX. 3 73. Tattvarthasutra IX. 19 74. Tattvarthasutra LX. 20.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
