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Jaina Community-A Social Survey before it gets ripened by means of ascetic practices is called Avipāka Nirjárā.19 ( VII) Moksha :
Moksha or liberation is the freedom from all Karmic matter owing to the non-existence of the cause of bondage and the shedding of all the Karmas. Thus complete freedom of the soul from Karmic matter is called Moksha. It is attained when the soul and matter are separated from each other. The separation is effected when all the Karmas have left the soul, and no more Karmic matter can be attracted towards it.20
5. THE THEORY OF KARMA The first basic principle of Jainism states that mundane souls exist in the world from time eternal in association with matter. Of course, the character of the bondage is freely and constantly being changed; but the fact and condition of the bondage of the soul by matter persists through all these changes. This association leads to further contact and so the cycle goes on till the association is severed in such a manner as to avoid any fresh contact. The contact takes place in the following way: The soul is surrounded by a large volume of fine matter called Karma. When the soul tries to do anything, then instantly the surrounding particles of matter cling to it just as the particles of dust stick to the body besmeared with oil. Like water in milk these particles of matter get completely assimilated with soul and remain in this condition throughout life as well as in its migrations from one body to another. The connection of soul and matter is real; otherwise in a pure state the soul would have flown to the highest point in the universe as the soul is the lightest of all substances. As this connection or bondage is effected by the Karma or deed or activity of the soul, the subtle matter which combines with the soul is termed as Karma21. The Karma, then, is something material, which produces in the soul certain conditions, even as a medical pill, which when introduced into the body, produces therein manifold effects.22
The Karmas are divided into eight main divisions and 148 sub-divisions according to the nature of Karmic matter. The main eight Karmas are :
