Pictorial Philosophical Balpothi

Author(s): Bhuvanbhanusuri
Publisher: Divya Darshan Trust

Page 45

per NIRJARA
Samvar stops accumulation of new karmas, but what about the old ones? How do they get destroyed ? Nirjara destroys the old karma, which had been accumulated previously. Penance destroys karma, so external and internal penances are considered as nirjara. What comes under external penance ? (1) Anashan: Renunciation of food partly or completely by taking oath, observing ayambil, ekasanu, complete fast etc. (2) Unodarika: To take food less than the hunger. (Quarter, half or three forth less) (3) Vruttisankshep: To reduce the consumption of no. of eatables. (I will not use eatables more than xyz no.) (4) Ras-tyag: To renounce milk, curd, oil, ghee, jaggery, sugar, fried things etc., either completely or any of them. (5) Kay-klesh: To suffer the pains of religious acts i.e. to go everywhere barefooted like sadhu bhagwants, loch (to pluck out hair
by hand), doing khamasamana in large quantity, doing kausagg by standing for hours etc... (6) Samlinata : To keep mind, speech and body stabilized e.g. observing silence, to control the wish of doing kashay etc. WHAT COMES UNDER INTERNAL PENANCE ? (1) Expiation: To frankly confess the sins before guru and do penance as a penalty for them. (2) Modesty: To honour and worship God, Guru, Knowledge etc. (3) Vaiyavachcha: To serve sangh (association of co-religionists), sadhu etc., Serving especially children, aged, diseased,
ascetics etc., (4) Regular study: To learn, teach and remember the scriptures etc. (5) Contemplation: To ponder with concentration about the commands of Tirthankaras, good and bad results of karma, Harm
done due to likes and dislikes, the state of world etc. (6) Kausagg (Kayotsarg) : To stand steadily, silently with lengthened hands.
Any of these 12 kinds of penance should be practised according to one's ability, which destroys innumerable mass of karmapudgal. If penance is performed willingly with a target of destroying karma, sakaam- nirjara is said to be done. If any act of suffering or living hungry is done compulsorily or with a certain purpose, Akaam nirjara is said to be done. sakam nirjara destroys much more karma and gives emancipation.
243