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Vol. XXVI, 2003
THE DOCTRINE OF KARMA & LESYA....
Jain texts explain in detail the nature of soul It has been expounded in the following six tenets. (1) The soul exists. (2) It is eternal. (3) It is doer of its actions. (4) It is enjoyer of the fruits of its actions. (5) There is liberation. (6) There are means for liberation. The theory of Nine Categories Navtattvas explains elaborately how the bondage of soul arises by way of Karmic effects upon it and how these effects are got rid off and Liberation is attained. Thus it becomes obvious that birth, death, pleasure, pain and other vicissitudes of life are brought about by the effects of Karma. Its Karmas pursue the doer, he must suffer misery. alone, So as is narrated in Jaina Sûtras The soul is the doer and enjoyer of the happiness and misery'. [Appå kattä Vikatta ca Duhanam ca Suhanam ca]6 (3 कत्ता विकत्ता च दुहाणं च सुहाणं च )
Also, there cannot be liberation without enjoying the fruits of the actions. done." In Sütrakrităng," it is said that "out present life is the effect of past actions (जं जारिस पुव्वम कासि कर्म तमेव आगच्छति संपराण) and further it states that a man is suffering because of his own deeds." Thus each act inevitably leads to its fruits, you may reach wherever you desire. But good or evil acts contracted by you shall not leave you like your shadow. Jain mythology is full of stories demonstrating the power of Karma. The task of the soul is to detach itself from the existing Karmas. because it is Karma which obscures the pure soul.
There are eight basic types of Karmas and one hundred and fifty eight sub types. The matter which gets attached to soul is transformed into eight kind of karmas and produce various effects as follows.
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1) Jnänävarniya Karma That is, knowledge obscuring karma It obstructs functioning of the senses and mind.
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2) Darśanavarṇīya Karma - Apprehension Obscuring Karma.
3) Vedniya Karma feeling producing which is the cause of pleasure and pain.
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Mohaniya Karma - Deluding Karma- which obscures right vision.
5) Ayu Karma - Age terming Karma It determines duration of life in the four states of existence.
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physique determining which determines body beautiful
or ugly etc.
7) Gotra Karma Status determining which is responsible for birth in high or low families.
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