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KARMAVĀDA :
A Synopsis
THE IMPORTANCE OF KARMA THEORY The doctrine of karma is the most important doctrine in Indian thought. All the systems of Indian philosophy, except the Cārvāka accept the doctrine of karma. Karma is the basic pre-supposition of Indian throught. In this world, there is evident inequality in the status and the experiences of individual men. Some are happy while others are miserable. Very often the virtuous lead miserable life. Bad men are happy. Several attempts have been made in the different philosophies of the world to find out an adequate solution to the problems of inequality in life. The Indian philosophers presented the theory of karma as a possible solution to the inequality in life. The Jainas have given a systematic study of karma theory based on rational considerations. They have infact built a science of karma theory. In the literature dealing with the theory of karma, we find that Jainas have made a substantial contributions to the literature of the karma theory. They are called as karma śāstras or karma granthas, In addition to the specific writings on karma theory, we find abund. ant material scattered in various philosophical literauture both āgamic and non-āgamic on the doctrine of karma.
LITREATURE ON KARMA THEORY Jaina Literature on karma theory is very vast & thought-provoking. If we study the Jaina literature on this subject, we can make three divisions of the karma literature : (1) pūrvātmaka karma śāstras, originating from the sources of the purvas. (2) Pūrvoddhrta karma jāstra which is based on pürvas and elaborated on the basis of the doctrines given in the pūrvas. (3) Prākaraņika karma ścistra, it is an
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