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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
between the ātman and the particles of matter, ātman is considered to be rūpi (having form) and atomic particles are converted into karmavarganās. When these kārmic particles get glued to the soul, then they are considered to be the karma which have the capacity of producing effect. When the kārmic effect gets exhausted the particles of karma is separated, and they become mere pudgala or matter. They become akarma and are separated from soul. This process of extraction of the kārmic particles from the soul is called nirjarā.
In the common parlance it is said that nirjarā is a process where the karma is separated from the soul, by the exhaustion of the effect of karma.
The fruits on the tree become ripe in two ways. The fruits may become ripe on the tree only, after the period of maturity is over or they may be made ripe by plucking them from the trez and using artificial methods. In the later case, it may take lesser time for the fruits to be ripened. In the same way, karma becomes mature for expression of its effects either in its natural process or it may made to fructify prematurely by certain moral and spiritual process. If the fructification of karma takes its natural process, this is called karma paripāka. But if the karma is made to fructify prematurely by means of certain moral and spiritual practices, then we call it karma nirjarā. Karma-paripāka is neither dharma nor adharma. Nirjarā is a process of fructification of kārmic effect, much earlier than it would have been possible for the karma to fructify in normal course. The fructification of karma is very auspicious also. Therefore, nirjarā would be avipāki nirjarā. It is also considered as sahetuka nirjarā. And this is dharma. Subha nirjarā is dharma.
PRIORITY OF THE AIMAN OR THE KARMA
A question has been asked regarding the priority of the karman or the ātman which is earlier ? The answer is, both the karman and ātman are anādi (beginningless) and the relation between them is also beginningless. However, there is the karma flow into the soul and new karmi enters into the soul every moment. There is not a single
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