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A SOURCB-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
499 particles. The first step therefore is to close these doors and windows so that the fresh kārmic particles do not enter the jiva. This is, as we have already seon, the process of sarhvara. We have also seen that the process of samvara oan be compared to the stoppage of the inflow of water into the tank through the different inlets. For the sake of cleaning the tank we bave first to stop the water, so that the fresh inflow of water is not possible. Samvera is such a process of the stoppage of the influx of karma through varied channels. Once the influx of karma is stopped through the stoppage of the influx i, e., through sarkvara, next step would be to remove the karma that is already collected into the soul and that is process of nirjarā. This process may be compared to the cleaning of the accumulated water in a tank. One who seeks to attain mokşa had also to clean the accumulated karma,' and the removal of kur na from the jīva pradeśa is called Nirjara.
When all the karmas are removed the atman reaches perfection and the liberated. Once the karmas are remove i and the ātman reaches perfection, fresh karma would not enter into the soul, just as the fried seeds do not sprout.5
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION • The Jaina contribution of the theory of karma is significant. It has developed a scientific theory of karma with its emphasis on the atomic nature of karma as karmavarganis and with its elaborate scientific description of the processes of karma. Maxmuller says that karma theory has influenced mankind to a great extent. When we know that our present actions are due to the effects performed in the past and that our present actions will be responsible for the future life, we become more conscious of the distinctions between the virtue and vice
1 Navatattvasāhityasangraha : Sri Hemacandra Sūriksta Saptatattva
prakaranarh 118-122. 2 Uttară. 28, 35. 3 Tativârtha 1, 4. Sarvärthasiddhi 4 (a) Tattvartha 10, 3, kļisnakarmakşayo mokşah.
(h). Śivagità 13-32 ş Tativậrthabhāşyagat i antima kārika 8
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