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It is no wonder that the Kashäyäs have been equated with inner enemies in the very first line of the most sacred mantra (Navkar Mantra) that many Jains recite daily from birth to death.
Types of Kashayas
Jainism has divided up Kashäyäs in 25 categories. The primary ones are anger, arrogance, deception, and greed. In addition, it has identified 9 other related passions-called Nokashäyäs. Nine Nokashäyäs include laughter, feelings of happiness and unhappiness, grief, fear, disgust, sexual craze towards men, women and bisexuals. They serve as a catalyst to invoke the primary emotions.
Each of the four primary emotions is further subdivided into four categories (thus making a total of 16). These 16 subgroups of Kashayas plus 9 Nokashäyäs make a total of 25. (Note: This group of 25 is labeled as CHARITRA MOYANIYA KARMA in karmic language.) The subdivisions of anger, arrogance, deception, and greed are based upon the intensity and duration of each of them. The intensity in turn depends upon the degree of attachment, underlying intention, strength of vigor, and means employed. The subdivisions are:
(a) Anantänubandhi Kashäy (Highly intense emotion):
This type of emotion stays with a person for an extended period and could be regarded like a deep groove cut into a piece of rock. It takes years for the groove to disappear from the rock. In the same way, it takes a long time to get rid of this type of extreme emotion and hence considered highly detrimental to one's well being.
(b) Apratyakhyaniya Kashay (strong emotion):
This type of emotion usually tapers off after about a year. It is likened to a mud wall that slowly melts away with the arrival of monsoon.
(c) Pratyakhyaniya Kashäy (mild emotion):
This type of emotion goes away after a few months. It is less intense than the previous category but more intense than the next category. It is compared with a line in the sand that disappears when a strong current of air passes over it.
(d) Samjvalan Kashäy (very mild emotion).
