Vajrakavach

Author(s): Dharnendrasagar
Publisher: Jain Sahitya Prakashan Mandir

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of action or Karma is one of the principle tenets of Jainism. Karma is the root cause of the variety of the world and it accounts for the differences among us in format of intelligence, talent, happiness etc.. The doctrine of Karma thus explains the cause of diversity of the human situation and nature and stops us from getting angry or upset. This doctrine also imposes the responsibility of your state on you and you alone. Jain scriptures are unanimous that a man enjoys the consequences of his own acts.
The sinful act is fourfold:- 1) clear 2) acquired by mistake 3) deliberate and 4) dense irremovable acts. Clear actions can be destroyed by true remorse; e.g. the sins of Prasanna Rajarshi.
Acquired sinful acts are like the sins of the nun Mrigawati or the monk Atimukta. Such acts need acts of real sorrow and repentance for a period of time for their atonement.
Deliberate acts of sin are promoted by egoist feelings and love of sense objects and are sometimes continued without remorse for a long time due to which these sins cling to our souls. However, these sins can be destroyed by rigorous penances, e.g. Siddhasena Diwakara expiated his sins with hard austerity.
The worst sinful acts called Nikachita Karmas are done purposely and even approved and continued in total arrogance. Such sins are dense and irremovable. The action of the king Shrenika in
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