Paap or Sin, the 6th Navatattva
Paap or Sin,
the 6th Navatattva
The sixth cardinal principle is Paap or
sin, which is the opposite of Punya or virtue. Sin is brought about by the evil
actions and reactions of the mind, speech and body of the jiva. Paap or sin is
generated out of evil or unhappy incidences which disturb the emotions
resulting in change in the attitude. If we become the cause of others suffering
and unhappiness, then we are the culprit of committing a sin. The consequence
of paap or sin acquire bad karma to the soul and are the main causes of asrava
and bandha . Jain literature has classified paap or sin into the following
eighteen categories. They are:
1)Pranatipata – to hurt or kill any
living being or creating violence. Jiva himsa is the most heinous crime. The
foundation principle of Jain religion is to abstain from killing. There is
distinction between crime in thoughts (Bhava himsa) and actual crime (Dravya
himsa).
2)Mrisha-vada – to speak lie,
untruthfulness, asatya is a very common and practiced sin among all
class and age of people. Sometimes people utter asatya due to necessity
but in other cases, they often speak without any reason.
3)Adattadana – to steal or
dishonesty is another class of sin where a person does cheating, smuggling,
taking bribes and does all treason and law breaking.
4)Maithuna –sensuous indulgence or
unchastity or abrahmacharya is a serious crime for monks and nuns but is less
for lay man and woman.
5)Parigraha – possession of any
material dwellings or desire to possess (covetous) is a serious crime for monks
and nuns because it is the source of asrava and bandha which
hinders the process of shedding of karma.
6)Krodha – anger is another source
of sin. Generally, anger is unrighteous (aprasasta) or unnecessary anger
which lead to quarrel or fighting, or may sometimes be righteous (prasasta)
as teacher or parents scolding his student or children.
7)Mana– conceit or ego is a very
common problem which creates sin among human. They may be pride of caste, of
family, of strength, of form, of wealth, of reputation, of learning, of
knowledge, of being a land owner.
8)Maya – deceit or deception is a
sin found often among people.
9)Lobha –avarice or greed, is a sin
found in people of all ages. It is said that avarice is the root of all sins.
10) Raga or Asakti - attachment or
craving for a person or an object is a sin, since it hinders the process of detachment
from the world.
11)Dwesh – Irsya or hatred or
envy is an evil kind of sin which disturbs the mind and erode peace.
12)Kalaha – Klesa, dispute or
quarreling deflects the mind to evil activities.
13)Abhyakhyana – allegation or false
accusation
14)Paisunya – slander and back
biting is telling false stories to discredit others.
15) Rati-Arati – affection and
disaffection, is the lack of self control in the presence of either joy or
sorrow.
16)Par-parivada – being happy in
sinful activities
17)Maya-mrisavada – to lie
maliciously or deceitful lying or hypocrisy
18)Mithyatva-salya – to have wrong
perception or false faith or to believe in God, guru or religion as the easy
pathway to destroy karma, offering money, prasad for the fulfilment of
worshipper’s wishes, obstinate holding of a belief, happy with ignorance, fails
to pay the honor to guru or saint.
Reference:
The Heart of Jainism by Mrs. Sinclair
Stevenson, 1915, Oxford University Press.
Lord Mahavira, His Life and Doctrines by Puran Chand Samsookha,1957, Publisher Jain Swetambar Terapanthi Mahasabha, Kolkata.
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