Nirjara, the 8th Navatattva (Elimination of Karma)
Nirjara, the 8th Navatattva (Elimination of Karma)
The
eighth cardinal principle is Nirjara. It means the shedding or removal
of karma from the soul. Karma once attached to the soul becomes
active when the time is ripe to bear fruit. But if one fails to throw out the karma
just before it starts bearing fruit, it becomes much more difficult to
eliminate the karma from the soul. Bearing fruit means new karma flowing
in by the actions and reactions of the old karma. Therefore, it is
necessary for those who aspire for liberation, to exhaust all karma on a
regular basis by the prescribed means of meditation, contemplation etc. This
process of elimination or exhaustion of karma is called Nirjara.
Nirjara is of two types: Bhava nirjara, modification of soul which leads to
separation of karmic matter from the soul, and, Dravya Nirjara, actual
separation of karmic matter from the soul. Again, Bhava Nirjara is of
two types: Savipaka and Avipaka
Savipaka or akam nirjara is the passive method of exhaustion of karmic matter
around the soul after enjoyment of its fruits. It involves natural way of
maturing past karma in due course of time. In this case, both good and bad
results are experienced by an ascetic with equanimity. If the fruits of the
past karmas are received with attachment, then the soul earns fresh karmic
bondages. It is compared with emptying a pond through evaporation while the
rain water is filling the pond. Thus, it is a slow process, by the time karmas
become ripe and are exhausted, new karmas fill in through asrava, i.e.,
influx of karma. Therefore, an ascetic requires good discipline in practicing
equanimity under all circumstances.
The
other way to achieve liberation is by the active method of avipaka nirjara
or sakam or intentional nirjara. It involves individual exertion of
ascetic practices. They include practicing internal and external austerities
like penance or tapas. The literal meaning of tapas is generating heat within
oneself so as to accelerate the ripening process of karmic matter as well as
eliminating it after a certain time. Tapas is of two kinds – bahiya
or external and antaranga or internal.
The
bahiya or bahiranga tapa or external austerities are meant to
discipline the sensual cravings and prepare the person for internal
austerities. The objective is to control of desire for food and material things
or Icchanirodha.
1. Anasana – Fasting purifies sense
organs, lessens sense of attachment to bodily enjoyments.
2. Avamodarya or Alpahara – Eating less than one’s
normal diet, which reduces laziness/lethargy and brings in fresh energy to the
mind.
3. Vritti parisankhyana or
Vrita sankshepa – Restriction of certain kinds or number of food items
4. Rasa parityaga – Daily renunciation of
one or more of kinds of Rasas e.g., ghee (clarified butter), milk, curd, sugar,
salt, oil etc. Abstention from tasty and stimulating food.
5. Vivikta shayyasana – Sleeping in a lonely
place, practicing solitude and introspection.
6. Kaya klesha – Bodily endurance,
practicing body austerities to get over attachment to bodily comfort.
The
antaranga tapa or internal austerities are:
1. Prayaschitta – Penance or atonement
for sinful acts.
2. Vinaya – Practice politeness and
humility.
3. Vaiyavritya – Service to others,
especially monks, nuns, elders and the weaker souls without any expectations in
return.
4. Swadhyaya – Self-study, scriptural
study, questioning and expanding the spiritual knowledge.
5. Vyutsarga – Abandonment of passions
– especially anger, ego, deceit and greed, distinction between body and soul.
6. Dhyana – Meditation and
contemplation.
All
the first five internal austerities and all six external austerities are the
preparatory steps for the practice of dhyana or meditation.
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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