Asta karma 

I) NATURE OF THE BONDAGE OF THE KARMAS

Depending upon the nature of the results of the karmas, they are grouped into eight types. They are:

1.      Knowledge-Obscuring (Jnanavarniya) Karma

2.      Perception-Obscuring (Darshanavarniya) Karma

3.      Obstructive (Antaräy) Karma

4.      Deluding (Mohniya) Karma

5.      Feeling-Producing (Vedniya) Karma

6.      Body-Determining (Nam) Karma

7.      Status-Determining (Gotra) Karma

8.      Age-Determining (Ayushya) Karma

These eight karmas are also grouped into two categories,

1.      Destructive (Ghati) Karmas

2.      Non-destructive (Aghati) Karmas

Ghati means destruction. Those karmas that destroy the true nature of the Soul are called destructive or ghati karmas. Those karmas that do not destroy the true nature of the soul, but only affect the body in which the soul resides are called non-destructive or Aghati karmas. The first four types of karmas from above list are destructive (ghati) karmas, and last four are non-destructive (aghati) karmasJivas are categorized in two groups.

1. Liberated Jiva or Siddha.

2. Non-liberated Jiva or Sansari Jiva.

Liberated souls have no karmas and therefore, they are no longer in the

cycle of birth and death. They do not live among us, but reside at the

uppermost part of this universe called Siddhashila. They are formless

and shapeless, have perfect knowledge and perception, and have infinite

vigor and bliss. All siddhas are equal and there is no difference in

their status.

On the other side, non-liberated (worldly) jivas have karmas, and are

continually going through the cycle of birth and death. They experience

happiness and pain and have passions, which in turn cause the soul to

wandering more. Except for the jiva of  Arihants, non-liberated jivas

have limited knowledge and perception.

Jivas are found on earth, as well as in the water, air, and sky, and are

scattered all over the universe. Human beings, celestial beings,

infernal beings, animals, fish, birds, bugs, insects, plants, etc. are

the most common forms of Jiva with which we can easily relate. However,

Jain scriptures state that there are 8.4 million species of Jiva in

all.  They are known by the senses they possess. There are five senses

in all, namely those of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing.

Different types of Jivas possess one or more of these senses.  Based

upon the number of senses and mobility, Jivas are classified into two

categories.

Based on mobility, all Jivas are divided into two broad categories:

A) non-mobile or Sthavar Jiva - those that can not move and have only

one sense.

B) Mobile or Trasa jiva - those that can move and have two to five

senses.

A) Non-Mobile (Sthavar jiva, single sense being, or ekendriya jiva):

Jivas having only one sense, the sense of touch are called Ekendriya.

Ekendriya Jivas are further divided into the following five

sub-categories.

(1) Prithwikaya or earth bodied:

Seemingly inanimate forms of earth are actually living beings, e.g.

clay, sand, metal, and coral, etc. They have earthly bodies, hence the

name Prithwikaya which is derived from the Sanskrit term for earth,

Prathwi.

(2) jalkaya {apkaya)or water bodied:

Seemingly inanimate forms of different types of water are living beings,

e.g. dew, fog, iceberg, and rain, etc. They have water bodies, hence

the name Apkya which is derived from the Sanskrit term for water, Ap.

(3) agni kaya or fire bodied:

Seemingly inanimate forms of different types of fires are living beings,

e.g.  flames, blaze, lightening, forest fire, and hot ash, etc. They

have fire bodies, hence the name Apakaya which is derived from the

Sanskrit term fire, Tejas.

(4) Vayukaya or air bodied:

Seemingly inanimate forms of air are actually living beings e.g. wind,

whirlwinds, and cyclones, etc. They have gaseous bodies, hence the name

Vayukay which is derived from the Sanskrit term for gas, Vayu.

(5) Vanaspatikaya or plant bodied:

It is well known that plants grow, reproduce, etc., and they are

accepted as living beings. Trees, plants, branches, flowers, leaves,

and seeds, etc. are some examples of plant life. The Sanskrit term for

plant is Vanaspati and therefore such Jivas are called Vanaspatikaya

Jiva.

A plant life can have one or more souls in a single body and, depending

upon this, plant life is further divided into the following two

sub-categories:

A. Pratyek Vanaspatikaya:

Pratyek means one. Such plant life has one soul in one body. Therefore,

they are called pratyek vanaspatikaya. Trees, plants, bushes, stem,

branches, leaves, and seeds, etc. are all examples of pratyek

vanaspatikaya jiva.

B. Sadharan Vanaspatikaya:

Sadharan means common. In such plant life many souls occupy the same

body making this type of plant life multi-organic.  Therefore, such

plant life is called sadharan vanaspatikaya. Such plant lives have an

infinite number of souls in one body are called "Anantkaya". Roots such

as potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, beats, etc. belong to this

category.

B) Mobile (Tras jiva, multi sensed being, bahu indriya jiva):

These two, three, four or five sensed beings are divided into the

following categories:

(1) Two sensed beings (Beindriya Jiva):

Two sensed beings have the senses of touch, and taste. e.g. shells,

worms, insects, microbes in stale food, termites, etc.

(2)  Three sensed beings (Treindriya Jiva):

               Three sensed beings have the senses of  touch, taste, and smell, e.g.

bugs, lice, white ants, moths and insects in wheat and other grains,

centipedes, etc.

(3) Four sensed beings (Chaurindriya Jiva):

Four sensed beings have the senses of touch, taste, smell and sight,

e.g. scorpions, crickets, spiders, beetles, locusts, flies, etc.

(4) Five sensed  beings (Panchendriya Jiva):

Five sensed beings have all the five senses of touch, taste, smell,

sight and hearing e.g. human beings, cow, lions, fish, birds, etc.

The following are four sub-categories of the Panchendriya Jivas.

a) Infernal (Naraki) - Jivas living in hell,

b) Tiryancha - Non-human beings  i.e. elephants, lions, birds, fish,

etc.

c) Celestial (Dev) - heavenly beings,

               d) Manushya - Human beings.

Among the five sensed beings some have minds, while others do not. Those

having a mind are called  Sangni Panchendriya and those without a mind

are called Asangni Panchendriya.

        Among all of these Jivas the most happiness is found in the celestial

being, while the most suffering is found in the infernal beings.

Neither celestial nor infernal beings can perform any austerities and

cannot attain salvation during this life. Animals possess limited

restraint only and therefore, they also cannot attain salvation

directly. The human state of existence is the most preferable because

during this life one can use logic to the fullest extent, can perform

austerities, can live with restraint, and thus only through this human

phase can a jiva attain salvation or Moksha.