Ayushya Karma -(Determination of Age and Life)

He who has earned the Ayushya (age) Karma of the
Devagathi (divine world), becomes an angel or a Deva. He who has earned the Ayushya Karma of the
Manushya Gathi (mankind), becomes a human being. He who has earned the Ayushya Karma of the
Tiryancha Gathi (world of birds, animals, plants)
becomes a bird or an animal or a plant. He who has earned the Ayushya Karma of the
Naraka Gathi (hell), goes to hell. He who strictly follows the discipline and rules of
religion, earns the life of a Deva,

He who is charitable, merciful and performs the
religious activities, earns the life of a human being.
He who cheats and deceives others, earns
the life of a bird or an animal or a plant. He who is violent, criminal and kills another, goes to Hell.
Owing to this Karma
one has to be born, has to live and die in this world. The age limit in the next birth is determined in this life.
Once it is fixed it cannot be changed.
One has to be born in the next life only
in that world as determined by Ayushya Karma.
One has to live there for the period fixed by
Ayushya Karma and then die.
So goes the cycle of birlh and death.


Courtesy : Jainism for Jainvikas

GOTRA KARMA (Controller of high and low rank in society)

In the world: Someone is born high. Someone is born low.
Why ? Do you know ? It is due to this Gotra Karma. By the influence of high Gotra Karma, one becomes
forward and high in society.
By the influence of low Gotra Karma, one becomes
backward and low in society. By the high Gotra Karma, one gets reputation,
power, respect in society.

Owing to low Gotra. Karma, one gets blame,
contempt and insult in society.
A high or a low place in society
is the result of this Karma.
One can be high as well as low in the same life
at different periods.
How does one become bound by this Karma ?
He is bound by this Karma by being proud of his physical beauty, power, caste, intelligence,
knowledge and wealth.
This Karma also binds one who despises others
and treats others with contempt.


Courtesy : Jainism for Jainvikas

GYANAVARANA KARMA (Concealment of our knowledge)

Some are more intelligent, Some are less intelligent. Some are foolish,
Some are Stupid.
What is the reason for this ?
The reason is Gyanavarana Karma.
Some are clever in their studies, Some are dull in their studies, Some do not learn anything.
What is the reason for this ?
The reason is Gyanavarana Karma,

This Karma does not allow us to know
things that are far away.
This Karma does not allow us to know
the minds of others.
This Karma does not allow us to know
all about the world.
In spite of your hard work, you are not able
to remember a lesson or a poem; why ?
Though you know the answers well,
you are not able to give them; why ? Though you are eager to understand a subject
or a talk, you are not able to understand it; why ? For all these, the reason is Gyanavarana Karma


Courtesy : Jainism for Jainvikas

Darshanavarana Karma (an obstruction to our seeing)

 This Karma
Diminishes the power of the eyes to see objects.
Diminishes the power of the ears to hear sounds.
Diminishes the power of the nose to smell fragrance.
Diminishes the power of the tongue to taste eatables.
Diminishes the power of the skin to feel the touch of objects.
You are not able to see the other side of the wall.
You are not able to see the other side of the hill.
You are not able to see beyond the clouds.
You are not able lo see anything beyond the world.
For all these Darshanavarana Karma is responsible.

On account of this Karma Men sleep
Some sleep lying down. Some sleep sitting.
Some sleep even standing.
While in deep sleep,
Some one walks.
Some one eats with relish.
Some one suffocates another. Some one even kills another.
But when he wakes up. he is completely ignorant of what he did.
Such strange things are due to
Darshanavarana Karma.


Courtesy : Jainism for Jainvikas

Ashta Karma in Jainism

Jainism believes  in Karma. It has classified the karmas into 8 categories. Each category has a specific job to be done. Names of the 8 karmas are :

* Ayushya Karma -(Determination of Age and Life)
* 'VEDINIYA KARMA' (Controller of physical pleasure and pain)
* 'GOTRA KARMA' (Controller of high and low rankin society)
* 'NAM KARMA” (Obstruction to personality)
* “Antraya Karma” (Obstruction to happiness)
* 'Mohaniya Karma' (Concealment of Truth or Reality)
* Darshanavarana Karma (an obstruction to ouseeing)

We shall see the effects of each karma for next 8 days to understand how perfect is jainism in understanding human nature and its behaviour