Theory of Karma: Types, Bandha, and Nirjara
What the domain tests
This domain tests the eight karma types, the causes of bondage, and the distinction between stopping influx and shedding old karma. Expect classification questions and causal-reasoning questions.
Eight karma types
Ghatiya (destructive): jnanavaraniya (obscures knowledge), darsanavaraniya (obscures perception), mohaniya (delusion), antaraya (obstruction). Aghatiya (non-destructive): vedaniya (pleasure and pain), ayu (lifespan), nama (body and form), gotra (status).
Bandha
Bandha is bondage of karma-pudgala to the jiva. Its causes include mithyatva (wrong faith), avirati (vowlessness), pramada (carelessness), and yoga (activity of mind, speech, and body), with kashayas (passions) acting as the adhesive. Bhava-bandha is the psychic state; dravya-bandha is the actual karmic matter.
Nirjara
Nirjara is shedding karma. It occurs by exhaustion and, more importantly, by austerity. Samvara stops influx; nirjara removes what is bound.
Worked example
A person angry at an insult binds mohaniya karma; later, fasting and equanimity burn it. Reasoning: anger is a passion that binds, while penance is nirjara through austerity. Merely waiting for karma to exhaust is not the full Jain path.
Traps
Do not put vedaniya among ghatiya karmas. Do not equate nirjara with “not creating new karma,” which is samvara. Do not say ayu karma causes pleasure; it determines lifespan.