Moksha (Jainism)
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For other uses, see Moksha (disambiguation).
Depiction of Siddha Shila as per Jain cosmology which is abode of infinite Siddhas
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Sanskrit moksha or Prakrit mokkha means liberation or salvation. It is a blissful
state of existence of a soul, completely free from the karmic bondage, free from
sa?sara, the cycle of birth and death. A liberated soul is said to have attained
its true and pristine nature of infinite bliss, infinite knowledge and infinite
perception. Such a soul is called siddha and is revered in Jainism.
In Jainism, it is the highest and the noblest objective that a soul should strive
to achieve. In fact, it is the only objective that a person should have; other
objectives are contrary to the true nature of soul. With the right view, knowledge
and efforts all souls can attain this state. That is why Jainism is also known as
mok?amarga or the path to liberation.
According to the Sacred Jain Text, Tattvartha sutra
Owing to the absence of the cause of bondage and with the functioning of the
dissociation of karmas the annihilation of all karmas is liberation.
?Tattvarthsutra (10-2)[1]
Contents [hide]
1 Bhavyata
2 The Path to Liberation
3 Nirvana
4 Liberated soul
5 See also
6 References
6.1 Citations
6.2 Sources
Bhavyata[edit]
From the point of view of potentiality of mok?a, Jain texts bifurcates the souls in
two categoriesbhavya and abhavya. Bhavya souls are those souls who have faith in
mok?a and hence will make some efforts to achieve liberation.[2] This potentiality
or quality is called bhavyata.[2] However, bhavyata itself does not guarantee mok?
a, as the soul needs to expend necessary efforts to attain it. On the other hand,
abhavya souls are those souls who cannot attain liberation as they do not have
faith in mok?a and hence never make any efforts to attain it.[2]
The Path to Liberation[edit]
According to Jainism, the Ratnatraya or three Gems, samyagdarsana (correct
perception), samyagjana (right knowledge) and samyakcharitra (right conduct),
together constitute the mok?amarga or the path to liberation.[3] According to
Acharya KundaKunda's Samayasara
Belief in the nine substances as they are is right faith (samyagdarsana). Knowledge
of these substances without doubt, delusion or misapprehension, is right knowledge
(samyagjana). Being free from attachment etc. is right conduct (samyakcaritra).
These three, together, constitute the path to liberation.[4]
Samyak Darsana or rational perception is the rational faith in the true nature of
every substance of the universe.[5][page needed]
Samyak Caritra or rational conduct is the natural conduct of a (soul) living being.
It consists in following austerities, engaging in right activities and observance
of vows, carefulness and controls.[6] Once a soul secures samyaktva, mok?a is
assured within a few lifetimes. The fourteen stages on the path to liberation are
called Gunasthana. These are[7]
Gunasthana (Stages on the Path) Meaning
1. Mithyatva The stage of wrong believer (Gross ignorance)
2. Sasadana Downfall from right faith
3. Misradrsti Mixed right and wrong belief
4. Avirata samyagdrsti Vowless right belief
5. Desavirata The stage of partial self-control
6. Pramattasamyata Slightly imperfect vows
7. Apramatta samyata Perfect vows (Mahavratas)
8. Apurvakarana New thought-activity
9. Anivattibadara-samparaya Advanced thought-activity (Passions are still
occurring)
10.Sukshma samparaya Slightest delusion
11.Upasanta-kasaya Subsided delusion
12.Ksina kasaya Destroyed delusion
13.Sayoga kevali Omniscience with vibration (destruction of all inimical karmas)
14.Ayoga kevali The stage of omniscience without any activity
Those who pass the last stage are called siddha and become fully established in
Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct.[8]
Nirvana[edit]
Nirvana means final release from the karmic bondage. When an enlightened human,
such as an Arihant or a Tirthankara, extinguishes his remaining aghatiya karmas and
thus ends his worldly existence, it is called nirvana. Technically, the death of an
Arhat is called their nirva?a, as he has ended his worldly existence and attained
liberation. Moksa (liberation) follows nirva?a. However, the terms moksa and
nirvana are often used interchangeably in the Jain texts.[9][10] An Arhat becomes a
siddha, the liberated one, after attaining nirvana.
In that night in which the Venerable Ascetic Mahavira, died, freed from all pains,
the eighteen confederate kings of Kasi and Kosala, the nine Mallakis and nine
Licchavis, on the day of new moon, instituted an illuminations on the Poshadha,
which was a fasting day; for they said 'Since the light of intelligence is gone,
let us make an illumination of material matter!'(128)[11]
Liberated soul[edit]
A liberated soul dwell in Siddhashila with infinite faith, infinite knowledge,
infinite perception, and infinite perfection. According to the Jain text,
Purusarthasiddhyupaya
