Bandha (Jainism) Explained

Bandha (also karma-bandha) in Jainism, is the mutual intermingling of the soul and karmas (fine matter). Bandha (Bondage) comes immediately after the asrava (influx of karmas).

Overview

According to the Jain text Tattvartha sutra (in shloka 8.1), the activities that causes the bondage (or bandha) are:

• Wrong belief (mithyā-darśana)
• Non-abstinence (avirati)
• Negligence (pramāda)
• Passions (kaṣāya)

According to the Jain text Samayasāra, a right believer is free from the karma-bandha i.e. bondage.^[1]

Champat Rai Jain, an influential Jain writer of the 20th century in his book The Key of Knowledge wrote:^[2]

Classification

The bondage is of four kinds according to the Tattvartha sutra (in shloka 8.3):

1. according to the nature or species (prakṛti) of karma
2. depending upon the duration (sthiti) of karma
3. fruition (anubhava/anubhāga) of karma
4. the quantity of space-points (pradeśa) of karma

See also

• Types of Karma

Sources

• • Book: S. A. Jain. Reality. 1992. Jwalamalini Trust. Not in Copyright. Alt URL

Notes and References

1. Book: Jain, Vijay K.. Acharya Kundkund's Samayasara. 2012. Vikalp Printers. 978-81-903639-3-8. 110.
2. Book: Jain. Champat Rai. Champat Rai Jain. The Key Of Knowledge. 1975. Today and Tomorrow's Printers. New Delhi. Third. 622–626.