In Jainism, Āyu Karma (Ayushya Karma) is one of the eight main types of karmas (Ashtakarma). Āyu karma determines the lifespan of a living being in its next birth. When the soul is about to leave the current body, the ayu karma that has been bound during its lifetime determines the type of next birth (heavenly, human, animal, or hellish) and the duration of life in that particular birth.

Example of Āyu Karma:

Suppose a person performs actions that are full of compassion, non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), and self-control (samyama). Such actions tend to bind higher forms of āyu karma, leading to a longer and happier lifespan in a human or celestial (deva) existence in the next birth.

Conversely, if a person engages in violence, deceit, and intense passions (kashayas), this can result in the binding of lower forms of āyu karma, causing the soul to take birth in animal or hellish realms with a shorter or more miserable lifespan.

Types of Āyu Karma:

There are four principal types:

1. Deva Ayu (Celestial life-span)
2. Manusya Ayu (Human life-span)
3. Tiryancha Ayu (Animal/plant life-span)
4. Naraki Ayu (Hellish life-span)

Summary Example: If a person accumulates mainly positive karma, they may bind Deva Ayu karma, meaning in their next birth, they will be born as a celestial being for a specific duration, as determined by the karma.

Thus, āyu karma is not about the current lifespan but about the type and duration of the next existence, based strictly on the quality of one's actions and intentions.