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definition and analogy and Sanskrit name of all 8 karmas
Here are all 8 karmas with:
- Sanskrit name
- Simple definition
- A very easy analogy
(These 8 are accepted in both Digambar and Shvetāmbara traditions; differences are mainly in detailed sub‑types and explanations, not in the basic list.)
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1. Jñānāvaraṇīya Karma
Sanskrit: ज्ञानावरणीय कर्मDefinition (what it does): This karma covers or veils knowledge. The soul has natural, infinite knowledge, but this karma stops that knowledge from manifesting fully.
Analogy: Like a curtain in front of a bright lamp – the light (knowledge) is there, but you cannot see it clearly because the curtain is blocking it.
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2. Darśanāvaraṇīya Karma
Sanskrit: दर्शनावरणीय कर्मDefinition: This karma obstructs perception (darshan) – the basic ability to “see/understand” things correctly, including right faith (samyak darshan).
Analogy: Like fog or dust on your glasses – your eyes are fine, but your vision is blurred, so you cannot see things properly.
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3. Mohanīya Karma
Sanskrit: मोहनीय कर्मDefinition: This is deluding karma. It makes the soul confused about what is right or wrong, and creates attachment, aversion, passions and wrong belief/conduct.
Analogy: Like intoxication: a drunk person has eyes and brain, but his thinking and behavior become wrong. Similarly, mohanīya makes the soul “spiritually drunk,” so it clings, gets angry, proud, greedy, etc.
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4. Antarāya Karma
Sanskrit: अन्तराय कर्मDefinition: This karma creates obstacles in using your own energy – in charity, in gaining things, in enjoying, or in putting effort toward spiritual progress.
Analogy: Like someone blocking a doorway when you want to go out, or a stone placed in the flow of water – the water wants to flow, but is stopped.
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5. Vedanīya Karma
Sanskrit: वेदनीय कर्मDefinition: This karma produces feelings – pleasant (happiness) or unpleasant (suffering, pain). It decides how we feel the results of past actions.
Analogy: Like spices in food – the main food (life situation) is the same, but the spice (vedanīya karma) decides whether the taste feels sweet/pleasant or bitter/unpleasant.
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6. Āyuṣya Karma
Sanskrit: आयुष्य कर्म (often simply आयु कर्म)Definition: This karma fixes the duration of life for the next birth – how long that particular life will last (human, animal, deva, hellish, etc.).
Analogy: Like a fixed-length candle – once it is made a certain size, it will burn only for that much time. Āyuṣya karma fixes how “long the candle of that life” will burn.
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7. Nāma Karma
Sanskrit: नाम कर्मDefinition: This karma builds the “body” and form – what type of body you get (human, animal, heavenly, hellish), its structure, color, organs, and many physical/psychic features.
Analogy: Like a mould used to cast a statue – the quality and shape of the mould decide the form of the statue. Nāma karma is the mould for the next body and many of its qualities.
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8. Gotra Karma
Sanskrit: गोत्र कर्मDefinition: This karma decides status and family background – high/low family, respect or disrespect received from others, general position in society.
Analogy: Like a label on a container – the contents (soul) may be very precious, but the outer label makes people treat it as “high‑class” or “low‑class.” Gotra karma is responsible for that external status.
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Grouping of the 8 Karmas
- Ghātīyā karmas (destructive to soul’s qualities):
- Jñānāvaraṇīya - Darśanāvaraṇīya - Mohanīya - Antarāya
These veil the true nature of the soul (knowledge, perception, right faith/conduct, energy).
- Aghātīyā karmas (non-destructive to soul’s qualities):
- Vedanīya - Nāma - Gotra - Āyuṣya
These decide the body, life-span, status, and experiences, but they do not directly destroy the inner qualities of the soul.
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