Answer

In Jain Dharma, karma is mainly classified into 8 types.

Explanation

These 8 karmas are divided into two groups:

1. Ghātiyā karmas — karmas that directly obstruct the soul’s true qualities:

• Jñānāvaraṇīya karma — covers knowledge
• Darśanāvaraṇīya karma — covers perception
• Mohanīya karma — causes delusion
• Antarāya karma — creates obstacles in spiritual and worldly efforts

2. Aghātiyā karmas — karmas that do not directly destroy the soul’s inner qualities, but shape the body and life conditions:

• Vedanīya karma — gives pleasure and pain
• Nāma karma — determines body, form, and characteristics
• Gotra karma — determines status, family, or social position
• Āyu karma — determines lifespan

Spiritual Understanding

In Jainism, karma is not just action; it is subtle matter bound to the soul. These 8 karmas explain why the soul experiences:

• ignorance,
• attachment,
• suffering,
• different life forms,
• birth and death.

The goal of Jain practice is to stop new karma and shed existing karma through right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, तपस्या, and non-violence.

Takeaway

The 8 main karmas are the foundation of Jain karma theory. Understanding them helps us understand why the soul is bound and how it can become free.