Answer

In Jain Dharma, agyaan and bondage do not begin at a first moment. They are considered anādi — without a beginning. The atma is naturally pure and full of consciousness, but because of beginningless karmic association, its true knowledge gets covered. That covered state is called agyaan.

Explanation

According to Jain philosophy:

• Atma itself is not ignorant.
• Ignorance arises when karmas veil the soul’s natural knowledge.
• Bondage happens when karmic particles bind to the soul through:

- mithyatva — wrong belief - kashaya — passions like anger, pride, deceit, greed - yoga — activities of mind, speech, and body

So, the sequence is:

1. The soul exists in samsara
2. Due to beginningless karma, knowledge is obscured
3. This produces agyaan / mithyatva
4. From agyaan come attachment and aversion
5. These create new karma bondage
6. The cycle continues

So the question “how did it happen at first?” is answered in Jain Dharma by saying: there is no first beginning in samsara. The bondage has no first point in time.

Spiritual Understanding

This teaching is very important because it tells us:

• Ignorance is not the true nature of the soul
• The soul is originally capable of true knowledge, vision, and bliss
• Bondage is temporary, not permanent
• By samyak darshan, samyak jnan, and samyak charitra, the soul can धीरे-धीरे become free

This gives hope: what is covered can be uncovered.

Takeaway

In Jainism, agyaan and bondage are beginningless, not first-created. They arise because the soul has been covered by karma for an endless time, but they can be removed through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.