Answer

Aghāti karma means the type of karma that does not directly harm the soul’s essential qualities such as knowledge, perception, right faith, and spiritual energy.

The word Aghāti means “non-destructive” or “not directly damaging.”

Explanation

In Jain Dharma, karmas are mainly divided into two groups:

• Ghāti karmas – karmas that directly obstruct the soul’s true nature.
• Aghāti karmas – karmas that affect the soul’s worldly existence but do not directly obstruct its essential qualities.

There are four Aghāti karmas:

• Vedanīya karma – causes experiences of pleasure and pain.
• Āyu karma – determines lifespan in a particular birth.
• Nāma karma – determines body, form, physique, and related features.
• Gotra karma – determines status, family background, or social position.

Spiritual Understanding

Aghāti karmas keep the soul connected with worldly existence, body, lifespan, pleasure-pain, and social conditions. However, they do not directly destroy the soul’s infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss, and infinite energy.

When a soul destroys the four Ghāti karmas, it attains Kevaljñān. The Aghāti karmas remain until the end of that final life, and when they are also shed, the soul attains Moksha.

Takeaway

Aghāti karma affects the soul’s worldly life, but it does not directly damage the soul’s pure qualities. It ends completely at liberation.