Answer

In Jain Dharma, the soul was never created, but it still needs to attain salvation because it is bound by karma.

The soul is eternal, but its liberated state is not currently experienced by worldly souls due to karmic bondage.

Explanation

According to Jain philosophy:

• The soul, called jīva, is beginningless and eternal.
• It was never created by anyone.
• However, from beginningless time, worldly souls have been associated with karma.
• This karma covers the soul’s natural qualities such as infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss, and infinite energy.

So the issue is not that the soul was created imperfect.

Rather, the issue is that the soul’s true nature is obscured by karmic bondage.

A simple example: gold may be naturally pure, but if it is covered with dirt, its shine is not visible. The gold does not need to be created; it needs to be purified. Similarly, the soul does not need to be created; it needs to be freed from karma.

Spiritual Understanding

Salvation, or moksha, means complete freedom from karma.

When all karmas are destroyed, the soul does not become something new. It realizes and manifests its own pure nature.

In Jain Dharma, liberation is not creation of the soul. It is purification of the soul.

Takeaway

The soul is eternal, but bondage is also beginningless. Therefore, spiritual effort is needed not to create the soul, but to remove karma and reveal its natural purity.