Answer

In Jain Dharma, Gnanavarniya Karma, Darshanavarniya Karma, and Antaraya Karma are three important types of Ghati Karma. They directly affect the soul’s natural qualities.

• Gnanavarniya Karma covers or obstructs knowledge.
• Darshanavarniya Karma covers or obstructs perception and right seeing.
• Antaraya Karma creates obstacles in doing good, receiving benefit, giving, enjoying, or using one’s energy.

If these karmas are strong, a person may feel confused, unable to understand truth clearly, lazy in spiritual practice, or blocked even when they want to do good. Jain Dharma teaches that these karmas can be reduced through right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, tapas, humility, self-control, and sincere spiritual effort.

Explanation

1. Gnanavarniya Karma — Knowledge-obscuring karma

“Gnan” means knowledge, and “avarniya” means covering. This karma covers the soul’s natural ability to know.

Because of this karma, one may experience:

• Difficulty understanding spiritual truth
• Confusion even after hearing good teachings
• Forgetfulness or lack of clarity
• Misuse of knowledge
• Disinterest in learning Dharma

The soul naturally has infinite knowledge, but this karma acts like a curtain over that knowledge.

2. Darshanavarniya Karma — Perception-obscuring karma

“Darshan” means perception, vision, or seeing. This karma obstructs the soul’s ability to perceive clearly.

It may create:

• Lack of spiritual awareness
• Wrong vision toward truth
• Inability to recognize what is spiritually beneficial
• Sleepiness, dullness, or lack of alertness
• Weakness in developing right faith

In simple words, Gnanavarniya karma affects “knowing,” while Darshanavarniya karma affects “seeing/perceiving.”

3. Antaraya Karma — Obstructing karma

“Antaraya” means obstacle. This karma blocks the soul’s energy and creates obstacles in good actions.

It can obstruct:

• Daan — giving charity
• Laabh — receiving benefit
• Bhog — enjoying one-time-use things
• Upbhog — enjoying repeated-use things
• Virya — spiritual energy, effort, and strength

For example, a person may want to study, do seva, give charity, practice samayik, or control anger, but inner or outer obstacles keep coming. This can be due to Antaraya karma.

How to Reduce These Karmas

In Jain Dharma, karmas reduce through two main processes:

• Samvar — stopping new karma from coming in
• Nirjara — shedding old karma

To reduce Gnanavarniya, Darshanavarniya, and Antaraya karma, practice the following:

1. Develop Right Faith

Try to strengthen faith in:

• Tirthankars
• Jain Dharma
• Soul and karma theory
• Ahimsa, truth, self-control, and liberation path

Right faith helps remove wrong vision and supports right knowledge.

2. Study Dharma with Humility

To reduce Gnanavarniya karma:

• Read or listen to Jain scriptures and teachings regularly
• Learn from knowledgeable Jain teachers, monks, nuns, or authentic sources
• Avoid pride about knowledge
• Do not insult scriptures, teachers, or true knowledge
• Use knowledge for self-purification, not ego

Knowledge becomes spiritually useful when it is joined with humility and conduct.

3. Practice Samayik and Reflection

Daily or regular Samayik helps calm the mind and improves spiritual clarity.

You can reflect:

• “Who am I?”
• “I am soul, separate from body.”
• “Anger, ego, deceit, and greed bind karma.”
• “My goal is purity of soul.”

This helps reduce inner dullness and increases awareness.

4. Control Anger, Ego, Deceit, and Greed

The four passions — krodh, maan, maya, lobh — are major causes of karmic bondage.

To reduce these karmas:

• Forgive quickly
• Speak humbly
• Be honest
• Reduce greed and attachment
• Do not obstruct others from doing good

Especially for Antaraya karma, never stop someone from charity, worship, study, tapas, or good conduct.

5. Practice Charity and Seva

To reduce Antaraya karma, give according to your capacity:

• Food or help to those in need, while following Jain principles
• Support for Jain temples, pathshalas, scriptures, and Dharma activities
• Time and service for good causes
• Encouragement to others in their spiritual practice

Do not think, “Why should I help?” or “Why is that person doing Dharma?” Such thoughts can create obstacles.

6. Do Tapasya

Tapasya helps in nirjara, the shedding of karma.

Examples:

• Navkarsi
• Unodari — eating less than hunger
• Ekasan
• Beasan
• Ayambil
• Upvas
• Maun — silence
• Limiting desires and comforts

Tapasya should be done with peace, humility, and proper understanding, not ego.

7. Recite Navkar Mantra with Bhav

The Navkar Mantra is the most sacred Jain mantra. It does not ask for worldly things; it bows to the highest purified souls.

Reciting it with devotion helps purify thoughts and strengthens right direction.

You may recite daily with the feeling:

• “May my knowledge become pure.”
• “May my perception become clear.”
• “May obstacles in Dharma reduce.”
• “May I move toward liberation.”

8. Use Knowledge Properly

Since you asked “get and use knowledge,” Jain Dharma teaches that knowledge should be used for self-purification.

Use knowledge to:

• Understand the difference between soul and body
• Reduce attachment and hatred
• Practice ahimsa
• Improve speech and behavior
• Help others understand Dharma respectfully
• Move toward right conduct

Do not use knowledge for:

• Argument
• Ego
• Insulting others
• Showing superiority
• Increasing attachment to worldly success

Spiritual Understanding

According to Jain Dharma, the soul naturally has infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite energy, and infinite bliss. These qualities are not created from outside; they are already the nature of the soul.

But karmas cover them.

• Gnanavarniya karma covers knowledge.
• Darshanavarniya karma covers perception.
• Antaraya karma blocks energy and effort.

When we practice right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, and tapas, these coverings gradually become weaker. Then the soul’s natural clarity begins to shine more.

Takeaway

To reduce these karmas:

• Learn Dharma with humility.
• Practice Samayik and self-reflection.
• Control anger, ego, deceit, and greed.
• Do charity and never obstruct others’ good deeds.
• Practice tapas according to your capacity.
• Use knowledge for inner purification, not pride.

The more you use knowledge to reduce passions and live with awareness, the more these karmic coverings become weak.