Answer

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

• Ghāti Karma — karmas that directly harm the qualities of the soul.
• Aghāti Karma — karmas that do not directly harm the essential qualities of the soul, but affect worldly life, body, lifespan, status, and experiences.

Explanation

Ghāti Karma

Ghāti means “destructive” or “damaging.” These karmas obstruct the soul’s true nature: infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite energy, and spiritual purity.

There are 4 Ghāti karmas:

• Jñānāvaraṇīya Karma — knowledge-obscuring karma
• Darśanāvaraṇīya Karma — perception-obscuring karma
• Mohanīya Karma — deluding karma
• Antarāya Karma — obstructive karma

These karmas prevent the soul from fully knowing, seeing, remaining detached, and expressing its energy.

Aghāti Karma

Aghāti means “non-destructive.” These karmas do not directly destroy the soul’s essential qualities, but they shape the soul’s worldly existence.

There are 4 Aghāti karmas:

• Vedanīya Karma — feeling-producing karma, giving pleasure or pain
• Āyuṣya Karma — lifespan-determining karma
• Nāma Karma — body-making karma
• Gotra Karma — status-determining karma

These karmas decide what kind of body one gets, how long one lives, what status one has, and what pleasures or pains one experiences.

Spiritual Understanding

Ghāti karmas are more serious spiritually because they cover the soul’s true qualities. When the four Ghāti karmas are completely destroyed, the soul attains Keval Jñān, or perfect knowledge.

After that, the Aghāti karmas remain only until the end of that life. When they are also exhausted, the soul attains Moksha.

Takeaway

• Ghāti karma affects the soul’s spiritual qualities.
• Aghāti karma affects the soul’s worldly condition.
• Destroying Ghāti karma leads to Keval Jñān.
• Destroying all karmas leads to Moksha.