What gets destroyed by maan kashay
In Jainism, "maan kashay" (माण कषाय) refers to the passion of pride or ego. According to Jain philosophy, maan kashay is one of the four primary kashayas (passions)—krodh (anger), maan (pride), maya (deceit), and lobh (greed)—that cause the soul to remain bound in the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
Maan kashay leads to:
- Increase in karmic bondage: Pride generates attachment and aversion, resulting in the influx (āsrava) of new karmas and the bondage (bandh) of the soul.
- Destruction of humility and right perception (samayak darshan): When one is dominated by pride, humility is lost, making it difficult to develop true understanding and spiritual progress.
- Obstacle to liberation (moksha): The passions, especially pride, hinder the purification of the soul and prevent the practice of key Jain virtues like forgiveness, humility, and self-restraint.
In summary: Maan kashay destroys humility, impedes spiritual progress, leads to accumulation of karmas, and is a major obstacle on the path to liberation in Jainism.