Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
Although, all kinds of karmas are responsible for rebirth, but, the prime cause seems to be the life-determining karmas, due to the rise of which, the soul gets a worldly life.[1] In Sthānāṅga Sūtra, nine pariṇāma of life span such as gati bandhana pariṇāma etc., have been given.[2] The commentator of Sthānāṅga has derived three meanings of the word 'Pariṇāma' as - nature, power or attribute.[3] When the life span of next life is determined, the form of life, the span of life, the direction of next birth, the place of birth, distant or near region etc. are also determined.
The nine pariṇāmas of life determining karma also proves that the life determining karma is related to the rebirth.
- Gati Pariṇāma - Through this, soul gets the particular realm of existence as human etc
- Gatibandhan Pariṇāma - Through this, soul binds the karmas in relation to next but appropriate birth as a hellish being would bind the life determining karma of either human or that of animal class.
- Sthiti Pariṇāma - Through this, a soul gets bound by the duration of a particular life (minimum less than 48 minutes to 33 sāgar as maximum)
- Sthitibandhan Pariṇāma - through this, a soul gets bound by the karma duration of next birth life span on the basis of present condition of feelings or passions
- Urdhava-gaurav Pariṇāma - Gaurav here means movement. Due to this, the soul tends to move upward.
- Adho-gaurav Pariṇāma - Due to this, the soul tends to move downward.
- Triyag-gaurav Pariṇāma - Due to this, the soul tends to move horizontal direction.
- Dirgha-gaurav Pariṇāma - Due to this, the soul tends to move from one point in the cosmos to the end of cosmos i.e. long movement.
- Hrasva-gaurav Pariṇāma - Due to this, the soul takes a very short movement in the cosmos.[4]
The material particles of life determining karmas generate in the soul the power of moving in upward, downward and diagonal directions.
The life span is determined in the previous birth, but, it comes into effect with the birth in the next form of life. On this basis, it can be said that the new life plays the role of a controller for the experience of pain, pleasure and life span. If there is life span determining karma, then there is birth and if there is birth, then there is certainly the experience of life determining karmas. Both are inter-connected. Even in Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra, the same fact has been expressed -
sati mūle tadvipāko jātyāyurbhogāḥ 2/131[5]
