The Jaina Doctrine of Karma And The Science Of Genetics: ▪ Sthiti (Duration)

How long the karma will stay associated with the soul is determined by the quality of our passions at the time of our activities. If our desire for the activity is mild then the duration of bondage would be of a shorter time. If our desire is stronger then the duration of bondage would of a longer time. The minimum time may be of a fraction of time to Antarmuhūrta (less than 48 minutes) and a maximum time could be of innumerable year (70 krodā-krodī sāgropama). The duration of each type of karma differs according to its nature and fruition. The Jaina texts distinguish three lengths of the period of duration:

1. of minimum duration.
2. of intermediate duration.
3. of maximum duration.

The duration of intermediate category of each action varies according to its intensity and gravity. The minimum and maximum duration of eight main types karma may be formulated in following table:

S.No.	Nature of Karma	Duration		Maximum Duration
		Minimum	Abādhākāla
01.	Knowledge obscuring (jñānāvarṇa)	Antaramuhurta	3000 years	30 Karodā-karodī Sāgropama
02.	Intuition obscuring (darśanāvarṇa)	Antaramuhurta	3000 years	30 Karodā-karodī Sāgropama
03.	Feeling producing (vedaniya)	12 Antaramuhurta	300 years	30 Karodā-karodī Sāgropama
04.	Deluding (mohanīya)	Antarmuhurta	7000 years	70 Karodā-karodī Sāgropama
05.	Age determining (ayuṣya)	256 Avātikā	None	33 Sāgaropama
06.	Body making (nāma)	8 Antaramuhurata	2000 years	20 krodā-karodī Sāgaropama
07.	Status determining (gotra)	8 Antaramuhurata	2000 years	20 krodā-karodī Sāgaropama
08.	Obstructive (antarāya)	Antarmuhurata	3000 years	30 krodā-karodī Sāgaropama

Here abādhākala is the maximum waiting time before realization. The word antarmuhūrata denotes a period of time from one to in between 48 minutes, krodā-karodi means one crore multiplied by one crore. The word sāgropama stands for an immeasurable period of time.