Mohaniya is derived from Moha which means attachment. So Mohaniya Karma are the Karma caused due to attachments of a Jiva with its body and external world . These attachments, which appear to be the best friend to jiva, are infact his biggest enemy. These attachments are the route cause of Kashaya (Passions) which never let the Jiva to get free from the transmigatory cycle of birth and death. These passions are very strong and hence very difficult to destroy. Therefore Mohaniya karma (Deluding Karma) is the most dangerous out of the all 8 karmas.and is also called the king of all Karmas.
This karma obstructs true faith and right conduct. It keeps us deeply involved in the worldly affairs. If we can overcome this karma then the salvation (moksa) is within our reach. There are two main groups & 28 sub-groups of mohanīya karma. These two main groups are:
I. Darśana mohanīya—3 sub groups.
II. Cāritra mohanīya —25 sub groups.
I. Darśana mohanīya karma : Here the meaning of darśana is true faith. The Darshan mohaniya-karma causes a disturbance of the knowledge of the religious truth inherent in the Jiva (Soul) by natural disposition. At the time of its bondage, this karma is single but at the time of realization, it becomes diversified into three forms namely:
- Mithyātva mohanīya karma (false belief) : Because of this karma soul loses his faith in tatvas (basic elements of Jainism) expounded by the omniscient ones and develop a taste for false doctrine.
- Miśra mohanīya karma :This karma makes a man indifferent to false as well as true doctrine.
- Samyaktva mohanīya karma :Due to this karma faith in the true doctrine becomes sound but breaches may occur.
II. Charitra Mohaniya Karma (Conduct Deluding Karma): The Charitra mohaniya-karma disturbs the right conduct possessed innately by the Jiva; it hinders the soul from acting according to the religious prescriptions. The disturbance of the conduct is produced through the sixteen passions (kashaya), the six emotions with are categorized as non-passions (nokashaya) and the three sexes. So this karma has 25 sub groups as follows:
- Kasāya mohanīya karma :16 sub groups.
- No kasāya mohanīya karma : 9 sub groups.
Kasāya : kasāya means sansāra and āya means gaining. So kasāya keep us in sansāra (worldly life). Four main kasāyas are as follows:
- Anger (krodha)
- Pride (māna)
- Deceit (māyā)
- Greed (lobha)
These four kasāyas are grouped into two:
(a) Attachment—deceit and greed kasāya.
(b) Hatred—anger and pride kasāya.
Each of these four kasāyas are further sub grouped into four divisions. They are:
Anantānubandhī: (of life long duration) which completely hinders belief and conduct.
Apratyākhyānī (hindering and non-renunciation) It makes impossible every renunciation, but allows the existence of true belief and lasts for one year.
Pratyākhyānī (hindering with renunciation) It hinders the beginning of complete self discipline, but does not prevent the existence of true belief and partial self discipline (desavirati).
Sañjvalana (flaming up) It allows complete self discipline, yet works against the attainment of complete right conduct (yathakhyata caritra). It lasts a fortnight.
Therefore, we have 4 x 4 = 16 kasāyas16
The Nokashayas or six non-passions are:
- Hasya (laughing, joking or making fun of),
- Rati (prejudicial liking or impartiality),
- Arati(improper conduct)
- Shoka (sorrow),
- Bhaya (fear), and
- Jugupsa (disgust).
All these six emotions are caritra Mohaniyas, because the soul which is subjected to them is hindered through them in the practice of right conduct.
The vedas or the sex passion hinders the Jiva (Soul) from obeying the laws and from practicing self discipline. It is of threefold variety, according to the three species of sexes:
- Purusa veda (the male sex and corresponding sex passion) – Through this, in the man the desire for union with a female is produced. Also man has at first an exceedingly strong desire, which disappears as soon as his lust is satisfied.·
- Stri veda (the female sex and corresponding sex passion) – Through this, in a woman the desire for union with a man is excited. Also the desire in the woman is weak so long as she is untouched, but grows into immensity through the enjoyment of intercourse.·
- Napumsaka veda (the third sex and corresponding sex passion) – Effects the third sex belong all those beings who have no sexual organs. The sexual desire is with them exceedingly strong because it is directed towards men and women. It is to be compared to the burning of a town, which lasts long and finds no satisfaction.
