Jainsquare – A Complete Portal on Jainism

Before understanding gyanvarniya karma lets first understand what is gyan.

Gyan 

Gyan means Knowledge of Dharma, things and the world in which we live. Gyan has been divided into five different categories based on the source of knowledge and they are: 

1. Matigyan
2. Shrutgyan
3. Avadhigyan
4. Manahparyavgyan
5. Kevalgyan

Former two knowledges are Paroksha (indirect) and rests three are Pratyaksha (direct). Last three Gyans occurred within the soul when certain quanta of Gyanavarniya Karm and Mohaniya Karma are destroyed. While first two Gyans occur due to experiences, learning, etc. As soon as the layers of Gnyanavarniya Karma start receding from the soul, person will have knowledge of subject and object both.

Gyan Varniya Karma

As the name implies gyanavarniya karma refers to the karma that obscures knowledge.Just like gyan is divided into five categories Gyanavarniya Karma is also divided into five categories and they are:

1. Matijnânâvaranîya which veils the knowledge attained through senses plus something else.
2. Srutajñânâvarnîya which obstructs the knowledge acquired through reading criptures, studying symbols and signs.
3. Avadhijñânâvaranîya which hinders transcendental knowledge of material things.
4. Manahparyâyajñânâvaranîya which conceals the mind knowing knowledge of others.
5. Kevalajñânâvaranîya which obscures the omniscience which has no limitation of space, time or subject.

Other posts of the series

1. Mohaniya Karma (May 17, 2012)
2. Nirjara - (May 18, 2012)
3. Gyanavarniya Karma (This post) (May 26, 2012)
4. Darshanvarniya Karma (May 27, 2012)
5. Vedaniya Karma (Feeling Pertaining Karma) (May 28, 2012)
6. Gotra Karma (May 29, 2012)
7. Ayusya Karma – Age-Determining Karma (May 30, 2012)
8. Antaraya Karma (June 1, 2012)
9. Nama Karma (June 2, 2012)