Asrav, Samvar & Nirjara (आस्रव · संवर · निर्जरा)
"The Three Movements"
The architectural core of Jain metaphysics. A journey from the entanglement of worldly action to the absolute stillness of the liberated soul.
Asrav
The Inflow
Karma flowing into the soul like dust onto a damp cloth. Every thought, word, and action creates a vibration that attracts matter.
Samvar
The Stoppage
The active practice of sealing the soul. Through mindfulness and restraint, the influx of new karmic matter is halted.
Nirjara
The Shedding
The purification of accumulated karma. Like heating a metal to burn away dross, austerities shed the old layers of binding matter.
Metaphysical Logic
The soul is a radiant center, obscured by its own history.
"Just as a lake with an inlet, an outlet, and the sun’s evaporation, the soul manages its karmic balance through these three movements."
To understand Asrav is to acknowledge our vulnerability. We are constantly interacting with the world, and every interaction leaves a residue. In the Jain view, this is not a metaphor—it is a physical reality. Karmic matter is subtle, but it has weight and color.
Samvar represents the defensive wall. It is the practice of 'Vrata' or vows. By choosing silence over speech, or meditation over action, we close the sluice gates. The lake begins to settle.
Finally, Nirjara is the active fire. It is not enough to stop new karma; the soul must burn away the ancient layers. This is achieved through Tapas—intentional heat created by spiritual discipline.