Kevala jnana
Also called: Kaivalya · Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Kevala jñāna, also called kaivalya, means "perfect knowledge" or "knowing everything" in Jainism. Jainas believe the soul gains it when karma no longer covers it. Karma here means the matter that sticks to the soul because of past actions. A person who reaches kevala jñāna is called a kevalin or a jina, which means "conqueror". The conquest is over ignorance and attachment, not over land. Such a soul reaches final liberation at death.
Example
Prince Vardhamāna left home at the age of 30. After 12 years of hard self-discipline, he gained kevala jñāna at 42, near the village of Jṛimbhikagrāma. From then on he was called Mahāvīra, "great hero", and began to teach.
Don't confuse with
- Nibbāna (Buddhist): nibbāna is the "blowing out" of the ego and of desire, and it ends suffering. Kevala jñāna is the Jaina idea of the soul knowing everything once karma is removed.
Related concepts
- Jainism
- Tirthankara
- Rishabhanatha
- Parshvanatha
- Mahavira
- Ahimsa
- Karma
- Five vows of Jainism
- Aparigraha
- Triratna of Jainism