Nirjara Nirjara Nirjara is one of the seven fundamental principles, or Tattva in Jain philosophy, and refers to the shedding or removal of accumulated karmas from the atma (soul), essential for breaking free from samsara, the cycle of birth-death and rebirth, by achieving moksha, liberation. Literally meaning "falling off", the concept is described first in chapter 9 of the classical Jain text, Tattvartha Sutra (True nature of Reality) written by Acharya Umasvati, in 2nd century CE, the only text authoritative in both Svetambara and Digambara sects of Jainism. Later it also finds mention in Dravyasamgraha (Compendium of substances), a 10th-century Jain
Digambara monk most revered "Digambara" monks. Every Digambara monk is required to observe 28 "mula gunas" (lit. twenty-eight primary attributes) compulsory. These are also called root-virtues, because it is said that in their absence other saintly virtues cannot be acquired. They are thus like the root, in the absence of which stems and branches tuneless come into being. These twenty-eight primary attributes are: five supreme vows ("mahāvrata"); five regulations ("samiti"); five-fold control of the senses ("pañcendriya nirodha"); six essential duties ("Şadāvaśyaka"); and seven rules or restrictions ("niyama"). According to Acharya Samantabhadra’s Ratnakaraņdaka śrāvakācāra: The first vow of a Digambara monk relates to