Consider the following statements with reference to Jainism: 1. Vardhamana Mahavira attained Kaivalyajnana outside the town of Jrimbhikagrama, on the banks of river Rijupalika and in the field of a householder named Samaga. 2. The state when the Karma particles actually begin to flow towards the Jiva to bind it is known as Asrava. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is C, both 1 and 2. Both statements match the Jaina tradition: the place of Mahavira's enlightenment and the meaning of asrava.

Mahavira left home at about thirty and spent some twelve years in hard penance. Jaina texts say that in the thirteenth year he attained kaivalya, supreme knowledge, outside the town of Jrimbhikagrama on the bank of the river Rijupalika, under a sal tree in the field of a householder named Samaga. He then became a Jina (conqueror) and a Kevalin. In Jaina philosophy the soul (jiva) is bound by fine particles of karma. Their inflow towards the soul is asrava; their binding is bandha; stopping the inflow is samvara; shedding the old karma is nirjara; and complete release is moksha.

A and B are wrong because each leaves out a correct statement. D is wrong because both statements are true.

Exam tip: Jaina path of karma in order: asrava, bandha, samvara, nirjara, moksha.