Forms of Karmas

There can be innumerable number of karmas. All such forms of karmas have been classified into four categories. They are 1) nitya karma 2) naimikthika karma 3) kamia karma 4) prathisiddha karma. Nitya karma means the various forms of karmas to be performed by every manifestation in time and space in micro and macro forms. Take for example the respiratory, blood circulatory and digestive functions of a human body; they are best examples for nitya karma. No body in time and space can exist without performing the nitya karma in its unique form. So taking food, doing the job for making the food and all such all such other functions are included in nitya karma. Therefore, the professional functions of a modern man, the social commitment and political & economic activities, religious rituals of daily practices etc. are considered as nitya karma. It is termed as nitya karma because no being in space and time can guarantee its constant existence without performing them. Naimikthika karma can be described as a group of karmas to be performed on certain occasions. Such occasions may be in connection with religion, social customs, cultural activities or even economic activities. A person can be abstained from performing the naimikthika karma. It is a question of discretion of the individual, whether such karmas are to be performed or not. Non-performance of such karmas may be criticized. It can even affect the social status of a person concerned, but such non-performances would never affect the existence of the person concerned. Take for ex. a set of karmas to be performed in connection with the customary marriages of every community. It is up to the person concerned whether to observe such karmas. It shows that naimiktika karma can be changed from place to place and time to time.