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[ The life of Tirthankaras
systematically one or other of the Aras ( spoke of the wheel of time) or Periods of Time; and in every Ara (Era or Period of Time), there is going on continuous change in the climate, water and plants and other living beings with regard to their size, stature, longevity and other aspects. Innumerable Aras like this have passed away and are still passing.
One Kala-Chakra (Wheel of Time) consists of 20 Kotakoti (i. e. 2000 billion ) sagaropmas * of Time. This Kala-Chakra or the wheel of Time has twa parts: the one Utsarpini ( Aeon of Increase ) and the other Avasarpini ( Aeon of Decrease ) The Utsarpini Period of the Kala-Chakra begins just when the pettiness or inferiority of every thing in this world has reached its farthest extremity. The objects assume their greatness or superiority as the period advances. But, when the Avasarpini Period begins there is the reverse procedure; and the worldly objects, which had appeared in their best form towards the close of the Utsarpini Period, now begin to assume inferior shapes etc.
The Utsarpini and the Avsarpini are divided each into six Aras ( Aeons or Periods of Time ). These Aras have got significant technical names. The Ara, which is excellent and good, is called. "Sukhama-Sukhama' while that which is unpleasant and bad is called 'Dhukhama-Dukhama'. The names of the remaining four Aras, too, are composed of these two words according to their characteristic qualities.
# A pit measuring one yojana in length, breadth and width is to be closely filled with finest hair-ends; one hair end is taken out after every hundred years; and the period of time required to completely empty that well is technically known as Palyopama. A Sagaropama ( Ocean of years) contains ten kotakoti of Palyopamas. A kotakoti is equal to one crore multiplied by one crore.
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