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DOELL
TIRT THANKARAS
the spokes of a wheel. The present time is the fifth Ara of the Avasarpini period. It is also known as Dusham (Unhappy) Ara. Hindu tradition calls it Kaliyuga.
- 1. bhagawan Badinath Timeisinfinite wherethereis nobeginning
or end. It continuously migrates from periods of progress to periods of decline, and one period follows another. According to Jain tradition, a period of progress, known as Utsarpini or the ascending order, is marked with all around improvements such as longer life span, prosperity, and overall happiness. On the other hand, a period of decline, known as Avasarpini or the descending order, is marked with all around detoriation and decline such a shorter life span, and general gloom. These two periods together make one time cycle.
Until the end of the third Ara of the current Avasarpini, people were leading a more natural and simple life. The population was small and nature was bountiful. Nature provided all the necessities for human beings so they did not have to exert much effort for obtaining the necessities of life. Trees provided shelter and enough leaves and bark for covering their bodies. With the help of the branches, they could erect huts for protection from rain and extreme weather.
Each Utsarpini and Avasarpini is divided into six eras called Aras, meaning
LIFE SKETCH OF TIRTHANKARAS
