________________
INTRODUCTION.
According to Aryan scriptures, some eternal elements, which are generated by Nature, control the Universe. One of these elements is Tune.
Time is eternal and endless. In the Vedas, Time is divided into four main parts (1) Satya Yuga or the Golden Age. (2) Trètā Yuga or the Silver Age. (3) Dwāpara Yuga or the Copper Age and (4) Kali Yuga or the Iron Age. These ages como and go at regular intervals. The first age is the longest, the second less lung than the first, the third still less than the second, and the fourth is the shortest of all.
According to Jaina Hagio-logy, Time is characterised as eternal and endless but it is differently divided. Time is divided into two equal cycles. One is known as Utsarpiņi kāla, and the other as Avasarpiņi kāla. Each cycle is again divided into six divisions, and each division is technically known as an ara: (spoke of a wheel ). As the wheel rolls round, they move up and down. The wheel of time rolls regularly round, and these divisions begin and end also very regularly.
Each utsarpiņi kāla and avasarpiņi kāla extends over ten kota koti sāgaropam years and each is divided into the undermentioned six aras (divisions). The present is the avasarpiņi kāla.
Avasarpiņi
Utsarpini 1 Subama-susama
1 Duþşama-duşşama 2 Suşama
2 Duḥsama 9 Suşama-duhşama
9 Duhşama-suhŞama Duḥşama-susama
4 Susama-duhşawa Duhşama
5 Suşama Duhşama-dubsanja
6 Suşama-susama 1. *T Ara Spoke of a wheel
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org