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15 Days and nights 2 Fortnights 12 Months
Countless years 10 Crores of Crores of Palyopams 10 Crores of Crores of Sägaropams 1 Utsarpini + 1 Avasarpini Infinite Kälchakras
1 Fortnight 1 Month 1 Year 1 Palyopam 1 Sägaropam 1 Utsarpini or 1 Avasarpini. 1 Kälchakra (One time cycle) 1 Pudgal Parävartan Käl
Jains believe that time is continuous, without any beginning or end. Time is divided into infinite equal time cycles (Kälchakras). Every time cycle is further sub divided in two equal halves. The first half is the progressive cycle or ascending orders, called Utsarpini. The other half is the regressive cycle or the descending orders called Avasarpini. Every Utsarpini and Avasarpini is divided into six unequal periods called Aräs. During the Utsarpini half cycle, development, happiness, strength, age, body, and religious trends go from the worst conditions to the best. During the Avasarpini half cycle, development, happiness, strength, age, body, and religious trends go from the best conditions to the worst. Presently, we are in the fifth Arä of the Avasarpini phase. When the Avasarpini phase ends, the Utsarpini phase begins. Thus, Kälchakra goes on repeating and continues forever. The six Aräs of Avasarpini are called: • Susham-Susham (very happy)
Susham (happy) Susham Dusham (happy-unhappy) Dusham Susham (unhappy-happy)
Dusham (unhappy) • Dusham-Dusham (very unhappy) The Äräs in Utsarpini are in the reverse order. Susham-Susham: This is the time of great happiness. During this phase, people are very tall and live for a very long time. Children are born as twins, a boy and a girl. All their needs and desires are fulfilled by ten different kinds of Kalpa-vriksha (wish-giving trees). The trees provide a place to live, clothes, pots and pans, good food, fruits and sweets, harmonious music, jewelry, beautiful flowers, radiant lamps, and a bright light at night. There is no killing, crime, or other vices.
Susham: This is also a phase of happiness, but not as happy as the first Ärä. The wish-giving trees continue to provide for the people's needs, but the people are not as tall and do not live as long. Susham Dusham: This is a phase consisting of more happiness than misery. During this period, the Kalpa-vrikshas provide what is desired. Towards the end of this Arä, Rishabhadev became the first Tirthankar. Dusham Susham: This phase has more misery than happiness. The other twenty-three Tirthankars and eleven Chakravartis were born during this Ärä, which ended three years and eight months after Bhagawan Mahävir's Nirvana.
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