Ancient Jaina Hymns

Author(s): Charlotte Krause
Publisher: Oriental Institute

Page 16

ANCIENT JAINA HYMNS
and well-being of all that breathes. Human beings have a body-height of six miles, and live up to an age of three palyopamas, enjoying undisturbed bliss, fed and clad by wishing-trees, husband and wife being born together as twins, and dying together when their time is up. There is neither fear nor pain, neither crime nor vice, nor worrying about scruples of justice or religion. But on the other hand, there is no possibility of spiritual enlightenment. No Tirthankara is born, and salvation cannot be attained. As this period passes, everything slowly deteriorates, till, after four kotākotis of sāgaropamas, a certain limit is reached, which marks the beginning of the next “Ara”.
(2) "Suşamā", at the outset of which the bodyheight of man is four miles, and his maximum age two palyopamas. It lasts three kotākotīs of sāgaropamas. Tīrthařkaras are not born. Everything deteriorates, further.
(3) “Suşama-duşşamā”, at the beginning of which men have a height of two miles and an age of one palyopama. Towards its end, the first Tirtharkara appears, with a body 500 "dhanu" high, and enters "Nirvāņa" after a life of 84,00,000 “pūrvas”. Three years and eight and a half months after his “Nirvāņa”, this period comes to an end, having lasted two kotākotīs. of sägaropamas, and seen the end of the wishing-trees and of the twinship of husband and wife.
(4) "Dussama-susamā”, during which deterioration continues, till at its end, the human body is only seven "hasta" high, and the maximum age 100 years. It
(1) 1 "dhanu"=4 "basta" or cubits.
(2) 1 "pūrva"=84,00,000 "pūrvāngas", one "pārvānga" 84,00,000 years: Vide Tattv. IV, 15, Tīkā, p. 293.
(3) 1 "hasta"=1 cubit.
equalling