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APPENDIX 'A'
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satisfied by taking a pellet of food of the size of jejube (21) obtained from Kalpa vrksas (celestial trees). The beings of this age have not to answer the calls of Nature and are free from every kind of disease. Twins are born, a male and a female and behave as husband and wife after they grow up. The clothes and other necessities of life are all provided by the celestial trees. The parents die together after the birth of the twins and the latter grow up within 50 days by sucking their thumbs.
The second epoch is of smaller duration than the first. The height of the human body and the span of life are reduced. The beings of this period also get all their requirements from celestial trees.
In both thes epochs there is no ruler or the ruled, the status of all people is equal. The luminosity of the celestial trees is so great that the light from the sun and the moon is obscured. Even the cruel animals like lions have peaceful temperament.
During the third epoch the height of beings and their span of' life are still further reduced. The beings of this Age take their food on alternate days and the quantity of food is increased from a jejube size to that of myrobalan. It is in this epoch that the fourteen 'Kalakaras' (law givers) (called 'Manus' in Hindu Sastras) are born. Before the birth of Kalakaras there are no names of individuals. The wives address their husbands
Arra and husbands calls their wives as Ārve. There is no caste distinction. They all belong to one caste----Humanity. All comforts flow freely and are equally available to all persons. Man has not to exert himself for his livelihood. This Age is known as Utopia (Bhoga-bhumi).
During the fourth epoch the height and the span of life is reduced still further. At the end of the epoch the height dwindles down to about 10 feet. Karmabhumi begins as man has to work now for earning his livelihood. With the begining of this epoch, States are formed, rulers come into existence, people begin to perform religious functions and begin to marry. New and improved methods of trade, agriculture and industry are devised. There is material progress no doubt but spiritually the man deteriorates. It is during this epoch that the 24 Tithankars are born at intervals of time, who enlighten the world with their divine knowledge. Attainment of moksha (Salvation) is possible only up to the end of this epoch. At the fag end of this epoch some new seas are born, i.e. great land masses are sub-merged under water.
