Jain Journal 1972 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 40

Infancy of Human Race as Depicted
in the Jaina Agamas
J. C. SIKDAR
According to the Jaina Āgamas human race had its genesis in SusamaSusamal, the first period in time cycle. In that age, land was cool, colour, taste and touch of things were pleasant, sweetness of soil was infinite times greater than that of sugar of the present day. Things were snigdha (bracing=adhesive, i.e., full of calory). For this reason the people of that age used to take a little vegetable after every three days and were satisfied with it. Foodstuff was a natural product and not an artificial one. Artificiality in human life was also non-existent and for that the span of life was very long. They were very tall and lived up to three palyas and never met accidental death. The natural atmosphere was so congenial to health that they were gentle and pleasing by nature
The second period in time cycle is called Susama with a legnth of three kodākoda sāgara. In this age meal was taken by man after every two days. The span of his life was two palyas and the height of his body came down to two kosas. The cause of this decrease in stature
Jambuddive ... bharahe vase imise ussappinie susamasusamae samae ... bahusamaramanijje bhumibhage hottha ... savvouapupphaphalzsamiddhao pimdimajava
pasadiao 4, Jambudvipaprajnapti, (Santicandrıy vrtti) 2, 19, pp. 96-97 ff. 2 Te nam manua supaitthiakummacarucalana java ... ujjumauapivarasusahayam.
gulio ... jahicchiakamakamino, Ibid., 2.21.
; Atthamabhattassa aharatthe samuppajjai, pudhavipupphaphaiahara...pudhavie ...
gulei va kham dei va ... sakkarai va ... asae pannatte, Ibid., 2.22. Rukkhagehalaya ... suhasialacchaya pannatta samanauso, Ibid., 2.23. Tise samae bharahe vise gehai va ... no inatthe samatthe ... gamai va ... no inatihe samatthe ... asi va masi va kisii va vanietti va panietti va vanijjei va ... no inatthe samatthe ... bharahe rayai va ... no inatthe samatthe ... dasei va pesei va sissei va bhayagei ... no inatthe samatthe ... maya va piyai ... homta
atthi, no ceva nam tivve pemmabamdhane, etc., Ibid., 2.24. ; Manuanam ... jahannenam desunaim tinni paliovamaim ... sanicari, Ibid., 2.25.