Book Title: Jainism The Cosmic Vision
Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London

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Page 172
________________ Predictions of Tirthankara Mahavira terrific winds and there will be torrential rains. They will cause deluge and destruction. Only human beings and animals will survive with seeds. They will reside in hollows or caves on the banks of rivers Ganga and Sindhu. They will live on flesh and fish." Then Mahavira described conditions which will take shape after the completion of the sixth division of the current half Time-cycle. He said, "At the end of the sixth division of the current half-Time-cycle called Avasarpini (Descending), there will set in the first division of the half-Time-cycle called Utsarpini (Ascending). The conditions prevailing in the first division of Utsarpini will be the same as those prevailing in the sixth division of Avasarpini. And the second division of Utsarpini will be similar to the fifth division of Avasarpini. In the beginning of the second division of Utsarpini, earth will receive rains of two types called Pushkara Samvartaka which will remove heat from earth. The earth will cool down. Then the earth will receive milky rains called Kshira-megha which will generate unctuousness in things. After that, earth will receive fourth type of rains called Amruta-megha (Nectar-rains) which will produce herbs and vegetation with varied properties. Then the earth will receive the fifth type of rains called Rasa-megha (Flavour-rains) which will make the earth fertile and also capable of producing fruits, grains, etc. of various flavours. All these rains of five types will descend heavily and uninterruptedly on earth." "Conditions will be conducive to progress again. Human beings residing in hollows or caves on the banks of rivers will come out from them and will settle on plains. With the change in time, human intellect will gradually become cultured and 155 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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