Jainthology

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

Page 29

Evolution of Mankind as Depicted in the Jaina Agamas
J. C. Sikdar
Infancy of Human Race
According to the Jaina Agamas human race had its genesis in Suşama-Suşama,1 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 statisfied 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 Suşama with a length of three koṭākoți 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
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jambuddive bhar ahe vase imise us sappinie susamasusamae samae ... bahusamaramanijje bhumibhage hottha... savvouapupphaphalasamiddhao pimdimajavapasadiao 4, Jambudvipa-prajnapti, (Santicandriya vrtti) 2, 19, pp. 96-97 ff.
te nam manua supaitthiakummacar ucalana java... ujjumauapivarasusahayamgulio... jahicchiakamak amino, Ibid., 2.21. atthamabhattassa aharat the samuppajjai, pudha vipupphaphaiahara... gulei va khamdei va ... sakkarai va... asae panatte, Ibid., 2.22. rukkhagehalaya ... suhasialacchaya pannatta samanauso, Ibid., 2.23.
pudhavie ...
tise samae bharae vase gehai va.. no inatthe samat the ... gamai va ... no inatthe samatthe... asi va masi va kisi 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 palio vamaim ... sanicari, Ibid., 2.25.
8 JAINTHOLOGY