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Jinas and Avtars
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names and status often link up with non-Jain originals. There are world-emperors (chakravartin), and two heroic figures, halfbrothers, Vasudeva and Baladeva, who have been made into types. In the Kalpa Sutra the dream-interpreters tell the king that the mothers of Jinas or world-emperors wake up after seeing four- teen great dreams of conception, the mothers of Vasudevas awake after seeing seven great dreams, and the mothers of Baladevas awake after seeing four great dreams.
In the Jain system of the ever-revolving wheel of time, in each half-circle there arise twenty-four Jinas, twelve worldemperors, nine Vasudevas, nine Baladevas, and smaller numbers of legislators. These appear in the continent of India, though it is assumed that a corresponding number also appears in the northern continent, and during the cycle of time the world either deteriorates or improves. The Vasudevas, like Krishna, ate dressed in yellow, have the sacred bird Garuda of Vishnu on their banners, and carry Vishnu's symbols of conch-shell, discus, club and sword. The Baladevas are dressed in dark robes, have the pahn tree as emblem and carry clubs, arrows and plowshares. 8
The names of these heroes are recounted, and their names in previous Eves, with those of their fathers and mothers, their teachers, their opponents, and the towns where they first resolved to enter on their present form of existence. These are given in popular verses, and show knowledge of the Mahabharata, as well as Jain invention. In the present series of these heroes the Vasudevas include the names of NirSyana (Vishnu), Puroshottama (Great Person), and Svayambhu (self-born). The Baladevas include Rama, who is probably the Balarama, brother of Krishna, and Pauma who is Rimachandra, the hero-avatar of the Ramayana. The opponents include Ravana, the demon enemy of the avatar Rama. The Epic story of Draupadi and her five Pandava husbands also occurs in the Jain Angas, and when she was abducted Vasudeva, defeated her captor and restored her to her husbands.
In the cycle of ages the present period (Dushania) is evil and began three years after Mahâvîra reached Nirvana. No other Jina will appear in this epoch, and no Jain disciple can attain Nirvana now without at least one rebirth. But things will get worse and religion will disappear. An even more horrible period will
