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--- Lord Mahavira cycle of time comprising billions and trillions of years. The former, too, are mentioned both in Judaism and Christianity (see the books referred to above). - --
The glory of a Tirthankara is indescribable in words. There are many wonders of a chemical nature in their bodies. Their blood is white for one thing, which is probably due to the difference in the rhythm of vibrations in their souls from ours, inasmuch as blood is only manufactured in the interior of the growing embryo by its own soul's rhythmic vibrations and it must become changed in quality with the rhythmic changes in the will. The Tirthankaras bring such powerfully exalted wills with them that their bodies are marked by many wonderful signs and changes, which do not affect them adversely, being a normal state in their case and congenial to their nature internally and not an abnormality.
The greatest splendour and pomp are brought to them by the residents of heavens, who flock to hear their discourse. A heavenly pavilion is erected by them for the LORD'S preaching. The Tirthankaras delivers his divine discourse in this pavilion to all who are desirous of finding and attaining to PEACE. The speech of the LORD is like a shower of ambrosia, soothing, cooling and energising! It is ‘unlettered', and heard and understood by every one in his own tongue.
It bursts from Him spontaneously, almost involuntarily, at the sight of the misery and suffering of embodied life, which it is directed to remove and ameliorate. The Great Ones have no desires left in their hearts and, naturally, will not speak from a motive or purpose of their own. But when they see the suffering and misery dominating life in all embodied forms, and the assembled devas (celestials) and men beg them for a discourse on the science of Salvation, they proceed to enlighten and instruct them on the subject.
When the last Tirthankara, Mahâvîra, attained to the supreme status of Tirthankarahood, the devas erected the wonderful Assembly Hall (described fully in my “Rishabha Deva, The Founder of Jainism)”; but He did not speak (bani khiri nahin), because there was no one present there at the time who could be expected to arrange and remember the whole discourse. At last a very learned Brahmana, Gautam by name, was brought to the Assembly Hall when the discourse Divine immediately burst forth,
