Rajarshi Prasannachandra

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14 Vol. II/No. 2. Eternal Wisdom Concept of the Tirthankara (atofar). The Jain tradition believes that there have been and there shall be infinite (Bara) cycles of time ( 7 9%) on this planet. Each cycle has two parts: one descending (3498ffa), and the other ascending (3aafofo). These are so called, because there is, during its course, a continuous deteriorationsamelioration in all substances - including the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of human life; as well as the munificience and bounty of the natural wealth of this planet. Each such half-cycle is divided into six parts called ara (tkr), which are of varying time lengths. The length of each - cycle is far greater than what can be counted by the scale of "numbers of years " (regia). It is during the fourth ara of every descending half - cycle and the third ara of every ascending half - cycle that twenty-four Tirthankaras reach Omniscience (951), and then, they re-establish the Relegion (after). Bhagwan Mahawir is, for the Jains, the twenty-fourth and hence the last, Tirthankara of the latest descending half-cycle, whose fourth ara ended some 2500 years ago. He was, off course, preceeded by, and shall be followed by an infinite such Tirthankaras, during the course of the infinite time - cycles (71 657).