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Antiquity of Jainism During the second ara named Sushama, the yugalika lived for two palyopamas. They took their food at an interval of three days. They were also tall. The kalpa trees less supplied their wants than before. The objects of land and water became less sweet and fruitful than they were during the first ara.
During the third ara of Sushama-Duhshama, the age limit of the yugalikas became one palyopama. They took their food on the second day. The yielding power of Kalpa trees, the sweetness and fruitfulness of the earth and water as well as height and strength of the body went on decreasing and they became less than they were during the second ara
During the fourth ara Duhshamá-Sushama, the height of the human being became five hundred dhanushyas and with ever progre. ssing decrease, it was reduced only to seven hands at the end of the fourth ara. Even the period of age limit was reduced approximately to one hundred years and less at the close of this ara. At this time, there was much happiness but the slight misery. people were happy and prosperous. The land was fertile and produced the abundant fruits.
At this time, the Tirthankars were born and propagated Jainism. Lord Rishabha Dova, the first Tirthan kara lived in the later part of the third ara and the remaining twenty three Tirthankaras lived during the forth ara. In the time of Rishabha, the Kalpa trees seized to fufill the wishes, placing the people under difficulties. Under these circum stances, Rishabha instructed them to get on with the different ocou. pations such as trade, agriculture eto. The people engaged in different occupations, formed different social groups. Lord Rishabha is very often described as a creator of the world in the sense of laying the socio-economio foundation.
In the fourth ara, Nami died 5,00,000 years before Nēmi, Munisuvrata 11,00,000 years before Nami; the next intervals are 65,00,000. 10,000,000 or a krore; the following intervals can not be expressed in definite numbers of years but are given in palyopamas and sägaro pamas. The length of the life and the height of the Tirthankaras are in proportion to the length of the interval. In connection with these items of the mythical history of the Jains, it may be added that they
