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CHAPTER IL CONDITIONS OF EARLY EXISTENCE
The present half-cycle of time is known as Avasarpiņi külī. It commenced 10 koru-kori (1 korā-kori=10,000,000 x 10,000,000) O.Y.. less 39,500 years ago, roughly speaking. At its commencement the conditions of things on our little earth resembled those in a bhogabhumi.
There are six aras (spokes) in a half-cycle of time. The duration of the first ard of our halfcycle was 4 korā-kori, of the second. 3 kori-kori, of the third, 2 korū-kori, and of the fourth, 1 kor-kori O.Y.s less 42,000 years. The duration of the fifth (which is now running) will be 21.000 years, and of the sixth, the same as that of the fifth.
The 4 vasarpini is the descending arc, because it is the arc of deterioration. All things have become deteriorated and will further deteriorate in this period. The other luulf-cycle will be the reverse of this. Longevity and stature as well as the conditions of existence have been affected alike. The bhoga-bhumi like felicity began to disappear long long ago, and was completely destroyed before the coinmencement of the fourth
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