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Sequential Progress of Jainism
The Jain faith is unique and completely different from the other faiths in the world. Jainism has its unique and original philosophy. Its doctrine is unique and unmatched across the religious spectrum of the world. The Jain code of conduct has been practised for thousands of years, and has a sovereign understanding of the universe. It is called Anekaantavaada. Anekaantavaada helps the observer to comprehend every entity in the universe in a new, unexplored and holistic manner. It enables the observer to discern any substance in its entirety.
There is no specific date to mark the beginning of Jainism. There is no one founder of this eternal ocean of wisdom. Perhaps, if it were possible to point out the beginning of time, it would be possible to know the beginning of Jainism. Jainism is eternal. It ebbs and flows with the ascension and decline of the cycle of time.
Wheel of Time
The cycle of time may be divided into two parts: ascending and descending. Jains term them as utsarpinii (ascending) and avasarpinii (descending) respectively. The utsarpinii era brings growth and progress. The avasarpinii era brings decline and sorrow. Mankind experiences steadily increasing joy, strength, wisdom and life span in the utsarpinii era. In the avasarpinii era, mankind experiences steadily declining joy, strength, wisdom and life span. Both eras are cyclic in nature. One follows the other as night follows day. Together, they complete the wheel of time.
The wheel of time is divided into six aaraas (eras). The ascending and descending cycles of time have six eras each. They are known as under:
1. Sushama-Sushama (era of extreme pleasure}
2. Sushama (era of pleasure}
3. Sushama-Dushama (era of pleasure tinged with sorrow}
4. Dushama-Sushama (era of sorrow tinged with pleasure)
5. Dushama (era of sorrow}
6. Dushama-Dushama {era of extreme sorrow}
We are currently living in the dushama era (the 5th araa) of the descending time cycle.
Tiirthas and Tirthankaras
Jains worship the Tirthankaras who are fordmakers. They establish the ford of liberation, cross it themselves and show the path to others.
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