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Vol. XXIII No. 4
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the Jain scriptures. The beginning of normation of the earth marks the beginning of the second ārā. The time of beginning of life and production of bacteria marks the beginning of the third ara and the production of oxygen in atmosphere marks the beginning of the fourth ära of 1 x 1014 sagaropamas
Modern science does not believe that life existed on earth before the time mentioned above because the lowest of the layers of fossils and other fossils discovered during excavation of the earth belong to a time subsequent to the time mentioned above. Rocks (fossils) of earlier times are not discovered. The reasons for this can be given as under on the basis of the Jaina scriptures, the Bșhatsamgrahani, the ksetrasamasa, the Pravaca nasäroddbara etc.
The human life and life of beasts on the earth during the first, second and third aras of avasarpiņi were quite independent of each other Men and women among human beings and males and females among animals were born together, become young together, enjoyed together and gave birth to a pair of twios (yugal). They nourished the twin (yugal) for a few days and than made it free. They died together. They had only slight spiritual blemishes (Kaşayas) and only a slight desire of sexual pleasures. They were almost devoid of anger, pride, illusion, greed and infatuation. They never quarrelled or fought. They never died a premature death. Human beings and beasts had few needs which were supplied by kalpavęksas (desire-yielding trees) For all these reasons the sword (asi) i.e. war, ink (masi) i.e. writing and farming (kşsi) had not come to be used. In those days nobody knew plants and no scieace of plants, history of plants, kinds and uses of plants existed. But it does not mean that plant kingdom and animal kingdom had not at all developed in those days. Also, natural calamities perhaps befell subsequently in the avasarpiņikāla. Fossils inform of ruins were, therefore, perhaps formed subsequently.
In short, a fully natural life was lived during the first three äras.
The cosmic calender has only one division, which is called the period of evolution. In view of intellectual, physical and scientific circumstances of the human society, it is called evolution. While the Jaina-time-cycle bas two chief divisions-utsarpini and avasarpipi. The Jaina Scripture entitled Bșhatsamgrahani states that in utsarpiņi, there is a gradual development of physical strength, height, life-span, spirituality etc. and bad tendencies of all living beings subside. Contrarily, in avasarpiņi, physical strength, height, life-span etc. diminish and spirituality deteriorates. Bad qualities such as anger,
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