Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Avasarpiṇī
Avasarpiṇī (Sanskrit: अवसर्पिणी) is the descending half of the cosmic time cycle in Jainism and the one in which the world is said to be at present. According to Jain texts it is marked by a decline in goodness and religion. The ascending half of the cycle is called Utsarpiṇī, which is marked by the ascent of goodness and religion.
Jaina cosmology divides the worldly cycle of time (kalpakāla) into two parts or half-cycles (kāla) – ascending (utsarpiṇī) and descending (avasarpiṇī) – each consisting of 10 x 1 crore x 1 crore addhāsāgaropama (10 kotikotī, or 1015 [1 quadrillion] sāgaropama). Thus, one cycle of time (kalpakāla) is equivalent to 20 kotikotī (2 quadrillion) sāgaropama. A sāgaropam is further divided into 10 quadrillion palyopama, and a palyopam is defined as an innumerable amount of years.
During the ascending period (utsarpiṇī) of the half-cycle, living beings in the regions of Bharata and Airāvata experience increased longevity, strength, stature and happiness, whereas deterioration occurs during the descending period (avasarpiṇī). Each half-cycle is further divided into six periods of time. The periods in the descending (avasarpiṇī) half-cycle are termed:
During the first period of the Avasarpiṇī, people lived for three palyopama years. During this ara (era or period) people were on average six miles tall. They took their food on every fourth day; they were very tall and devoid of anger, pride, deceit, greed and other sinful acts. Various kinds of the kalpavriksha fulfilled their wishes and needs, such as for food, clothing, homes, entertainment, and jewels.
During the second period, people lived for two palyopama years. During this ara, people were on average 4 miles tall. They took their food at an interval of three days, but the kalpavriksha supplied their wants less so than before. The land and water became less sweet and fruitful than they were during the first ara.
During the third period, the maximum lifespan of the people was reduced to one palyopama year, and the people were on average 2 miles tall. They took their food on every second day. 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.
In the first three ara, the children were born as twins, one male and one female, who married each other and once again gave birth to twins. On account of happiness and pleasures, the religion, renunciation and austerities were not possible. At the end of the third ara, the wish-fulfilling trees stopped giving the desired fruits, and people started living in societies.
The first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha, was born at the end of this period. He taught the people the skills of farming, commerce, defence, politics and arts (in total 72 arts for men and 64 arts for women) and organised the people into societies. That is why he is known as the father of human civilisation.
Hub AI
Avasarpiṇī AI simulator
(@Avasarpiṇī_simulator)
Avasarpiṇī
Avasarpiṇī (Sanskrit: अवसर्पिणी) is the descending half of the cosmic time cycle in Jainism and the one in which the world is said to be at present. According to Jain texts it is marked by a decline in goodness and religion. The ascending half of the cycle is called Utsarpiṇī, which is marked by the ascent of goodness and religion.
Jaina cosmology divides the worldly cycle of time (kalpakāla) into two parts or half-cycles (kāla) – ascending (utsarpiṇī) and descending (avasarpiṇī) – each consisting of 10 x 1 crore x 1 crore addhāsāgaropama (10 kotikotī, or 1015 [1 quadrillion] sāgaropama). Thus, one cycle of time (kalpakāla) is equivalent to 20 kotikotī (2 quadrillion) sāgaropama. A sāgaropam is further divided into 10 quadrillion palyopama, and a palyopam is defined as an innumerable amount of years.
During the ascending period (utsarpiṇī) of the half-cycle, living beings in the regions of Bharata and Airāvata experience increased longevity, strength, stature and happiness, whereas deterioration occurs during the descending period (avasarpiṇī). Each half-cycle is further divided into six periods of time. The periods in the descending (avasarpiṇī) half-cycle are termed:
During the first period of the Avasarpiṇī, people lived for three palyopama years. During this ara (era or period) people were on average six miles tall. They took their food on every fourth day; they were very tall and devoid of anger, pride, deceit, greed and other sinful acts. Various kinds of the kalpavriksha fulfilled their wishes and needs, such as for food, clothing, homes, entertainment, and jewels.
During the second period, people lived for two palyopama years. During this ara, people were on average 4 miles tall. They took their food at an interval of three days, but the kalpavriksha supplied their wants less so than before. The land and water became less sweet and fruitful than they were during the first ara.
During the third period, the maximum lifespan of the people was reduced to one palyopama year, and the people were on average 2 miles tall. They took their food on every second day. 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.
In the first three ara, the children were born as twins, one male and one female, who married each other and once again gave birth to twins. On account of happiness and pleasures, the religion, renunciation and austerities were not possible. At the end of the third ara, the wish-fulfilling trees stopped giving the desired fruits, and people started living in societies.
The first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha, was born at the end of this period. He taught the people the skills of farming, commerce, defence, politics and arts (in total 72 arts for men and 64 arts for women) and organised the people into societies. That is why he is known as the father of human civilisation.