Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.23
Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.23
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c20.23
According to Jains, there are two cycles (kalpa) each having two eras, the Avasarpiṇī and Utsarpiṇī. In the former, dharma goes on decreasing until in the end chaos and confusion reign over the earth, whereas in the latter there is an evergrowing evolution of dharma. Each of these eras are further divided into six ages (kālas), viz., (1) Susamāsusamā (the period of great happiness), (2) Susamā (the period of happiness), (3) Susamā-dusamā (the period of happiness and sorrow), (4) Dusamāsusamā (the period of sorrow and happiness), (5) Dusamā (the period of sorrow) and (6) Dusamādusamā (the period of sorrow).