KALCHAKRA

KALCHAKRA

Jains believe that time is infinite, without any beginning or end. Timeis divided into infinite equal time cycles (Kalchakras). Every timecycle is further sub-divided in two equal halves. The first half is theprogressive cycle or ascending order, called Utsarpini. The other halfis the regressive cycle or the descending order, called Avasarpini.Every Utsarpini and Avasarpini is divided into six unequal periodscalled IJ䳮 During the Utsarpini half cycle, progress, development,happiness, strength, age, body, religious trends, etc. go from theworst conditions to the best. During the Avasarpini half cycle,progress, development, happiness, strength, age, body, religioustrends, etc. go from the best conditions to the worst. Presently, weare in the fifth Ara of the Avasarpini phase. When the Avasarpini phaseends the Utsarpini phase begins. This k䬣hakra repeats again andcontinues forever.

The six aras are:

(1) Sukham Sukham Kal (very good).

(2) Sukham Kal (good).

(3) Sukham Dukham Kal (good bad).

(4) Dukham Sukham Kal (bad good).

(5) Dukham Kal (bad).

(6) Dukham Dukham Kal (very bad)

.1) Sukham Sukham Kal: This is a time of absolute happiness. During this phase people arevery tall and live for a very long period of time. Children are bornas twins, a boy and a girl. All the needs and desires of the people arefulfilled by ten different kinds of Kalpavriksha (wish-giving trees).The trees provide places to live, clothes, pots and pans, good food,fruits and sweets, harmonious music, jewelry, beautiful flowers,radiant lamps, and a bright light at night. There is no killing, crime,or vice.

2) Sukham Kal - This is the phase of happiness, but it is not absolute.The wish-giving trees still continue to provide for the people?s needs,but the people are not as tall and do not live as long.

3) Sukham Dukham Kal - This is a phase consisting of more happiness thanmisery. During this period the kalpvrikshas do not consistentlyprovide what is desired. Towards the end of this period in the currenttime cycle Rushabhdev became the first Tirthankar. He realized thatthings were going to get worse. So he taught the people useful artsincluding, sewing, farming, and cooking which will enable them todepend upon themselves. He also introduced a political system andbecame the first king. This era came to an end three years and eightmonths after the nirvana of Rushabhdev. The first Chakravarti Bharat,Bahubali also known for his strength, and Brahmi who devised eighteendifferent alphabets were Rushabhdeva?s children.

4) Dukham Sukham Kal - This is a phase of more misery, sorrow, andsuffering than happiness. The other twenty-three Tirthankaras andeleven Chakravarties were born during this era which came to an endthree years and eight months after Lord Mah䶩r's nirv䮮

5) Dukham Kal - This ara is currently prevailing. It is an ara ofunhappiness which began a little over 2,500 years ago and will last fora total of 21,000 years. No one born during this period will gainsalvation in their present life, because no one will observe truereligion. It is said that by the end of this ara, the Jain religionwill be lost.

6) Dukham Dukham Kal - This is a time of absolute misery andunhappiness. During this time people will experience nothing butsuffering. There will be no trace of religious activities. The lifespans of people will be very short, exceeding no more than twentyyears. Most people will be non-vegetarian and the social structurewill be destroyed. The weather will become extreme, the days will bevery hot, and the nights will be very cold. At the end of this ara, aperiod of Utsarpini will start and the time wheel will take an upwardswing. There will be days of rain which will provide nourishment sothat seeds can once again grow. Miseries will diminish and happinesswill increase until absolute happiness is once again reached.