Contributed by Nalini Balbir
The Jain concept of time is one of the most distinctive elements of Jain cosmological thought. It also demonstrates the repetitive and mathematical nature of Jain cosmology.
Time is endless and only exists in certain parts of 'world space' in Jain belief. In some areas it is a repeating cycle while in others it is not cyclical.
The current age is the fifth or unhappy stage – duṣamā – of a regressive cycle.
Cyclical time is found only in some areas of the central continent of Jambū-dvīpa of Jain cosmology.
Jambū-dvīpa has several regions. In the Lands of Enjoyment people do not need to make any effort and can enjoy life. Here there is no cycle of time. However, in the Lands of Action, where human beings live and where they suffer and must work to live, time forms a repeating cycle.
Here a single cycle or kalpa is made up of two equal phases. Each phase or half-cycle has six periods of time, which vary in length. Each phase follows another without a break.
The cycle of time is traditionally represented as a wheel with 12 spokes, known as the Kālacakra. In the first phase – of six half-cycles – the quality of life gradually deteriorates while in the second one it slowly improves over the six periods.
In traditional Jain cosmology, time is endless and for humans is an unbroken sequence of cycles of time. Each cycle or kalpa is made up of two half-cycles or phases. Each half-cycle has six periods, lasting different lengths of time. Each of these periods of time is enormously long, far longer than a human lifetime, but has a fixed length.
In the first phase – of six half-cycles – the quality of life slowly worsens while in the second one it gradually gets better over the six periods. A full cycle of time therefore has 12 periods of time in total, half of them deteriorating, half of them improving.
The Sanskrit term for 'descending phase' is avasarpiṇi. Also called the 'regressive half-cycle', it sees the gradual worsening of conditions over the six eras. Life gradually declines in terms of knowledge, lifespan, stature, pleasure, morality and spirituality. In this phase, the conditions begin at 'extremely happy' and get worse over the course of the epochs until they end at 'extremely unhappy'.
English description |
Sanskrit |
Duration |
---|---|---|
extremely happy |
suṣamā-suṣamā |
4 crore of crore of sāgaropama |
happy |
suṣamā |
3 crore of crore of sāgaropama |
more happy than unhappy |
suṣamā-duṣamā |
2 crore of crore of sāgaropama |
more unhappy than happy |
duṣamā-suṣamā |
1 crore of crore of sāgaropama |
unhappy |
duṣamā |
21,000 years |
extremely unhappy |
duṣamā-duṣamā |
21,000 years |
In traditional Jain cosmology, time is endless and for humans is an unbroken sequence of cycles of time. Each cycle or kalpa is made up of two half-cycles or phases. Each half-cycle has six periods, lasting different lengths of time. Each of these periods of time is enormously long, far longer than a human lifetime, but has a fixed length.
In the first phase – of six half-cycles – the quality of life gradually declines while in the second one conditions steadily rise over the six periods. A full cycle of time therefore has 12 periods of time in total, half of them deteriorating, half of them improving.
British Library. Or. 2116 ms. C. Śrīcandra. Perhaps 16th century
With commentary by Pārśva-candra. British Library. Add. 26374. Ratnaśekhara. 1769
British Library. Or. 2116 ms. C. Śrīcandra. Perhaps 16th century
With commentary by Pārśva-candra. British Library. Add. 26374. Ratnaśekhara. 1769