What is Kaalchakra?

 

Jains believe that time is infinite, without any beginning or end. Time revolves round a wheel which rotates ceaselessly downwards and upwards. The first half is the progressive cycle or ascending order, called utsarpini. The second half is the descending cycle, called avasarpini. In the ascending arc or utsarpini kaal, humans progress in development, knowledge, age, strength, religious trends and happiness. In the descending arc or avasarpini kaal, they reduce in all aspects from best to worst. The two cycles joined together makes one rotation of the wheel of time, which is called a Kalpa. These kalpas repeat themselves without beginning or end. This is known as kaal chakra. Each avasarpini or utsarpini kaal is divided into six ara (era) as given below:

Avasarpini Kaal

1.       Sushma-Sushma – happiness all the time

2.       Sushma - happiness

3.       Sushma-Dushma – happiness with occasional unhappiness

4.       Dushma-Sushma – unhappiness with occasional happiness

5.       Dushma - unhappiness

6.       Dushma-Dushma – unhappiness all the time

Utsarpini Kaal

1.       Dushma-Dushma – Extreme unhappiness

2.       Dushma- Unhappiness

3.       Dushma-Sushma – Unhappiness with occasional happiness

4.       Sushma-Dushma – Happiness with occasional unhappiness

5.       Sushma - Happiness

6.       Sushma-Sushma – Happiness for all

This is thought to be the average picture of a society and not applicable to any individual case.

It is to be noted that the third and fourth eras of each up and down phases of the time cycle, tirthankars, prophets and seers were born all over the world to organize the society and propound justice through teaching religion among the masses. This happened in case of all the 24 tirthankars, all of whom appeared in the 3rd and 4th eras of avasarpini kaal. Rishavdev was born during the latter half of 3rd era or Sushma-Dushma period of avsarpini phase. Rest 23 tirthankars were born in 4th era or Dushma-Sushma period of the avasarpini phase. Presently we are in the fifth era or Dushma period of the avasarpini phase.  It is believed that no tirthankar will born during Dushma or Dushma-Dushma and it will be a period of turmoil. The 24 tirthankars will again born in the Sushma-Dushma phase of the Utsarpini Kaal. 

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