Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

SR No.: 011077
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company
Publication Year: 1947
Total Pages: 429
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 379

SIXTY THREE GREAT MEN
CHAPTER Y
THE SIXTY THREE GREAT MEN.
According to Jains, there are two cycles (kalpa) each having two eras, the Avasarpini and Utsarpini. 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) Susamāsusama (the period of great happiness), (2) Susamă (the period of happiness), (3) Susamadusamci (the period of happiness and sorrow), (4) Dusamususumu (the period of sorrow and happiness), (5) Dusamă (the period of sorrow) and (6) Dusamādusamā (the period of great sorrow).
The first age Susamāsusamā is described as the happiest age when the children born were always twins, a boy and a girl, and their parents died immediately after their birth. In this millenial age all needs were supplied by the ten desire-yielding trees (kalpav rksas) The worst of all is said to have been the last age, named Dusamādusama. It is stated that during this period terrific storms would blow, there would be dust all over, the clouds would shower poisonous water and except the mountain, Veyaddha, and the rivers Gaugā and Sindhu, everything else would perish and the whole earth would be blazing with fire. The people would live during this period in the caves would catch fish and tortoises and would satisfy their hunger with flesh and dead bodies.
THE TWENTY TOUR TĪRTHANKAR 15 The earliest reference to the twenty four Tirtharkaras is made in the Samavāya, kalpasūtia and the Avagyaka Nirjuktı.' It is mentioned that Usabha was born in the third age while the remaining twenty three Tirthankaras, elien Cakrar artins, nine Baladera, and nine Vasuderas and Pralirāsuderas in the fourth.
Usabha, who is known as the first king, the first monk, the first Tina and the first Tirthankara, is said to have been born in Ikkhāgabhūmi (Ayodhyā) in the house of Nābhi by his queen Marudevi. It is stated that when Usabha was born, Indra approached king Nābhi with a sugarcane and Usabha stretched his hand to take it, and thus was formed the dynasty of Ikkhāgu.
1 See Jambu. Si. 18-10.
They are Usabha Ajaya, Sambhava Abhinandana, Sumai, Paumappabha, Supasa, Candappaha, Suvihi, Pupphadanta, Siyala, Seijamsa, Vasupujja, Vimala, Ananta, Dhamma, Santi, Kunthu, Ara, Mallı, Munisuvvaya, Nami, Artthanemi, Päsa and Vaddhamāna, Sama, Sū 24, Kalp. chs. 6 and 7; Ava. Nor.-369ff, also of Scbubrips, op. cit., p. 21.