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[Full title: Social evolution, Castes and Stages of life; (1) Utsarpini and Avasarpini (Cycles of Time)]

Every religion has tried to solve the riddle of the Universe in its own way and the Jaina seers did not lag behind in this sphere. The Jaina tradition (PGV, 3.18, too anainihano; Mula, 8.22) holds that the Universe (loka) is natural, uncreated and beginningless (sasao sahavattho logo-Paumacariya, 102-63) while the factor of time is divided into certain parts for practical purposes. The biggest division of time (kala) is called 'kalpa' (Adipurana, 3.15) which consists of two eras of ascending and descending orders. The Paumacariyam mentions that the facter of time is differentiated into two eras, viz. Utsarpini and Avasarpini (Ussappini and Avasappini 3.49). Both these eras form a complete cyclic order (Kalpa) which goes on repeating itself for ever. During the Utsarpini era there is all round gradual prosperity and progress in age, strength and height (20.92-93). This cyclic process is explained by comparing it with the periodical waxing and waning of the moon It is (3.49) and so it can be designated as Evolution and Devolution. further stated that this change is experienced in the regions Airavata and Bharatavarsa whereas the rest of the countries in the Jambudvipa enjoy static conditions for ever (3.33). The Paumacariya (20.67-72) states that Avasarpini is further subdivided into six periods of Aisusama (Atisusama), Susama (Susama), Susamadusama (Susamadussama), Dusama ( Dussama¹) and Accantadusama (Atyantadussama) which are of the duration of four, three, two and one (minus forty-two thousand years) kotakoti sagara years respectively, and the last two periods twenty-one thousand years each. The Utsarpini is calculated vice-versa. Thus the total period of time of a complete cycle (Kalpa) comes to twenty kotakotisagara years. The number of years in a 'sagara' is so large 1. It is the name of the current period (Paumacariya, 89.42). 2. A Sagara measures ten kotakoti palyopama years, A 'Palyopma' corresponds to innumerable years i.e. the time spent in vacating a dench one yojana wide and one yojana deep, full of the foremost part of the hair of a new born child, at the rate of removing one hair-part every one hundred years (Paumacariya, 20.66). See the Tiloya pannatti (1.116.136) which mentions a ram of the age of one to seven days in place of a new born child.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS 317 that it is beyond the capacity of human mind to reckon it. The Tiloyapannatti (4.313-319) and the Adipurana (3.14-21f) give the same account in corroboration of that of the Paumacariya The Brahmanical tradition (Visnupurana 1. 2. 61-67) maintains that Hari is the cause of creation, maintenance, and destruction of the Universe at the end of every Kalpa. A Kalpa consists of one thousand Mahayugas and every Mahayuga is divided into four Yugas, viz. Krta, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. In the first age (Yuga) all men are equal and good. There is no evil. In the second age evil appears still men are much happier than in the third age. In the the third age good and evil are equal and in the fourth age evil dominates over the good. Thus the conditions and the prosperity of the people deteriorate gradually in every age. At the end of the fourth age (Kali-yuga) there comes the end of the world by deluge or fire and again the Universe is created and followed by the end. This chain is maintained for one hundred years of Brahma whose one day is equal to one Kalpa. Chaos or 'pralaya' succeeds every 'Kalpa' (or a day of Brahma) when Brahma goes to sleep and when he wakes up (after a Kalpa), the order is again restored. Again on the completion of the age of Brahma (100 years of Brahma) there is a greater chaos when the Universe is engulfed into Mahapralaya which lasts for one hundred years of Brahma during which all gods, demons and human beings and the other living beings are destroyed. The measurement of the Kalpa given by the Brahmanical tradition is however reckonable. It is said that a Kalpa is equivalent to 4, 32, 00, 00, 000 years and every Mahayuga consists of 17, 28,000; 12, 96, 000; 8, 64, 000 and 4, 32, 000 years of the Krta, Treta, Dvapara and the Kali-yuga respectively. Every Kalpa gets repeated and thus the destruction cycle continues through creation, preservation and for ever.