page_title: Jain philosophy
section_title: Kalchakra
hierarchical_section_title: Jain philosophy / Cosmology / Kalchakra
caption_attribution_description: English: The Jain Cosmic time Cycle Created on powerpoint by me
context_page_description: Jain philosophy is the oldest Indian philosophy that separates body from the soul completely. Jain philosophy deals with reality, cosmology, epistemology and Vitalism. It attempts to explain the rationale of being and existence, the nature of the Universe and its constituents, the nature of soul's bondage with body and the means to achieve liberation.
  Jain texts expound that in every half-cycle of time, twenty-four tirthankaras grace this part of the Universe to teach the unchanging doctrine of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. Jain philosophy means the teachings of a Tirthankara which are recorded in Sacred Jain texts. The distinguishing features of Jain philosophy are:
  Belief on independent existence of soul and matter.
  Refutation of the idea that a supreme divine creator, owner, preserver or destroyer of the universe exists.
  Potency of karma, eternal universe.
  Accent on relativity and multiple facets of truth and
  Morality and ethics based on liberation of soul.
  Jainism strongly upholds the individualistic nature of soul and personal responsibility for one's decisions; and that self-reliance and individual efforts alone are responsible for one's liberation.
context_section_description: According to Jainism, time is beginningless and eternal. The Kālacakra, the cosmic wheel of time, rotates ceaselessly. The wheel of time is divided into two half-rotations, Utsarpiṇī or ascending time cycle and Avasarpiṇī, the descending time cycle, occurring continuously after each other. Utsarpiṇī is a period of progressive prosperity and happiness, while Avsarpiṇī is a period of increasing sorrow and immorality. Each of this half time cycle consisting of innumerable period of time (measured in Sagaropama and Palyopama years) is further sub-divided into six aras or epochs of unequal periods. Currently, the time cycle is in avasarpiṇī or descending phase with the following epochs.
  The aras defined in Jain texts are:
  Suṣama-suṣamā
  Suṣamā
  Suṣama-duḥṣamā
  Duḥṣama-suṣamā
  Duḥṣama
  Duḥṣama-duḥṣama
  In utsarpiṇī the order of the aras is reversed. Starting from Duḥṣama- duḥṣamā, it ends with Suṣama-suṣamā and thus this never ending cycle continues. Each of these aras progress into the next phase seamlessly without apocalyptic consequences. The increase or decrease in the happiness, life spans and length of people and general moral conduct of the society changes in a phased and graded manner as the time passes. No divine or supernatural beings are credited or responsible with these spontaneous temporal changes, either in a creative or overseeing role, rather human beings and creatures are born under the impulse of their own karma.
caption: Division of time as envisaged by Jains.
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