Pristine Jainism : Time Cycle and Eras

Jinsenacharya has dealt with the cyclic changes elaborately in canonical Jain literature notably in Tiloypannati by Yati Vrishabhacharya and in Adipurana. One complete time cycle, which continues over and over again, has been divided in two equal halves one अवसर्पिणी (Avsarpini) descending (retrogressive) and other ascending उत्सर्पिणी (Utsarpini) progressive. There are six eras of different duration in Avsarpini and so in Utsarpini. In Avsarpini (descending, retrogressive) these are Sukhma- Sukhma (Happy-Happy), Sukkhma (Happy), Sukhma-Dukhma (Happy-Unhappy), Dukhma-Sukhma (Unhappy-Happy), Dukhma (Unhappy), Dukhma-Dukhma (Unhappy-Unhappy). In Utsarpini, (ascending, progressive) it is in reverse order starting from Dukhma-Dukhma to Sukhma-Sukhma. This completes one time-cycle and repeats in sequence of Avsarpini-Utsarpini and then Utsarpini-Avsarpini and so on.

Yati Vrashabhacharya describes the description of all these eras in great detail in Tiloypannati. The following description of Sukhma-Sukhma (Happy Happy) is very interesting:

सुसम सुसम्मि कालो रज-धूम-जलण-हिम रहिदा।
कंठिय अब्भसिला-विला-विच्छियादि-कीडोवसग्ग-परिचिता॥324॥
णिम्मल-दप्पण सरिसा, णिंदिद दव्वेहि विरहिदा तीए।
सिकदा हवेदि दिव्वा, तणु-मण-णयणाण सुय जणणी॥325॥
तीए गुच्छा गुम्मा, कुसुमंकुर-फल-पवाल-परिपुण्णा।
वहओ विचित्त-वण्णा, रुक्ख समूह समुतुंगा॥327॥
वग्घादी भूमिचरा, वायस-पहुदी य रवेयरा तिरिया।
मंसाहरेण विणा, भुंजते सुरतरुण महुर फलं॥396॥

[Tiloypannati, 2nd Part, 4th Chapter]

During this period there is no soil erosion as earth surface is covered with dense forests or variety of Kalpavrikshas, the benevolent trees. The water, glaciers are free from any dirt. The water in rivers is sparkling clean like mirror. The Kalpavrikshas (trees) provide fruits and other edibles, flowers, flosses, medicines, timber for house construction, chemicals and all that is necessary for happy living. All life forms are symbiotic i.e. mutually helping. Organism's bacteria and insects are friendly and harmless. Even lions, tigers and other carnivora are harmless and not killers. People are contended with limited wants proportionate to availability from Kalpavrikshas (trees) without in anyway harming them. There are no crimes, wars, famines, droughts, floods etc. There is perfect symbiosis in living beings and other constituents of nature.

णत्थि असण्णी जीवो णत्थि सामिभिच्च भेदो य। कलह-महाजुद्धादि ईसा-सेनादि ण हु होति॥336॥
(तिलोय अण्णति)
(Tiloyapannati)

(In Sukhma-Sukhma era there is no division of society in masters and servants, nor are there conflicts, wars, jealousy and diseases)