Avasarpiṇī

OverviewJaina cosmology divides the worldly cycle of time (kalpakāla) into two parts or half-cycles (kāla) – ascending (utsarpiṇī) and descending (avasarpiṇī) – each consisting of 10 x 1 crore x 1 crore addhāsāgaropama (10 kotikotī, or 10 [1 quadrillion] sāgaropama). Thus, one cycle of time (kalpakāla) is equivalent to 20 kotikotī (2 quadrillion) sāgaropama. A sāgaropam is further divided into 10 quadrillion palyopama, and a palyopam is defined as an innumerable amount of years. During the ascending period (utsarpiṇī) of the half-cycle, living beings in the regions of Bharata and Airāvata experience increased longevity, strength, stature and happiness, whereas deterioration occurs during the descending period (avasarpiṇī). Each half-cycle is further divided into six periods of time. The periods in the descending (avasarpiṇī) half-cycle are termed: susamā-susamā, of 4 kotikotī (400 trillion) sāgaropamasusamā, of 3 kotikotī (300 trillion) sāgaropamasusamā-dusamā, of 2 kotikotī (200 trillion) sāgaropamadusamā-susamā, of 1 kotikotī (100 trillion) sāgaropama minus 42,000 yearsdusamā, of 21,000 yearsdusamā-dusamā, of 21,000 yearsSix periods