In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Avasarpiṇī (अवसर्पिणी) refers to one of the two divisions of time (the other being Utsarpiṇī), according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly,

“Time is two-fold from the division into avasarpiṇī and utsarpiṇī. There are six spokes in avasarpiṇī, beginning with Ekāntasuṣamā (Pure Bliss). Of these Ekāntasuṣamā lasts for four crores of crores of sāgaras, and Suṣamā (Bliss) for three; Suṣamāduḥṣamā (Bliss-Sorrow) for two, Duḥṣamasuṣamā (Sorrow-Bliss) for one crore of crores of sāgaropamas minus forty-two thousand years; Duḥṣamā (Sorrow) lasts for twenty-one thousand years, and Ekāntaduḥṣamā (Pure Sorrow) for the same measure of years. The spokes which are in avasarpiṇī, these have been described. They are the same in utsarpiṇī, but in reverse order. So in avasarpiṇī and utsarpiṇī together there are twenty crores of crores of sāgaropamas”.

The six spokes (of the twelve-spoked wheel of time) of avasarpiṇī are as follows:

1. in the first spoke, human beings live for three palyas, are six miles tall, and eat every fourth day.
2. in the second spoke, mortals live for two palyas, are four miles tall, and eat every third day.
3. in the third spoke, men live for one palya, are two miles tall, and eat every second day.
4. in the fourth spoke lacking former power, men live for a crore of pūrvas, five hundred bows tall.
5. in the fifth spoke, they live for one hundred years and are ten and a half feet tall;
6. in the sixth spoke they live for sixteen years and are one foot and a half high, filled with pure sorrow.

[Note: In utsarpiṇī men must be known to be such (as in avasarpiṇī) in the six spokes in reverse order.]

Source: WikiPedia: Jainism

Avasarpiṇī (अवसर्पिणी) is a period of increasing sorrow and immorality with decline in time spans of the epochs. 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. During each such time cycle, these 63 illustrious persons appear and establish the religion and order in society. According to Jain cosmology, since time is eternal, infinite kalacakras have elapsed and will occur in future and hence infinite sets of these 63 illustrious persons have appeared, and will appear, to establish order and religion in their respective eras.

Source: HereNow4u: Lord Śrī Mahāvīra

Avasarpiṇī (अवसर्पिणी, “regressive half-cycle”) refers to the second main part of the Kālacakra (time-cycle).—The regressive time cycle of avasarpiṇī consists of six parts. Every part is called Āraka.

The names of six Ārakas or Āras are as follows:

1. Suṣamā-Suṣama: Happy-happy
2. Suṣama: Happy
3. Suṣamā-Duṣama: Happy unhappy
4. Duṣamā-Suṣama: Unhappy happy
5. Duṣama: Unhappy
6. Duṣamā-Duṣama: Unhappy unhappy

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Avasarpiṇī (अवसर्पिणी).—f. (-ṇī) A Jaina division of time; ten Crores of crores of Sagaras or oceans of years. E. ava, sṛpa to go, ṇini and ṅīp affs.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Avasarpiṇī (अवसर्पिणी):—[=ava-sarpiṇī] [from ava-sṛp] f. ‘going or gliding down gradually’, a descending period of a long duration and alternating with the ‘ascending one’ (ut-sarpiṇī q.v.; both the ascending [ut-s] and descending [ava-s] cycle are divided into six stages each: good-good, good, good-bad, bad-good, bad, bad-bad), [Jaina literature; Āryabhaṭa]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Avasarpiṇī (अवसर्पिणी):—[ava-sarpiṇī] (ṇī) 3. f. A Jaina division of time, 10 crores of oceans.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Avasarpiṇī (अवसर्पिणी) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Osappiṇī.

[Sanskrit to German]

Avasarpini in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Avasarpaṇi (ಅವಸರ್ಪಣಿ):—[noun] = ಅವಸರ್ಪಣ - [avasarpana -] 2.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Sarpini, Ava.

Full-text (+120): Yakshanayaka, Ashvasena, Yakshesh, Utsarpini, Devarya, Nirvani, Anantajit, Apasarpini, Trimukha, Kalacakra, Padmaprabha, Abhinandana, Vasupujyaraj, Samudravijaya, Vishvasenaraj, Shreyamsa, Vasupujya, Dridharatha, Ara, Ekantasushama.

Relevant text

Search found 11 books and stories containing Avasarpini, Avasarpiṇī, Ava-sarpini, Ava-sarpiṇī, Avasarpani, Avasarpaṇi, Avasarpiṇi; (plurals include: Avasarpinis, Avasarpiṇīs, sarpinis, sarpiṇīs, Avasarpanis, Avasarpaṇis, Avasarpiṇis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)

Verse 3.27 - The rise (regeneration) and fall (degeneration) < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]

Verse 10.9 - Thirteen types of questioning regarding liberated souls < [Chapter 10 - Liberation]

Verse 2.10 - Two classifications of souls < [Chapter 2 - Category of the Living]

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Jain Science and Spirituality (by Medhavi Jain)

3.5. Time Cycle in Jain Philosophy < [Chapter 5 - Science in Jainism]

1. Jainism in History < [Chapter 3 - An Introduction to Jainism]

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Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study) (by Deepak bagadia)

Annexure 1: The time cycle (wheel) of the Universe

Part 3.4 - Nine Elements (2): Ajiva (Insentient substances) < [Chapter 3 - Jain Philosophy and Practice]

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Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)

Part 3 - On the commencement of rainfall < [Chapter 1]

Part 4 - Sun-rise in Salt Sea < [Chapter 1]

Part 5 - sun-rise in Dhatakīkhaṇḍa and Puṣkarārdha < [Chapter 1]

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Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal (by Shubha Majumder)

Jain Philosophy (Introduction) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction and Scope of the Present Study]

Historical development of Jainism (Introduction) < [Chapter 3 - Historical Background of Jainism in Ancient Bengal]

Jainism in ancient Bengal during the Gupta Period < [Chapter 3 - Historical Background of Jainism in Ancient Bengal]

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Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 2: Divisions of time and description of the Golden Age < [Chapter II]

Part 5: The fifth spoke < [Chapter XIII - Śrī Mahāvīra’s nirvāṇa]

Part 8: Utsarpiṇi < [Chapter XIII - Śrī Mahāvīra’s nirvāṇa]

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Click here for all 11 books