Avasarpiṇī

Avasarpiṇī (Sanskrit: अवसर्पिणी), is the descending half of the cosmic time cycle in Jainism and the one in which the world is said to be at present.

The ascending half of the cycle is called Utsarpiṇī, which is marked by the ascent of goodness and religion.

[1] During the ascending period (utsarpiṇī) of the half-cycle (kāla), in the regions of Bharata and Airāvata, there is the all-round increase in age, strength, stature and happiness of the living beings, while during the descending period (avasarpiṇī) of the half-cycle, there is the all-round deterioration.

[4] According to Jain texts, we are presently living in this period of time which started after 3 years and 8+1⁄2 months of the liberation (nirvāṇa) of the 24th Tīrthankara Mahāvīra.

[2] It is said that at the end of this period, humans will be no more than one cubit in height, and twenty years in age.