In Jain cosmology, time is cyclical. A full cosmic cycle (kalpa) is divided into two halves: utsarpini (ascending) and avasarpini (descending). In every half-cycle, there are 24 Tirthankaras (ford-makers) who appear in sequence to teach the path to liberation. We are currently in the avasarpini (descending) half, and Mahavira is considered the 24th Tirthankara of this half-cycle. After this half ends, a new utsarpini half begins with another set of 24 Tirthankaras. So “the cycle of 24” refers to these 24 Tirthankaras appearing in each half-cycle of time. The lists of 24 are generally agreed across Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions, with minor mnemonic or naming variations in some texts.

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