Age of devtas in devlok in sagaropam and palyopam
In Jain cosmology, the ages of Devas (in Devlok) are measured in two very large time units: sagaropama and palyopama. These units are symbolic and meant to show vast cosmic spans, not ordinary years.
- Sagaropama is the larger unit. One sagaropama is used to denote an almost unimaginable stretch of time. In some Jain accounts, it is described by a concrete analogy (a tank filled with tiny hairs, emptied drop-by-drop every 100 years). In practice, it is treated as far larger than palyopama. You can read a concise explanation of sagaropama here .
- Palyopama is the smaller, but still enormous, unit used to express ages in the Devalokas. One palyopama is itself immeasurable in ordinary terms. You can see a general description of palyopama here .
What about specific ages in Devalokas?
- Certain Jain texts give sequential ages for Devalokas in the early kalpas and for the highest heavens. For example, in the Paumacariya/Uttaradhyayana tradition, the Devalokas’ ages are listed in increasing sagaropama counts, with the highest realms having larger figures. Some sources (within Jain literature) state that in the Anuttara vimanas the age is 32 sagaropama years, while in the Sarvartha it is 33 sagaropama years; higher realms yield longer lifespans. Details about these numbers are discussed in traditional Jain cosmology works. You can read a relevant overview here and a broader discussion of Devalokas here .
Notes:
- Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions share the same framework of Devalokas (16 heavens in the Kalpa, with additional higher realms), but exact phrasings and some numbers can vary between texts. The core idea remains: Devas in higher heavens live for vastly longer sagaropama/palyopama ages than humans, and these ages are used to illustrate cosmic time rather than to guide ordinary lifespans. For a compact listing of the Devalokas and their framing, see the Devlok names page here .
If you want, I can point you to specific sutras or commentaries that give the exact lines for these ages in the particular tradition you follow.