What does vicched mean? What are the things that git vicched in 5th ara. In detail
1. Meaning of “vicched”
In simple words:
- “Vicched” (vichchhed) = break, stop, discontinuation, end of a sequence.
- In Jain dharma we often say “falānī vastu kā vicched ho gayā” = from this time onward, that thing will no longer exist / happen in this part of the time‑cycle.
Here you are asking: In 5th āra (pañcam kāl), which things get “vicched” (stop)?
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2. Basic background – 5th āra (Pañcam kāl)
- We are now in 5th āra of Avasarpiṇī in Bharat kṣetra.
- Its nature: Duḥkham (Dusham / Dukhma) – sorrow increases, spiritual level goes down, age and height decrease, passions increase. ( jyoti-kothari.blogspot.com)
- Duration: about 21,000 years in total; around 2,500+ years have passed, remaining ~18,000+ years. ( jainknowledge.com)
You can read a simple explanation of the 5th āra here
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3. Main “vicched” that are usually taught for 5th āra
Below are the main discontinuations that start with 5th āra in Bharat kṣetra (our region). I will keep it simple and focus only on well‑accepted points in Jain tradition.
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3.1. Tīrthaṅkar‑janma‑vicched
(No new Tīrthaṅkars born in 5th āra in Bharat)- All 24 Tīrthaṅkars (except Ṛṣabhdev’s time) appeared in 4th āra. ( jainsamvaad.blogspot.com)
- After the end of 4th āra, in 5th āra:
Essence: From the start of 5th āra onward, in Bharat, no new Tīrthaṅkar will appear till the proper future time in another cycle.
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3.2. Kevalī‑mokṣa‑vicched from Bharat (and Airāvat)
- In 4th āra, many Kevalī Bhagwāns (omniscient beings) attained mokṣa from Bharat.
- But from 5th āra onward:
- Liberation is still possible, but only from Mahāvideh kṣetra, where Tīrthaṅkars are always present and the time is like 4th āra.
So we say:
- “Bharat se mokṣa‑vicched ho gayā hai 5th āra se”
Important: This does not mean mokṣa is finished forever. It means: from here (Bharat) and in this specific time (5th & 6th āra), direct mokṣa is not possible. One must purify a lot, then be reborn in a suitable place (like Mahāvideh) to attain mokṣa there.
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3.3. Samavasaraṇa‑vicched (no more samavasaraṇ in Bharat)
Because:
- No new Tīrthaṅkar comes in 5th āra in Bharat, and
- No Kevalī who gives universal samavasaraṇ exists here,
therefore:
- Samavasaraṇa‑vicched also happens in 5th āra for Bharat:
(At present we only have temples, idols, scriptures, and śrāvaka/muni‑dharma, but no living Kevalī Bhagwān giving divya‑dhvani in samavasaraṇ.)
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3.4. 63 Śalākā‑puruṣ and great world‑rulers – vicched
The famous 63 śalākā‑puruṣ (Mahāpuruṣ) – like Cakravartī, Baladeva, Vāsudeva, Prativāsudeva, Nārada, Kamdev, etc. – appear only in 3rd and 4th āra.
- By the end of 4th āra, the series of these very great beings is completed. ( en.wikipedia.org)
- With the start of 5th āra in Bharat:
In simple words: All those extra‑ordinary historic personalities of Jain universal history stop appearing once 5th āra starts here.
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3.5. Not yet: Dharm‑vicched (complete loss of religion)
Many people mix this up, so very clearly:
- In 5th āra, Jin‑śāsan is still present:
- Complete dharm‑vicched (when not even the true name/knowledge/practice of dharma remains) is described for 6th āra.
So:
- 5th āra: Hard time, much decline, no mokṣa from Bharat, but true Jain dharma still survives and can be practiced.
- 6th āra: Religion virtually disappears; that will be dharm‑vicched for this region.
You can read a basic overview of the nature of each āra here
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4. Summary in very simple points
In 5th āra (Pañcam kāl) in Bharat kṣetra:
- Tīrthaṅkar‑janma‑vicched
- No new Tīrthaṅkars take birth here.
- Kevalī‑mokṣa‑vicched from Bharat (and Airāvat)
- No one can now attain keval‑jñān and mokṣa from this land in this era. - Mokṣa is still possible from Mahāvideh.
- Samavasaraṇa‑vicched
- No more new samavasaraṇ is formed here.
- 63 Śalākā‑puruṣ, Cakravartī, Baladeva–Vāsudeva, etc. – vicched
- These great world‑figures no longer appear in 5th āra in Bharat.
- Dharm‑vicched has NOT yet happened
- Jin‑śāsan (Jain dharma) is weak but still alive. - Total dharm‑vicched comes in 6th āra, not in 5th.
So “vicched in 5th āra” mainly means: The line of Tīrthaṅkars, Kevalīs attaining mokṣa from Bharat, samavasaraṇa, and great world‑rulers stops here; but the path of dharma is still available for us to follow and purify our soul for future mokṣa.