Answer

According to Jain tradition, the present Chaubisi means the current set of 24 Tirthankars of this time-cycle in Bharat Kshetra.

Our current Chaubisi has already completed with Bhagwan Mahavir Swami, the 24th Tirthankar.

The next Chaubisi will arise in a future time-cycle, but the exact number of years in a simple modern count is not usually stated in ordinary Jain teaching, because Jain cosmology uses extremely vast time-units such as palya and sagaropam.

Explanation

In Jain Dharma, time moves in endless cycles:

• Avasarpini – descending half-cycle
• Utsarpini – ascending half-cycle

Each half-cycle has six eras called aras.

We are currently in the 5th ara of the present Avasarpini. In this Avasarpini, the 24 Tirthankars have already appeared, from Bhagwan Rishabhdev to Bhagwan Mahavir Swami.

The next group of 24 Tirthankars will come in a future ascending half-cycle, not soon in human terms.

Spiritual Understanding

Jain Dharma teaches that instead of focusing only on when the next Chaubisi will come, we should value the teachings of the present Chaubisi, especially Bhagwan Mahavir’s message of:

• Ahimsa
• Truth
• Aparigraha
• Self-discipline
• Right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct

Takeaway

The present Chaubisi is complete, and the next Chaubisi will come only after an extremely long cosmic period. For us, the important thing is to follow the teachings given by the current 24 Tirthankars.