Answer

Yes, according to traditional Jain cosmology, in the present time cycle of Bharat Kshetra, Kevalgyan is not attained during the current fifth ara.

We are presently in the 5th ara, called Dushamā. In this period, the full spiritual conditions required for the rise of Kevalgyan are not available in Bharat Kshetra.

Explanation

Jain Dharma explains time as moving through repeating cycles called Utsarpiṇī and Avasarpiṇī. Each half-cycle has six aras.

In the current Avasarpiṇī of Bharat Kshetra:

• The first Tirthankar, Bhagwan Rishabhdev, appeared in the 3rd ara.
• The remaining Tirthankars appeared in the 4th ara.
• Bhagwan Mahavir attained nirvana near the end of the 4th ara.
• After that, the 5th ara began.

Traditional Jain belief holds that in this 5th ara of Bharat Kshetra:

• No new Tirthankar is born.
• No one attains Kevalgyan here.
• Moksha is not attained from this region during this period.

The duration of the 5th ara is traditionally given as 21,000 years, not 84,000 years. So if one says “for the next 84,000 years,” that is not the usual traditional statement for the current 5th ara of Bharat Kshetra.

Spiritual Understanding

This does not mean spiritual effort is useless. Jain Dharma strongly teaches that even in the 5th ara, one can still:

• Follow samyak darshan, samyak gyan, and samyak charitra.
• Practice ahimsa, aparigraha, tapa, and self-discipline.
• Reduce karma bondage.
• Prepare the soul for higher spiritual progress in future births.

So although Kevalgyan is not possible in Bharat Kshetra during the present 5th ara, sincere sadhana remains extremely valuable.

Takeaway

The traditional Jain view is: Kevalgyan is not possible in the present 5th ara of Bharat Kshetra. However, the commonly stated duration of this ara is 21,000 years, not 84,000 years.