Salaka Purusas are called ‘mighty persons’,‘worthy persons’ or ‘illustrious persons’, in Jain cosmology. The sixty three Salaka Purusas are known to have very inspiring life stories and are seen during each half-time cycle. Deeds of these worthy persons are compiled to make legendary or universal history in Jainism. The sixty three Salaka Purusas, constitute twenty four Teaching Gods called Tirthankaras, nine Warrior Heroes called Narayanas, twelve Universal emperors, monarchs of six continents called Chakravartin, nine Anti-Heroes called Pratinarayanas and nine Gentle Heroes called Balabhadras.
Time is eternal and does not have any beginning, according to Jain cosmology. The cosmic wheel of time called the Kalachakra rotates without end. The Kalachakra is segregated into two half-rotations, the descending time cycle (Avasarpini) and the ascending time cycle (Utsarpini) with the rotation continuing one after the other.
The period of increasing happiness and prosperity is called Utsarpini in which the ages and time spans move at increasing scale. The period of increasing mortality and sorrow is called Avasarpini in which the epoch time spans see a decline. It is during this cycle that the Salaka Purusas or the sixty three worthy persons appear so that order and religion is established in the society.
As per Jain cosmology, so far endless numbers of Kalachakras have passed and will occur in the future too. Since time is eternal these worthy people have appeared and will continue to appear again so that during their respective eras, religion and order is established.
Salakapurusas is a word obtained from a compound of Sanskrit words, ‘Salaka’ and ‘Purusas’ with Salaka meaning stick or measurement while Purusa means person.
