jainism teaches that time has no beginning or end. it moves like the wheel of a cart. jains divide the time cycle in two halves, "utsarpiṇī" or ascending time cycle and "avasarpiṇī", the descending time cycle. 24 tirthankaras are born in each half of this cycle. in jain tradition the "tirthankaras" were royal in their final lives, and jain texts record details of their previous lives.