 Jain texts state that Jainism has always existed and will always exist.During each motion of the half-cycle of the wheel of time, 63 "Śalākāpuruṣa" or 63 illustrious men, consisting of the 24 "Tīrthaṅkaras" and their contemporaries regularly appear.The Jain universal or legendary history is basically a compilation of the deeds of these illustrious men.