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Bhagavai 6:7:133-134
-: 439:Units of Uncountable Time
From samaya to śīrşaprahelikā are the units of countable time. In reality, countable time-units go beyond sīrşaprahelikā," but as they transcend the limit of empirical mathematics, sīrsaprahelikā is considered to be the highest countable time-unit.
The units of countable time are defined by similies. They are broadly classified into two:
(1) Palyopama (pit-measured time-unit)
(2) Sāgaropama (ocean-measured time-unit) Palyopama
A cylindrical pit or well is known as palya. The value of palyopama is explained by the simile of palya. We get different versions of palyopama in the Svetāmbara and Digambara traditions. According to the Svetāmbara Tradition2
There is a cylindrical pit measuring one yojana each in length, breadth and height based on utsedha angula. It is made cram-full with the billions of hair-tips of humans of devakuru-uttarakuru region. Before calculating the number of hair-tips, filled in pit, we have to calculate the volume of the cylinder.
The base of the cylinder is circular. Area of circular base = ter(where r is radius).
Volume of the cylindrical pit == trịh (where h is height). In this equation, the value of ., taken into account, is- %. According to the table of space-units
1 yojana = 7,68,000 utsedha-angulas. There are 8? hair-tips of humans of Devakuru-Uttarakuru region in one utsedha-angula space. Therefore,
1 yojana=87x 7,68,000 hair-tips of Devakuru-Uttarakuru humans. 14 [Since the diameter (further denoted as d) is one yojana.]
d = 87 x 7,68,000
.:. r=
- 8' x 7,68,000
[: his equivalent to d over here. So]
h = 87 x 7,68,000 Volume of the cylindrical pit = trịh
= 19 x (8°x 7,68,000)
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