Book Title: Cosmology Old and New
Author(s): G R Jain
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Previous | Next

Page 148
________________ 116 COSMOLOGY : OLD AND NEW explained as follows : fago444f4trafferet frienc at 11 259 Or अन्तर्हतैकसमया प्रतिद्रव्यविपर्ययम्। aft: FTTETTAT: FECIT est adat 11 260 Or from Sarvartha-siddhi वर्तते द्रव्यपर्यास्तस्य वर्तयिता कालः ।। i.e., vartanā is the perception of the continuity of existence of a substance understood from the changes produced in it in separate moments of time. For instance, if a quantity of rice is boiled on fire, from the instant that we put the pot on the fire slow changes go on continuously till it is boiled. Throughout this period the perception of existence of rice is inferred. This is called vartană. It is true that the inference of the existence of real time is to be drawn from the existence of apparent time as in the case of the boiling rice. 261 Thus we see that the substance, which enables things to continue in nature or that which helps other five Realities in their continuity, is called Time by Jainas. Just as the central iron pin of the potter's wheel is necessary for its revolving, so is time necessary for the revolution of substances in nature. The question may be asked. If 'Time' is the substance which assists things in their movements of continuity on what does 'Time' itself revolve? But the question is untenable. If 'Time' were to depend on another substance for its continuance, the latter would require another substance to depend on and the chain would be interminable. It follows, therefore, that time exists by itself, and the things continue to be as a function of "time'. In the Key of Knowledge by C. R. Jain we read the following forceful arguments in favour of 'Time' as a substance : "It is obvious that no philosophy which ignores the elements of continuity and succession can ever succeed in solving its mystery (that of 'Time'). Most of the philosophies of the world have 259. Tattvärtha räjavārtika, on sutra 5.22. 260. Tativarıha sára, 3.41. 261. arguar cara ao entare questa (Rajavärtika on su tra 5.22)

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232