First Steps to Jainism Part 1

Author(s): Sancheti Asso Lal, Manakmal Bhandari
Publisher: Sancheti Trust Jodhpur

Page 27

rable samayas-in practical terms it is the time taken in raising an eyelid. The Jain measures of time are as under:
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2
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9
Samaya
Nimisha
Kashtha
Kala
Ghati
Muhurta
Day & Night
Month
Year
The Universe-Six Substances 13
The smallest unit as explained above. Innumerable samaya as explained above.
15 nimisha.
20 Kashtha.
20 Kalas and a little over.
2 Ghatis.
30 Muhurata.
30 days and nights.
12 months.
The above measures are known as calculable measures. Since time is eternal Jainism has measures of time before which the concept of billion years is insignificant. One such measure is sagaropam which is described below:
A tank eight miles long, eight miles wide and eight miles deep is filled with minute pieces of hair. Each piece of hair is taken out after 100 years. The time required to completely empty the tank of the hair will be equal to one palyopam. Innumerable such palyopams will make a sagaropam. These measures of time are known as non-calculable.
It may be mentioned in passing that since the universe is beginningless, time equivalent to innumerable sagaropams has already passed and will continue adinfinitum.
However, there are time cycles manifesting themselves which divide the age of the universe indifferent parts of time. Of this one time cycle consists of two kalas- avasarpani and upsarpani which are further divided into six aras or epochs each. Needless to add that millions of such aras and kalas have passed and will continue to do so.
(iv) Space (Akash)-The next substance constituting the universe is The characteristic space. of space is to give room to or accommodate the other substances. The special feature of space is
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