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INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
cause in the emergence of their modes, time-atoms do not require any other substance as an auxiliary cause in the production of their own modes.
Digambara thinkers recognize two types of Time - Absolute (mukhya) and Conventional (vyāvahārika). A time-atom with immeasurable minutest modes is Absolute time. In other words, a continuum of immeasurable minutest modes of a time-atam is Absolute time. But modes of a time-atom, that are measured' by motion of a material atom or a heavenly luminary constitute Conventional time. Absolute time has no reference to motion of a material atom or a heavenly luminary whereas Conventional time. has pointed reference to it. So, it is said that Absolute time does not requre motion of material atom or a heavenly luminary for its manifestation. Absolute time is the auxiliary cause of the immeasurable minutest modes of substances whereas Conventional time is the auxiliary cause of the measurable modes of substances. As time-atoms are spread over the entire cosmic space, Absolute time is present everywhere in the cosmic space. As the motion of a materal atom is available throughout the cosmic space, samaya division of Conventional time is also present in the entire cosmic space. But as the motion of the sun and other heavenly luminaries is not available outside the space inhabited by human beings, the divisions of Conventional Time having reference to this motion are confined only to this portion of cosmic space. Absolute time being what it is, usage or division of past, present and future is metaphorically or secondarily applicable to it; but it is primarily applicable to Conventional time.100
4. Time Substance according to Svetāmbaras A few out of these svetāmbara thinkers who recognise time as an independent substance favour the Digambara view. Ac. Hemacandra is the foremost among them. But others reject the Digambara view. According to them time is not atomic. It is not a manifold of atoms. It is one and pervades the entire cosmic space. Though it is one whole, it can be said to have spatial parts. It has extension over the cosmic space and the parts of this space covered by it are obviously understandable in terms of the parts of time substance. Consequently time substance is entitled to being characterised as an extensive substance (astikāya). Tradition however restricts the use of this notion to five substances, but this does not
