International Jain Conference 1985 3rd Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain, Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 103

stumbling block to the beginner." One startling conclusion from this theory is that both space and time vanish away into nothing if there is no matter. It is matter in which originate space and time and our universe of perception. So is the conclusion of Jain thinkers. In the infinite pure space extending beyond loka, no other substance exists but space, there is no matter and hence there are no grains of time. The resemblance is striking.
The practical unit of time is two fold--one for the measurement of small intervals and the other for the measurement of extremely long intervals. Earlier, Nimesha has been indicated as the smallest unit of time equivalent to 1/4th of a second. A still smaller unit of time is Prativipalansha which is 1/9000 th of a second
According to the Hindu Puranas, 43,20,000 years make a Mahayuga and 1000 mahayugas make a Kalpakala. The period of Kalpakala is the Brahma's day and an equal interval is Brahma's night. At the end of each Kalpa, Brahma creates a new universe. Thus the number of years in a kalpa is 4,32,00,00,000 (total number of digits is 10). But according to the Jainas, the years of Kalpakala can be expressed by a number consisting of 77 digits of which 26 are numerals followed by 50 ciphers. The numerals are in the following order :
. 826905260616406355499024384 x 1050
Origin and end of the Universe :-In Hindu Trinity, Brahma, Visnu and Mahesa have been allotted specific functions of creation, preservation and destruction of the universe respectively, i. e. these are the attributes of the Godhood. There are fixed times for creation and destruction. As already stated above, a Mahayuga consists of 43,20,000 years and 71 mahayugas make a Manvantara. The word Manvantara means the time interval between the successive Manus or the law givers. Fourteen Manus are born in a Kalpakala. Before and after the birth of each of the 14 Manus the world is submerged under water for a period of years equal to 4,32.000 X 4. Thus the total number of times that the world is submerged under water is 15 and the corresponding total period is 4,32,000 x 4x15=43,20,000 x 6 years i.e. 6 mahyugas. Since there are 14 Manus in each Kalapakala and they are born at intervals of 71 mahayugas and 6 mahayugas elapse during the period of floods which occur 15 times in one Kalpa, the total period of a Kalpa is 71 x 14
=994+6=1000 mahayugas. Therefore, corresponding to our 24 hours day, Brahma's day consists of 8640 million years.
The Puranas state that the Brahma creates the universe afresh at beginning of the day and it is submerged under water during night. The disappearance of the universe in this manner is called Naimittika Pralaya. In this the entire matter of the universe concentrated in one place but is not destroyed. During one such Pralaya, the great sage Markandeya alone was alive and all other celestial and terrestrial objects ceased to exist. There was water and water everywhere and
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