Introducing Jainism

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 50

INTRODUCING JAINISM
43
utsarpiņi, and in each division there are six periods, for our practical purposes, the Jains have divided time as follows:
samaya nimisa kāsthā kalā nāli muhurta ahorātra māsa stu ayana samvatsara
: is the unit of time; : is the time taken in raising the eyelids; : is the 15 nimisas; : is the 20 kasthās; : is a little over 20 kalās;
is the 2 nālis; is the 30 muhurtas; is the 30 days;
is the two months; : is the six months; : is the 2 ayanas-one year
XI. Philosophical Doctrines
Having discussed the constitution of the world along with its navatattvas (nine cardinal principles) and satpathārtha (six substances), let us now explain some of the fundamental philosophical doctrines associated with it.
i) The Doctrine of Reality
In Jain Philosophy, the doctrine of reality (sat) is different from the rest of the other systems of philosophies. The . definition of sat as described by Umāsvāti is
utpāda-vyaya-drauvya-yuktam sat (TS V. 30)
"Existence is characterised by origination, disappearance (destruction) and permanence" (S.A. Jaini).
It is a permanent reality in the midst of change of appearance and disappearance. This conception of Reality is peculiar to Jainism. An existing reality in order to maintain its permanent and continued existence must necessarily undergo change in the form of appearance and disappearance. It seems to us a paradox at the beginning. But a closer analysis and minute observation will help us to appreciate the significance of this description of reality. For example, let us look at the seed of a plant. When the seed is