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82
Although Jainas had developed their peculiar system of time-units2 which is quite different from the parallel Vedic and Buddhistic systems of time-units, yet Jaina astronomical system worked as an efficacious via media in paving the way for the probable course of conversion of trigesimal system of time-units into sexagesimal system. However, some more investigations are yet to be made in this direction.
(ii) Length-units:
There exists a great diversity of magnitudes of the ancient popular length-unit yojana. However, a particular account of the length of a yojana is found in Jaina canonical literature, wherein Anuyogadvāra Sutra, one of the Culika Sutras, describes three systems of length-units viz. Pramāṇa, Atma and Utsedha systems. Accordingly we have
1 Pramana yojana
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5
500 Atma yojanas
= 1000 Utsedha yojanas, and = 8 Tiloya Pannatti yojanas.
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This type of classification of systems of length-units has not hitherto been found anywhere in Puranic or Buddhistic literature.
(iii) Units of arc-division:
The evolution of the system of units of arc-division or graduation of the zodiacal circumference is chiefly credited to the exponents of Jaina School of Astronomy. The zodiacal circumference was graduated in time-degrees days of a nakṣatra month (lunar sidereal revolution) and subsequently in time-degrees muhurtas (1 muhurta 48 minutes) of a nakşatra month, 54900 gagana khandas (celestial parts) (numerically equal to 54900 muhurtas of a five-year cycle) and finally in 360 Saura days (a Saura day means the time taken by the Sun to traverse 1/360th
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2 Ibid.
8
See also Kumar, Mahendra (1974), 'Quantization of Time', Paper read at 5th Seminar on Jaina Studies, JVB, Ladnun. See Ganitanuyoga, Intd., compiled by K.L. Kamal, Sanderao, Rajasthan.
4 Lishk, S.S. and Sharma, S.D. (1979), 'Length-Units in Jaina Astronomy', Jain Journal, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 143-154, Calcutta.
Ibid.
See also Lishk, S.S. and Sharma, S.D. (1975), "The Evolution of Measures in Jaina Astronomy', Tirthankar, Vol. 1, No.7-12, pp. 83-92, Indore.
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6 Lishk, S.S. and Sharma, S.D. (1979), 'Zodiacal Circumference as Graduated in Jaina Astronomy', Indian Journal of History of Science, Vol. 14, No.1, pp. 1-14, INSA, New Delhi,
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