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THEORY OF MATTEREALS AND JAIN PHILOSOPHY / 83
KAAL (TIME)
In Jain metaphysical theories of kaal, two hypotheses are prevalent - 1. In Digamber thought, time is considered an independent and separate entity.
a. Time is atomic. b. Time-atom is associated with every co-ordinate of space.
c. Time is uni-dimensional unlike space which is three-dimensional. 2. In Shwetamber school of thought, time is just an aspect or epithet of jivaajiva entities. a. “Time' starts every time a change takes place. Any happening or
event, as and when it takes place, does not happen with prior space-time calculations, but an observer needs space-time dimensions to describe it. Imagine a situation where a stone is lying on a rock. There is no movement and everything is static. For an observer there is nothing to describe: In other words, there is no need of time. But, the moment stone moves, due to any reason, time starts. Now, the observer need the time-moment of movement (present), the time-duration of rest before movement (past) and the time-prediction of movement to remain continued (future). The moment of change thus becomes the reference of time measurement. This reference is present, and can be described fully along with past and future.
b.
Mahapragya has harmonised both the concepts. According to him, both the statements are complementary to each other and not contradicting. With the help of Anekant view-point, he states that since time has duration, quantization, priority and posteriori – Digamber view holds, but since time acts only upon an entity undergoing change - Shwetamber view holds. He further states that both schools of thought agree that the time is not spatially extended substance (astikaaya). Outlook of Science
The turning point in the perception of time was Einstein's special theory of relativity which later developed into general theory of relativity. Before -
Time was considered as absolute and completely independent of space. For
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