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A Critique
199 change of direction. But if the time of motion is one time-point only, the motion is always in anuśreni.
The minimum velocity of a paramānu is one space-point in one samayal (time-point), while the maximum velocity is the entire length of the lokākāśa in one samaya. When in motion, the minimum distance travelled by a paramānu in one sama ya is one space-point i.e. the distance between two adjacent space-points. And the maximum distance travelled by a paramānu in one sama ya is between the extremities of the loka.
How is this Jain view compatible with the Einsteinian equation of the increase of mass and the inference that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, the theoretical speed limit of the universe ?
1. Sa ma ya and loka are two terms unique to the Jain Philosophy. Sama ya is
the indivisible quantum of time. A comparatively larger and more practical unit of time which is measurable is called avalika and is equal to 1.7 x 10 seconds. One avalikā covers Jaghan ya-Yukta-Asamkhyāta' samayas. This number is impossible to be expressed in numerical figures, but it can be shown to have definite measurable value and its lower limit can be calculated. Jain mathematics expresses this number as greater than x where
10134 times
143 10
10 x = y
and y = 10 See, Visva Prahelikā by Munisri Mahendra Kumar, pp. 255-270)
TTT
A comparison of this Jain view with the most modern scientific attempts and various methods for the accurate measurement of time might be interesting.
'Second', the present unit of time, was earlier defined with reference to the time taken for the rotation of earth and in 1954 the International Committee of Weights & Measures standardized the 'second' as 1/31, 556,925,975 of the tropical year 1900. The 'second', thus, defined was known to vary to the extent of 1 part in 10 and did not entirely satisfy the present scientific quest. Subsequently, other considerations compelled them to switch over to a different form of time standard which ultimately led to the advent of atomic standards In 1964, the above Committee adopted the transition between two specified energy levels of Cesium" for the purpose of definüng the basic unit of time. Cesium beam oscillators were developed and in 1967, the Committee defined the unit of time as follows:
*The second is the duration of 9, 192, 631, 770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the fundamental state of Cesium atom."
(Contd. on next page)
