Nature of Time

Author(s): Nagin J Shah
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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78 : SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
Śvetāmbara philosophers refer to both these views, though they favour either of them. Digambara thinkers state and explain their accepted view only according to which time is an independent substance.
Now let us study the arguments put forward by the Svetām bara and the Digambara thinkers to establish time as an independent substance. (1) The existence of real time is established by the incessant minute imperceptible changes (vartanā) that go on in the five substances; without it these changes would not take place as it is their auxiliary cause66. To give a concrete example, we might say that the stone under a potter's wheel assists in the movement of the wheel. The stone here does not impart motion to the wheel, but without this stone such a kind of motion would not have been possible. Similarly, time assists or works as an auxiliary cause in the changes produced in substances, though it does not work as a cause proper in their production67 (2) Jainas should accept Time as an independent substance. Though spiritual and material substances are regarded capable by nature to move and to rest, yet they have posited two independent substances Dharma and Adharma serving as the media or auxiliary cause of motion and inertia respectively. Similarly, though the five substances are by nature capable of transforming themselves into their proper modes some auxiliary or general cause like Time should be posited to help them in their transformations. Were they to reject Time as an independent substance, they have no right to posit Dharma and Adharma. The case of Time is on par with that of Dharma and Adharma 68 (3) Though all the causal conditions are there, the mango-tree, etc, do not bear fruits all at or.ce; this suggests that there is Time substance, with varied capacities, which the effects expect for their fruition69. (4) Time substance is a controlling prin
66 धर्मादीनां द्रव्याणां स्वपर्यायनिवृत्तिं प्रति स्वात्मनैव वर्तमानानां बायोपग्रहाद्विना तदुत्त्यभावात् तत्प्रवर्तनोपलक्षितः
Falem fer fram ada mesta : -Sarvarthasiddhi. (Ed. Pt. Phulacandra),
p. 291. 67 स्वकीयोपादानरूपेण स्वयमेव परिणममानानां पदार्थानां कुम्भकारचक्रस्याधस्तनशिलावत्... पदार्थपरिणतेर्यत् सहकारित्वं सा वर्तना भण्यते ।...वर्तनालक्षण: कालाणुद्रव्यरूपो निश्चयकाल: ।
-Dravyasamgrahavrtti on gäthä 21. 68 तथा च वर्तनापर्यायस्य साधारणापेक्षा न कथ्यते तदा तु स्थित्यवगाहनापेक्षासाधारणकारणत्वेन धर्माधर्मास्तिकायौ
fast at TAGAPATE aranet I-Dravyānuyogatarkana (Nirnayasagar Ed.),
p. 175. 69 चूताद्याः शेषहेतूनां सत्त्वेऽपि फलवञ्चिताः ।
497 arargieferuall Lokaprakāśa, XXVIII. 48.