________________
414
A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
There is a brief discussion about these theories in the works menti. oned below.)
vis KALAVADA (THEORY OF TIME)
According to the theory of Kālavāda the various states of existence and happiness and misery of individual beings are determined by kāla. Kāla is the determining principle which creates and destroys. It determines the good and bad of actions. In the Atharvaveda, there is an independent sūkta for describing the importance of kāla (time). Kāla has created the earth (prthvi), it is the basis of the sun and the heat of the sun. All the beings of the world depend on kāla. The eyes perceive things due to kāla. Kala is the T svara. It is the lord of Prajāpati. Kāla is the first of the gods. There is nothing more powerful than kāla. In this sukta, kāla has been described as the first cause of the universe.
In the Mahābhārata, there is the description of the importance of the kāla as a first cause of the universe and is the basis of life and death and happiness and misery of all beings, let alone the human beings.8
In the śāstravārtā-samuccaya, it has been stated that time determines everything, living being entering into the womb of the mother, the childhood and all other incidents connected with life and experience, are determined by time. Kāla is the destroyer of everyone. Kāla is awake when everyone is asleep. It is not possible to transgress the limits of kala and it is not possible to have any events or experiences in the absence of kāl1.4 The concept of 'Time' is so important in philosophy that the Naiyāyikas gave time very important status equal to the creation of the universe.5
1. (a) See Atmamināṁsā p. 86-94-lt. Dalsukh Mālva ņiā.
(b) Jaina Sahitya kā Brhad Itihās, part 4, p. 8
(c) Jaina Dharma aur Darsına, p. 416--424 Dr. Mobanlāl Mehta 2 Atharvaveda 19, 53.-54 3 Mahābhārata, śāntiparva 25, 28, 32 etc 4 Šāstravārtāsamuccaya 165-168 5 Nyāyasiddhānta muktāvali 45
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
