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should note that disa is not an independent substance. It is a conventional form of measurement. Similarly, pradeda gives a pattern for the empirical measurement of akasa.
Study of Jainism
Sometimes Jaina concept of Akasa has been compared with newtonian conception of space. But the Jaina conception of space has reference to the two other principles like dharma and adharma. They are also substances. These two principles and akasa are not inherent. In this sense Ether as a substance cannot be explained without the conception of Akasa. Therefore, it is difficult to have comparison with the Jaina concept of Akasa and the modern scientific theory of space.
Gautama asked Mahavira, "what is principle of substance of Akasa and what is the purpose of Akasa for the jivas and ajivas"? Mahavira said, "If akasa were not to be there where would the Jivas be? where would the dharma and adharmastikayas pervade? where would the kala extend? where would the dance of pudgala be possible? the whole world would be without foundation."46
Kala Kala is the substance in which the movement of the object would be experienced In Jaina metaphysics there are two prominent views regarding nature of kala (time). According to one view kala is considered to be the mode of the substance of jiva and ajiva. In this sense kala cannot become the expression of change in the objects, although it is the medium of change. Kala is the dravya (substance), though it is not an astikaya, because it has no kayatva (multidimentionality) it has only linear dimension. In the svetambara agamic literature there is the mention of both the views in the Bhagavati sutra, Uttaradhyayana47 and Prajñapana.48 The Digambara ācāryas like Kundakunda,1o pūjyapada,50 Akalanka51 and Vidyanandi 52 have mentioned kala as an independent substance.
On the basis of the first view of kala as a mode of substance, the measurable distances of time like samaya, muhurta, day and night are modes of kala from the practical point of view. These modes are special features of the substances jiva and ajiva and these modifications with their clusters are considered as kala. Kala by itself is not an independent substance.
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