Philosophy In Jain Agams: Atoms of Time

In Bhagavatī, there is a mention of four kinds of atoms.^[1] Although, this is with reference to substance, space, time and modes. It is the style of composition of āgama literature that it describes the reality on the basis of substance, space etc. for example, we may consider the concept of Pañcāstikāya^[2] but in the present context, material atoms are not explained in relation to substance, space, time and mode. However, the atoms of substance, space, time and mode are considered here. Here, atoms of substance is called as substance-atoms, the unit of space is called as space-atom, instant of time is called as time- atom and atom of matter is called as mode-atom (bhāvaparamāṇu).^[3]

In this context time-atom is analyzable. In Bhagavatī-tīkā, time has been named as kāla paramāṇu (time-atom) as mentioned above. The smallest indivisible part of time is called as 'samaya' (instant) in Jain philosophy^[4] which is called as kṣhaṇa in other philosophies. ^[5] Kṣaṇa and samaya are analogous. They can be held as synonymous terms. In śvetambara tradition, time is an independent substance and as a mode of other substances. Bhagavatī Tīkā also calls samaya to be time-atom^[6] where as in digambara tradition, samaya has been called as the mode of time-atom. ^[7] In Dravyānuyoga Tarkaṇā the basis of samaya is called as the time-atom.^[8]