Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
Time has been divided into many divisions such as - samaya, āvalikā, muhūrta, divasa etc. up to pudgala parivarta.[1] Apart from this division, there are other divisions of time available. Sthānāṅga and Bhagavatī accept the four divisions of time as-
- Pramāna kāla
- Yathāyurnivrtti Kāla
- Marana kāla
- Addhā kāla[2]
The pramāṇakāla is that which assists in knowing years etc. This is a kind of addhākāla characterised by the divisions of day, night, etc.[3]
To remain in the form, just as the life determining karma is bound- then it is called as yathāyurnivṛttikāla. This is characterized by the life span determination of hell etc. This is addhakāla itself in the special context of life determining karma. This time functions among all the worldly souls.[4]
Death is also a mode of time. This is called as maraṇakāla.[5]
Addhākāla is that which is determined by the movement of sun, moon etc.[6] The general notion of time is called addhākāla. The above mentioned other three forms of time have special features only. Addhākāla is an empirical one. It functions in the human region. Humans dwell in two and half continents only. So it is also called as samayakṣetra (region of time).[7] Transcendental time is nothing but the modes of living and non-living substances. It is pervasive in both cosmic and trans-cosmic space. It has no divisions. The ultimate subtle unit of time is Samaya. An atom moves from one unit of space to another with very slow pace. This subtlest duration of time is called as Samaya.[8] Samaya is the subtlest division of time. To make a clear comprehension of it, āgamas have used the illustrations like piercing a petal of lotus and tearing an old cloth etc.[9]
