Significance of Time unit
Jainism provides a comprehensive concept of a time unit, defining it as various measures that relate to the existence and life spans of souls and matter. It encompasses durations for the birth of souls, reference points for infernal beings' lifetimes, and divisions of time such as seconds and hours. Additionally, it describes time intervals experienced in hell and serves as a generalized term for various states of existence. Meanwhile, Purana specifically relates time units to measurable periods in Brahma's life, including days, months, and years.
Synonyms: Duration, Interval, Period, Span, Time interval, Time span
In Dutch: Tijdseenheid; In Finnish: 础颈办补测办蝉颈办办枚; In Spanish: Unidad de tiempo; In German: Zeiteinheit; In Malay: Unit masa
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Jain concept of 'Time unit'
In Jainism, "Time unit" signifies intervals for the existence of beings, measuring temporal divisions like seconds or hours, aiding in the understanding of life spans, births, and movements within existential states.
From: Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti)
(1) A basic measurement of time referenced throughout the text as the minimum duration for various transformations.[1] (2) Explained in the context of addha-samaya, which refers to a unit of time, specifically denoting the present moment.[2] (3) The duration within which souls may be born in different quantities in an Utpala.[3] (4) The minimum measure of time used as a reference for the existence of a molecule of matter.[4] (5) A generalized term for a duration of time applicable to the various states of living and infernal beings.[5]
The concept of Time unit in local and regional sources
The keyphrase "Time unit" pertains to the various measures of time highlighted in the Gargiyajyotisha, including nimesha and kshana. These units illustrate the diverse and complex nature of temporal quantification in ancient Indian texts.
From: History of Science in South Asia
(1) The time-unit nakshatra and yoga represent the time it takes for the moon to advance a specific portion of the zodiac.[6] (2) Time units are a significant topic in the Gargiyajyotisha, and the text references a sequence of smaller time units, including nimesha, kshana, kashtha(di), truti, and lava, among others.[7] (3) These are the specific measures used to quantify time, which vary greatly in name and conversion ratios across different texts written in ancient and medieval India, often presented in metrical languages.[8]