Answer

You are right: in this context, “two kal” means the two equal phases of the daytime, not “two kal in a whole 24-hour day.”

If your tradition says to do something in two kal between sunrise and sunset, then:

• 1st kal = from sunrise to the midpoint
• 2nd kal = from midpoint to sunset

Explanation

To calculate it:

1. Note the local sunrise time
2. Note the local sunset time
3. Find the total daylight duration
4. Divide that duration by 2
5. Add half of that duration to sunrise

That gives you the midpoint of the day.

Example

• Sunrise: 6:00 AM
• Sunset: 6:00 PM
• Daylight = 12 hours
• Half = 6 hours

So:

• 1st kal = 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• 2nd kal = 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

About boiling water

If the rule in your practice is that water must be boiled in a certain kal, then the water should be boiled only within that prescribed phase.

If water is accidentally boiled outside the proper time, then in strict Jain observance it is usually not treated as fully according to the rule. In such cases, people generally follow the guidance of their guru, sadhu, or local tradition, because customs can differ slightly between traditions.

Spiritual Understanding

The purpose of such timing rules is:

• to increase carefulness
• to reduce harm to living beings
• to support discipline and awareness
• to make daily life more aligned with ahimsa

Takeaway

So the correct method is:

• Divide the time from sunrise to sunset into 2 equal parts
• Use the appropriate half according to the rule
• If done accidentally at the wrong time, follow your tradition’s guidance

If you want, I can also give you a simple formula or a ready-made calculator method for finding the two kal in any city.