In Jain Dharma, Time (Kāla) is an eternal reality.

• What is Time (Kāla)

- Kāla is one of the six eternal substances (dravya). It has no beginning or end, and it does not create anything. It simply serves as the auxiliary cause that allows all substances to change from one state to another (paryāya).

• Two ways we speak about Time

- Niścaya-kāla (real time): an endless flow of indivisible instants called samaya. - Vyavahāra-kāla (conventional time): the practical measures we use—muhūrta, day, month, year, etc. (Smallest unit: samaya; a muhūrta is about 48 minutes.)

• The Wheel of Time (Kālacakra)

- Time turns eternally in cycles. Each full cycle has two halves: - Utsarpiṇī (ascending): conditions gradually improve. - Avasarpiṇī (descending): conditions gradually decline. - Each half has six eras (ārā). According to Jain texts, in our region (Bhārat Kṣetra) we are presently in the 5th era of Avasarpiṇī, a difficult period where spiritual practice is harder and no one attains mokṣa from here.

• Role of Time in karma and change

- Kāla does not push things to move (that is the role of Dharma-dravya) nor stop them (Adharma-dravya). It enables the sequence in which karmas mature and substances modify.

• Digambar and Śvetāmbara notes

- Both traditions accept Kāla as an eternal dravya and uphold the cyclical nature of time with six eras in each half-cycle. Minor variations may appear in detailed listings of very large durations or naming conventions, but the core doctrine is the same.

For simple visuals and further reading:

• Jain Time Cycle (Kālacakra)
• Units of Time in Jainism (samaya, muhūrta, etc.)