Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Kala means ‘time issue’. The time issue is every part in our life as a result of it modifications every part. Kala is chargeable for our manifestation, existence and non-existence. Nothing escapes the affect of Kala within the creation. Kala brings about transformation in every part. Basically phrases it doesn’t have origin or destruction however is chargeable for each these to happen in all entities of creation. So, Kala is all highly effective. Resulting from this, Kala is taken into account and worshiped as God. It’s stated ‘Kalaya Tasmai Namaha’ – ‘Oh divine time, I bow to you in reverence and salute to you in respect’.
Kala can also be a dravya based on Ayurveda. It’s one among the many 9 dravyas – substances. So, it has its personal qualities and actions which can’t be separated from it.
Acharya Sushruta has given the standing of God to Kala and has referred to as it as Bhagawan Swayambhu.
Kala is Bhagawan Swayambhu
Reference – Sushruta Samhita Sutra Sthana – Chapter 6 – ‘Rutucharya Adhyaya’, verse 3
Context – Introduction to Rutucharya i.e. seasonal routine. Grasp Sushruta introduces us to the time period Kala and in addition explains its significance, giving it a standing of God, at the start of this chapter. It is because Rtu – seasons are additionally an element and parcel (classification of 1 yr has been made into six seasons) Kala. Samvatsara – yr, i.e. time interval of 1 yr which can also be a ‘kala’. This kala is as soon as once more divided into six seasons – that are additionally types of kala since they match into the time interval of 1 yr.
Why ought to Kala be thought of as God?
कालो हि नाम(भगवान्)स्वयम्भुरनादिमध्यनिधनः । अत्ररशव्यापत्संपत्ती जीवितमरणे च मनुष्याणामायते । स सूक्ष्मामपि कलां न लीयत इति कालःसंकलयति कालयति वा भूतानीति कालः ॥३॥
‘Swayambhu’ is a time period used to elucidate something which has been self-manifested and nobody or nothing has created it.
Acharya Sushruta tells – ‘Kala means time issue and it shall be thought of as a self-manifested GOD i.e. Bhagawan Swayambhu’. In different phrases, we will inform that Kala is a ‘self-born entity.
Causes for Kala – the time issue being referred to as as Bhagawan Swayambhu
1. Kala has no starting, center and finish
– No ‘adi’ – i.e. it has no starting or origin – it can’t be created by something or anybody and we can not observe its level of origin. For something to start or have origin, it ought to occur at a selected level of time. Kala itself is a ‘time issue’. However kala is chargeable for the origin or beginning of every part. It’s the witness of many births, begins and firsts.
– No ‘Madhya’ – i.e. it has no mid-point to indicate that ‘it was right here’. This implies to say that the time is progressive however neither its size nor the center of it may be decided. Since Kala neither has beginning (origin) or demise (finish), its center level too can’t be decided. However kala is chargeable for the development and existence of every part.
– No ‘Nidhana’ – i.e. it has no demise or finish. If there’s a query ‘the place does this kala finish?’ there will likely be no reply for it. It is because there will likely be no ‘end-point’ for kala. The reason being as a result of kala additionally doesn’t have some extent of origin or a mid-point. That which doesn’t have origin will even not have an finish or demise. However kala is chargeable for the top or demise of every part. It’s the witness of the top.
2. Kala – determinant of life and demise
Kala is a Calander which has on its canvas marked the creation – life and destruction – demise of everybody and every part. Grasp Sushruta tells that the Jivana – life and Marana – demise of human beings is completely depending on the Kala. Everybody has a date and time of beginning. The identical particular person will even have a date and time of demise written in his or her future written by Kala and that is unseen. We additionally talk about ‘Akala Marana’ i.e. premature and sudden demise which was surprising. It’s the ‘Kala issue’ which determines it. Why are some individuals born wholesome and a few die within the womb or after beginning? Why do some have longevity and the others won’t? These components are ruled by Kala and Karma.
3. Kala – determinant of excellence and abnormalities of tastes
Each dravya – substance has its rasa – style. Some substances will likely be enriched with their style and a few may have irregular tastes. The tastes of all of the substances are depending on the kala. On the similar time, the rasa sampat i.e. glorious qualities of the tastes and rasa vyapat i.e. the abnormalities of the tastes are additionally completely depending on the kala. It is because it’s the kala which brings concerning the transformation of style and is chargeable for their sampat and vyapat. In brief, this implies to inform that, the tastes of all of the substances and their qualities both manifest or change because of the impact of Kala – time issue.
4. Kala – influences every part
Every and every part on this planet is influenced by Kala. Kala additionally brings concerning the modifications in each single factor and causes transformation. It doesn’t spare even the minutest of the issues or substances from its affect.
Kala brings every part it influences below its umbrella. This implies to say that since every part falls below the affect of Kala, all these issues are stated to be in a single group. Kala brings all these issues in a single single group. That is additionally as a result of Kala not solely influences each single and minutest factor but in addition is chargeable for modifications occurring in them and in addition the destruction of all issues. Kala, as stated already, will even result in demise and destruction of all residing beings. That is additionally the explanation why it’s referred to as Kala.
Kala Parinama
Kala Parinama – pure transformation of time – is one among the many chief etiological components for all illnesses. Ailments are additionally manifested resulting from transformation of time. The curability and incurability of illnesses additionally relies on time issue favouring or not favouring the people. The illness takes time to manifest and undergoes transformation by means of the 6 levels of kriya kala. Additionally they take time to go away and depend upon what sort of interventions are introduced into image and when. Medicines and therapies act at proper time too and needs to be favoured by the point to make a proper impression. Shelf lifetime of the medicines on which the outcomes rely is also influenced by time. Subsequently, it will be important for a doctor to find out about nuances and subtleties of the kala – time issue.
Kala itself brings about Parinama i.e. modifications or transformation.
In brief, that which we name ‘kala or time issue’ is definitely the ‘parinama’ i.e. modifications going down always. This displays that each single factor on this creation be it residing, non-living, huge, small or minute is consistently present process change on the graph of time and nothing ever escapes this transformation. That is the explanation why the time issue is taken into account as everlasting – has no starting, center and finish.
To sum up,
In his commentary, Grasp Dalhana, commentator of Sushruta Samhita defines and explains Kala as being ‘na liyate’ i.e. the time doesn’t adhere to even the minutest of the objects / substances as a result of the kala has ‘fixed motion’.
Kala, as stated, brings all residing issues in a single group owing to its nature of destroying all issues. It influences all issues and all residing beings and bestows happiness and distress on residing beings. Kala is that which shortens the life and in addition takes the residing beings nearer to demise. That’s the reason why ‘KALA’ can also be a synonym of demise.
Being chargeable for life and demise, and for all modifications that happen in all residing beings and issues and for influencing every part within the creation, Kala is rightly referred to as as Swayambhu Bhagawan by Grasp Sushruta.