A Concise History of Science in India c13.s8.7

c13.s8.7

Time is thought of in diverse ways on account of the diversity of such situations as production, continuance and disappearance of all things. Events derive their chronological order on account of time. The past, present and future are empirical divisions of time. The coming into being of an effect indicates the future; its persistence means the present; and its destruction connotes the past. The notions of past and future are with reference only to the present, according to the *Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika*. In this interpretation, time is reckoned in terms of its *kriyā* or action also.a The present relates, say in the case of falling object, the action of falling and the object; the past means that the connection between the object and the falling action is over; and future refers to such a connection yet to materialize.