Definition of time

Kaala, Time -   Kurma puranam

In the Advaita shAstra 'time' is defined as: अविद्या-चित् संयोगः कालः.  The sUtasamhita 2.2.10 says: कालो मायात्मसंबन्धात् सर्वसाधारणात्मकः । 

Chit, Pure Consciousness, is One and has no pravRtti as it has nothing to achieve.  We know that any event has to take place in time alone.  The activity of sRShTi etc. can take place only when the 'other' shakti called avidyA/mAyA is admitted to work along with Chit.  मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः सूयते सचराचरम् (भगवद्गीता).  So, the concept of time is thus engendered only when this shakti is associated with Chit, Brahman. This 'association' samyogaH, itself is thus kAla since everything in sRShTi has to go on only in time.   

One can get more references to kAlaH at the sUtasamhitaa 1.8.23 to 26 verses.

http://archive.org/details/SutaSamhita-volume1

There is a very elaborate discussion on the concept of Time in the book 'SridakShiNAmUrtistotram' Vol.I English authored by Br. Sri D.S.Subbaramaiya and published by the Sringeri Peetham.  Here on pages 327 to 342 there is an excellent exposition of the subject under a number of headings and numerous quotations from Sanskrit works:

kAla'Flow' of Time'Time' in various schoolsVedantic view of TimeTime revealed by sAkShITime as an effect of AvidyATime as AvidyATime as relation between AvidyA and BrahmanTime as KriyAshakti of IshwaraTime as taTasthalakShaNa of Brahman the Timeless EntityThe 'Now' experience, fleeting image of Eternal 'Now''Objects' situated in Space and TimeThese are the topics under which 'Time' has been discussed.    

This idea is reflected in this verse of the Kurma Puranam:

 

pradhānaṃ puruṣaṃ caiva tattvadvayamudāhṛtam / (8.1) tayoranādiruddiṣṭaḥ kālaḥ saṃyojakaḥ paraḥ // (8.2)                      प्रधानं पुरुषं चैव तद्वस्तु समुदाहृतम् । तयोरनादिरुद्दिष्टः कालः संयोगजः परः ॥ ३. Another reading:  

'pradhana' is the prakriti/maayaa/avidya which is insentient, jaDa principle

'Purusha' is the sentient, consciousness principle. 

The second line of the verse says: The anAdi, beginingless, kaala is the supreme 'connector' of the two principles. 

Thus, the concept of 'kAla' finds mention in ancient scriptural literature as the 'connecting factor between Prakruti and Purusha.'

Om Tat Sat