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Kala (Samskrit : कालः) means "time period" in a broad sense. The concept of time is explained systematically in [[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिष्)|vedanga jyotisha]] (astronomy). It is significant that time has been considered both at the microcosmic and the macrocosmic levels. Various Puranas also describe Kalapramana that existed previously.  

Kala (Samskrit : कालः) means "time period" in a broad sense. The concept of time is explained systematically in [[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिष्)|vedanga jyotisha]] (astronomy). It is significant that time has been considered both at the microcosmic and the macrocosmic levels. Various Puranas also describe Kalapramana that existed previously.  

Kala is kshayakari (क्षयकारी । exhausting) or vriddi kari (वृध्दिकारी । flourishing). Firstly Kala, refers to the inexorable flow of both creation and unfolding of the universe and its subsequent destruction, in time cycles of huge dimensions. Secondly, Kala refers to the shorter and relative time periods on earth, the days and nights, paksha, masa (months), ayana (uttarayana and dakshinayana), samvatsara (year) and this leads to the bigger units of yugas which again refer back to the cycles of srishti (सृष्टिः । creation) and kshaya (क्षयः। decay) that the universe passes through.<ref>Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>

Kala is kshayakari (क्षयकारी । exhausting) or vriddi kari (वृध्दिकारी । flourishing). Firstly Kala, refers to the inexorable flow of both creation and unfolding of the universe and its subsequent destruction, in time cycles of huge dimensions. Secondly, Kala refers to the shorter and relative time periods on earth, the days and nights, paksha, masa (months), ayana (uttarayana and dakshinayana), samvatsara (year) and this leads to the bigger units of yugas which again refer back to the cycles of srishti (सृष्टिः । creation) and kshaya (क्षयः। decay) that the universe passes through.<ref name=":2">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>

Many of astronomers of ancient days had different versions of what time period constituted the yugas on the macroscopic scale of time.   

Many of astronomers of ancient days had different versions of what time period constituted the yugas on the macroscopic scale of time.   

== Yuga System ==

== Yuga System ==

On the macroscopic scale of time, the yuga system is highly evolved in the Indian Astronomy. Many important elements of planets and other parameters are given in terms of the number of revolutions in the course of a long period of time called '''yuga'''.  

On the macroscopic scale of time, the yuga system is highly evolved in the Indian Astronomy. Many important elements of planets and other parameters are given in terms of the number of revolutions in the course of a long period of time called '''yuga'''. The concept of Yugas is extensively discussed in various puranas.   

While in the [[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिष्)|Vedanga Jyotisha]] the word yuga was used to mean a period of 5 years, in later works the word meant a large period of time. Yugas of large periods of time have been used to indicate the rates of motion of planets and other important points of astronomical significance. This technique enabled them to express these constants as integers, though very large, thus avoiding very inconvenient fractions.<ref name=":0">Balachandra Rao, S. (2017 Third Edition) Indian Mathematics and Astronomy. Benguluru : Bhavan's Gandhi Center of Science & Human Values</ref> Indian time scales are unique in that they account for the cyclic and linear aspects as seen from the astronomical texts.  

While in the [[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिष्)|Vedanga Jyotisha]] the word yuga was used to mean a period of 5 years, in later works the word meant a large period of time. Yugas of large periods of time have been used to indicate the rates of motion of planets and other important points of astronomical significance. This technique enabled them to express these constants as integers, though very large, thus avoiding very inconvenient fractions.<ref name=":0">Balachandra Rao, S. (2017 Third Edition) Indian Mathematics and Astronomy. Benguluru : Bhavan's Gandhi Center of Science & Human Values</ref> Indian time scales are unique in that they account for the cyclic and linear aspects as seen from the astronomical texts.  

# अनुवत्सरः ॥ Anuvatsara

# अनुवत्सरः ॥ Anuvatsara

# इद्वत्सरः ॥ Idvatsara

# इद्वत्सरः ॥ Idvatsara

=== चतुर्युगाः ॥ Chaturyuga in terms of Human Varshas ===

=== चतुर्युगाः ॥ Chaturyuga in terms of Human Varshas ===

[[File:Kalachakra.png|thumb|653x653px|Yugas in terms of Human Varshas ]]Yuga (युगम्) is one of the four large periods into which the basic Chaturyuga cycle is divided, it forms the basic Indian cycle of creation and destruction. Yuga Pramana is calculated in terms of Human varshas and Divya varshas. The following is the first version of Yuga Pramana involving the use of human varshas or years.  According to the puranas and the astronomical texts one Chaturyuga consists of 43,20,000 solar years. Thousand Chaturyugas form a Kalpa, which is the larger cycle of creation and destruction, and is seen as the day of Brahma. The four Yugas comprising the Chaturyuga are:  

[[File:Kalachakra.png|thumb|653x653px|Yugas in terms of Human Varshas ]]Yuga Pramana involving the use of human varshas or years is well supported by astonomical texts.  According to the puranas and the astronomical texts one Chaturyuga consists of 43,20,000 solar years. Thousand Chaturyugas is termed a Mahayuga equalent to a Kalpa, which is the larger cycle of creation and destruction, and is seen as the day of Brahma. The four Yugas comprising the Chaturyuga are:  

# कृतयुगम् ॥ Krtayuga

# कृतयुगम् ॥ Krtayuga

# त्रेतायुगम् ॥ Tretayuga

# त्रेतायुगम् ॥ Tretayuga

# द्वापरयुगम् ॥ Dvaparayuga

# द्वापरयुगम् ॥ Dvaparayuga

# कलियुगम् ॥ Kaliyuga

# कलियुगम् ॥ Kaliyuga

It may be noted that the time period in four yugas are in the ratio of 4:3:2:1. One Mahayuga is ten times a Kaliyuga in its duration. However, Aryabhata I, the ancient Indian mathematician, revised the duration of the four yugas in a mahayuga and made them of equal duration, viz., 10,80,000 instead of the traditional yuga scheme of 4:3:2:1.

It may be noted that the time period in four yugas are in the ratio of 4:3:2:1. One Mahayuga is ten times a Kaliyuga in its duration. However, Aryabhata I, the ancient Indian mathematician, revised the duration of the four yugas in a mahayuga and made them of equal duration, viz., 10,80,000 instead of the traditional yuga scheme of 4:3:2:1.<ref name=":1" /> 

==== Krta Yuga  ====

==== Krta Yuga  ====

The first Yuga of the Chaturyuga cycle. In this Yuga Dharma represented by the bull supporting the universe stands securely on all four legs. The four legs of Dharma are said to be Satya, Ahimsa, Daya, Dana, truth, non-injury, kindness and generosity, respectively, in rough translation. According to the calculations of the Puranas, the length of the Krtayuga is 17,28,000 years. But with the passage of time, the universe starts getting more and more complex. The innate order starts getting disturbed. Dharma starts getting weakened. And, towards the end of Krta, the creator has to take birth on earth in various forms to re-establish the dharma.

Krta is the first Yuga of the Chaturyuga cycle. In this Yuga Dharma represented by the bull supporting the universe stands securely on all four legs. The four legs of Dharma are said to be Vidya (knowledge and purity), Dana (charity), tapas (penance) and satya (truth) in rough translation. With the increase of adharma, dharma became diminished by one leg each, in each of the other yugas.<ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>धर्मश्चतुष्पान्मनुजान् कृते समनुवर्तते । स एवान्येष्वधर्मेण व्येति पादेन वर्धता ॥ २१ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.29)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>According to the calculations of the Puranas, the length of the Krtayuga is 17,28,000 years. But with the passage of time, the universe starts getting more and more complex. The innate order starts getting disturbed. Dharma starts getting weakened. And, towards the end of Krta, the creator has to take birth on earth in various forms to re-establish the dharma.

==== Treta Yuga  ====

==== Treta Yuga  ====

==== Kali Yuga  ====

==== Kali Yuga  ====

The fourth and the last Yuga of a Chaturyuga cycle. The current Kaliyuga began with the ascendance of Srikrishna from the earth after the Mahabharata war more than 5,000 years ago. Indian astronomical texts fix the time and date of the onset of current Kaliyuga either at the midnight of February 17/18 or the sunrise of February 18 of 3102 BCE (Julian reckoning). Further the mean midnight is as at Ujjaiyini (23^o 11'N Latitude and 75^o 46'E Longitude) meridian passing through Lanka on the equator according to the ardharatrika (midnight) system.<ref name=":0" />

The fourth and the last Yuga of a Chaturyuga cycle. The current Kaliyuga began with the ascendance of Srikrishna from the earth after the Mahabharata war more than 5,000 years ago. Indian astronomical texts fix the time and date of the onset of current Kaliyuga either at the midnight of February 17/18 or the sunrise of February 18 of 3102 BCE (Julian reckoning). Further the mean midnight is as at Ujjaiyini (23^o 11'N Latitude and 75^o 46'E Longitude) meridian passing through Lanka on the equator according to the ardharatrika (midnight) system.<ref name=":0" />

=== कल्पम् ॥ Kalpa ===

=== कल्पम् ॥ Kalpa ===

Kalpa is the period of one thousand Chaturyugas or Mahayugas, forming a day of Brahma. A Kalpa is divided into 14 Manvantaras, and there is a Manu, the patriarch, of each of the 14 Manvantaras.   

Kalpa is the period of one thousand Chaturyugas or Mahayugas, forming a day of Brahma. A Kalpa is divided into 14 [[Manvantaras (मन्वन्तराणि)]], and there is a Manu, the patriarch, of each of the 14 Manvantaras. The list of Manus who were the rulers in different Manvantaras is given variously in different Puranas. Bhagavata Purana mentions as follows   <blockquote>त्रिलोक्या युगसाहस्रं बहिराब्रह्मणो दिनम् । तावत्येव निशा तात यन्निमीलति विश्वसृक् ॥ २२ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.22)</blockquote><blockquote>निशावसान आरब्धो लोककल्पोऽनुवर्तते । यावद्दिनं भगवतो मनून् भुञ्जंश्चतुर्दश ॥ २३ ॥(Bhag. Pura. 3.11.23)<ref name=":3" /> </blockquote>Summary : A day of Brahma consists of one thousand cycles of four yugas (when creation proceeds). The night is also of the same duration when Brahma withdraws from creation (and is said to be in sleep). At the end of the night (cyclic time) the creation of the world (Kalpa) and proceeds so long as it is Brahma's day which covers the time period of fourteen Manus.

  1 Kalpa = 1 Day of Brahma

  1 Kalpa = 1 Day of Brahma

=== Brahma Ayu ===

=== Brahma Ayu ===

The largest Indian time cycle is that of 100 years of the life of Brahma.   

The largest Indian time cycle is that of 100 years of the life of Brahma. Like [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]] is a position, Brahma is also a position of a creator.  <blockquote>एवंविधैरहोरात्रैः कालगत्योपलक्षितैः । अपक्षितमिवास्यापि परमायुर्वयःशतम् ॥ ३२ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>यदर्धमायुषस्तस्य परार्धमभिधीयते । पूर्वः परार्धोऽपक्रान्तो ह्यपरोऽद्य प्रवर्तते ॥ ३३ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>पूर्वस्यादौ परार्धस्य ब्राह्मो नाम महानभूत् । कल्पो यत्राभवद्‍ब्रह्मा शब्दब्रह्मेति यं विदुः ॥ ३४ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.32-34)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>Summary : In due course of Kala, with such types of days and nights as described above, even the Ayu (long span of life) of 100 years of Brahma comes to an end. Half of this Brahmayu is called Parardha (परार्धः). The first parardha of Brahma's life has passed, now the other half is running. 

which is has two divisions Parartha (परार्धः) - Purva Parartha which constitutes the first fifty years of Brahma's age and Dvitiya Parartha which make the later fifty years of Brahma's age.

Purva parardha which constitutes the first fifty years and Dvitiya parardha which make the later fifty years of Brahma's age. At the beginning of the purva parardha, there was great Kalpa called Brahma Kalpa when Brahma was born called as Sabda Brahma. The subsequent Kalpa was called Padma Kalpa, when Brahma is said to have sprouted from the like-like navel of Hari in the form of world-like lotus. 

=== Current Kala ===

=== Current Kala ===

Currently we are in the Vaivasvata Manvantara, the seventh Manvantara of the Svetavaraha Kalpa, which is at the beginning of the second Parardha, or the fifty-first year of the current 100 year cycle of Brahma.

Currently we are in the Vaivasvata Manvantara, the seventh Manvantara of the Svetavaraha Kalpa, which is at the beginning of the second Parardha, or the fifty-first year of the current 100 year cycle of Brahma.<blockquote>अयं तु कथितः कल्पो द्वितीयस्यापि भारत । वाराह इति विख्यातो यत्रासीत् शूकरो हरिः ॥ ३६ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.36)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote>Sumamary : The present Kalpa of the second Parardha is known as Varaha (pertaining to the boar) as Hari assumed the boar-form (शूकरः) in this Kalpa.

Present Kalpa = Svetavaraha Kalpa   

Present Kalpa = Svetavaraha Kalpa