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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 (वेदाङ्गज्योतिषम्)|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.  

[[File:Kalachakram.png|thumb|450x450px|'''Kala Chakram. Time is depicted as a Wheel. Konark Temple in Odisha, India houses an elaborate architectural construction of the Surya's Chariot having a single wheel.''']]

[[File:Kalachakram.png|thumb|450x450px|'''Kala Chakram. Time is depicted as a Wheel. Konark Temple in Odisha, India houses an elaborate architectural construction of the Surya's Chariot having a single wheel.''']]

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>Thus, Kala is usually represented as a wheel due to its cyclic nature (although linear time scales are also present).

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>Thus, Kala is usually represented as a wheel due to its cyclic nature (although linear time scales are also present).

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.     

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>   

While in the [[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिषम्)|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>   

=== Yuga in Vedas ===

=== Yuga in Vedas ===

Astronomical knowledge was necessary since early Rig vedic times for the day-today-life of the people seasons for sowing, rains for growth and reaping were all acquired. Direct connection of astronomy, particularly the lunar transits, are seen in the performance of monthly rites such as Darsapurnamasa and seasonal rites such as chaturmasya. Thus vedic people had knowledge required for their religious activities. The Vedic astronomers evolved a system of five years yuga. As seen in Rigveda time period of yuga was mentioned <blockquote>दीर्घतमा मामतेयो जुजुर्वान् दशमे युगे । dīrghatamā māmateyo jujurvān daśame yuge । (Rig Veda 1.158.6)<ref>Rig Veda ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhitas-mandal-01-sukta-158/ Mandala 1 Sukta 158])</ref></blockquote>The names of the five years of a yuga being<ref name=":0" />

Astronomical knowledge was necessary since early Rig vedic times for the day-today-life of the people seasons for sowing, rains for growth and reaping were all acquired. Direct connection of astronomy, particularly the lunar transits, are seen in the performance of monthly rites such as Darsapurnamasa and seasonal rites such as chaturmasya. Thus vedic people had knowledge required for their religious activities. The Vedic astronomers evolved a system of five years yuga. As seen in Rigveda time period of yuga was mentioned <blockquote>दीर्घतमा मामतेयो जुजुर्वान् दशमे युगे । dīrghatamā māmateyo jujurvān daśame yuge । (Rig Veda 1.158.6)<ref>Rig Veda ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhitas-mandal-01-sukta-158/ Mandala 1 Sukta 158])</ref></blockquote>Prof K. S. Shukla explains the evolution of the Vedic concept of a Yuga as follows:<blockquote>''The year of vedic astronomy seems to have been a tropical one. The months were lunar and measured from full moon to full moon and also from new moon to new moon. There is evidence to show that to make the lunar year correspond to the solar year 12 days were intercalated after every lunar  year and one month was dropped after every 40 years. At a later stage, this correspondence was established by evolving a cycle of five solar years with 62 lunar months. This cycle was called a yuga.''<ref>K. S. Shukla, [https://www.insa.nic.in/writereaddata/UpLoadedFiles/IJHS/Vol04_1And2_11_KSShukla.pdf Astronomy in ancient and medieval India], Indian Journal of History of Science, Vol.4, Nos. 1-2 (1969), pp.99-106.</ref></blockquote>The names of the five years of a yuga being<ref name=":0" />

# संवत्सरः॥ Samvatsara

# संवत्सरः॥ Samvatsara

# परिवत्सरः ॥ Parivatsara

# परिवत्सरः ॥ Parivatsara