Difference between revisions of "Kala (कालः)"

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== Two Perspectives of Kala ==
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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.
There are different perspectives in regards to kala. Kala is a kshayakari (exhausting) or vriddi kari (flourishing). For less intelligent kala appears to be destructive. For the intelligent, kala gives rise to good things. Certainly, today is not there for tomorrow. But tomorrow does bring novelty than today. To create something new and innovative is the work of kala. But while doing it, to make present as past, vartamana into bhuta, is one of the unavoidable steps of the kala.
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[[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.''']]
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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).
  
“thehino divasa gatha ha” One may say “oh the day is over!!” But one may also say “jivan bhadrani pasyati” “if I survive, I see good things!” It’s another exclamation. The second one is the vision of Vedic followers. The first one is natural --the weak, human perspective and it is helpless perspective. Or to feel that “yesterday, today and tomorrow should be there” That is the attitude of one who is defeated. This is not the mind set of person with valor. Therefore for tomorrow’s auspiciousness, todays auspicious has to be exhausted. From that perspective, this is the mood of shrusti-kartha. He has a transcendental vision or idea. To consider this world is anitya, asukha that is not paramartha. Gita Acraya one who spoke this, has only one intention: 'Anityam asukham lokam imam prapya bhajasva mam' this we need to hear carefully. With this anitya, one can perform the devotion of the lord which is sasvtha purushartha . That anitya becomes a solution for nitya, from the temporary to the permanent. In this way one can see that nothing is insignificant in this world. Everything is a path for eternality. For that madhu, this is the specialty of madhu vidya. The Chandogya Sruthi picks up this concept. The Brihadaranyak Sruthi also speaks of the same thing.
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Many of astronomers of ancient days had different versions of what time period constituted the yugas on the macroscopic scale of time.
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== कालः सृष्टिः च ॥ Kala and Creation ==
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Kala as related to the Universe refers to the theories of creation, the cosmogenesis on the macroscopic scale.  
  
Madhu Vidya and Bridarankya: “yam prithvi hi sarvesham bhutanam madhu asai prativai sarvani bhutani madhu ima apaha ayam agnihi ayam vayuhu ayam Aditya ima adishaha ayam akasaha ayam dharmaha idam satyam idam maanusham ayam atma” it says paramatma the lord is explaining that everything we see in this world is madhu maya that means it is madhu. Not simply matter, its nectar.
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Kala pertains to that cycle where creation begins with the intense effort, tapas and the determination, the samkalpa, of Brahman as given in the Prasnopanishad and reiterated by the Taittiropanishad<blockquote>तस्मै स होवाच प्रजाकामो वै प्रजापतिः स तपोऽतप्यत स तपस्तप्त्वा स मिथुनमुत्पादयते । रयिं च प्रणं चेत्येतौ मे बहुधा प्रजाः करिष्यत इति ॥ ४ ॥ (Pras. Upan. 1.4)<ref>Prasnopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%83 Prashna 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tasmai sa hovāca prajākāmo vai prajāpatiḥ sa tapo'tapyata sa tapastaptvā sa mithunamutpādayate । rayiṁ ca praṇaṁ cetyetau me bahudhā prajāḥ kariṣyata iti ॥ 4 ॥ (Pras. Upan. 1.4)</blockquote><blockquote>सोऽकामयत । बहुभ्यां प्रजायेयेति । स तपोऽतप्यत । स तपस्तप्त्वा । इदँ सर्वमसृजत । (Taitt. Upan. 2.6) <ref>Taittriyopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80#%E0%A5%A5_%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A0%E0%A5%8A%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A5 Brahmanandavalli Anuvaka 6])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>so'kāmayata । bahubhyāṁ prajāyeyeti । sa tapo'tapyata । sa tapastaptvā । idam̐ sarvamasr̥jata । (Taitt. Upan. 2.6)</blockquote>Summary : Pippalada, the venerable seer, tells about the beginning of the creation that the creator became desirous of creating and with that in view, practiced tapas and created a pair Rayi, the moon, the food and Prana, fire, the consumer, the surya (corresponding to matter and life force) with the intention of springing forth all dual existence whatsoever from them. In a similar spirit Taittriyopanishad also tells us that the creator at the beginning practiced tapas and having done so created all that exists.<ref>Swami Gambhirananda (1937) ''Eight Upanishads, Volume 2 (Aitareya, Mundaka, Mandukya and Karika and Prasna)'' Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama</ref>
  
Madhu means honey. It is not that madhu or honey has got fragrance of many different kinds of flowers. It’s semisolid. Not only that even that place where madhu is not apparently there, in those flowers also the madhu is there. Why is that what we do not access to that honey, which are the those honey bees can access it? Who can say even in the neem tree there is honey? For honey bee alone can get the nectar from all kinds of flowers. Therefore everything what we see there is honey and that our lord Bhagavantha is actually a honey bee and everything is there for his utility. What is bitter for us, for him it is sweet. Even if it’s not sweet through time factor, he has the power to make it sweet. That is his expertise and profession and because everything is there for him. Anyone who creates something for himself, can he, make it useless? For a gambler the earth may feel a burden because when everybody is harassing him for to give back the loan that he has taken, for him committing suicide becomes a natural instinct and for him the entire world is poisonous. But is it a great siddhanta? But Sruthi says: “yam prithvi sarvesahm bhutanam madhu” the prithvi or this earth planet is very sweet like nectar. And similarly for prithvi all living entities are madhu. For someone if something is poisonous then it’s their stupidity. But by the grace of God and by his intelligence it can be made into madhu. Because for prithvi everything is madhu. “Asyam prithvyam tejo maya mrithamaya purushaha” that the svayam prakasa or fully self-illuminated, completely knowledgeable one who is freed from the effect of death, who is sinless, in this way one who possess unlimited transcendental qualities. Such paramatama is residing as paramatma within the heart, not only in heart, “prithvi tattva jata vada” that everything which has prithvi tattva, in all that ingredients the lord is residing. He is residing in our heart, in our mind, in prana, he is residing as antrayami, even though the body which is compared to prithvi or earth will be disintegrated, but still that is also nectar. Outside it is like prithvi, just like neem tree but within that there is a nectar—just like there is nectar in the neem tree also and that madhu is none other than the paramatma, who has appeared as madhu rupa. “ayameva soyah yamatma idam amritham idam brahmam idam sarvam“ therefore in this way in all 5 mahabutas, in Aditya, in moon, in directions, in electricity, in rumbling of sky, in space, the lord is residing and all that is madhu. We will read here that not only this, that dharma, satya, all human varieties and living entities have become madhu maya, it is flavored with madhu. “atmanasthu kamayam sarva priyam bhavathi” this is Maitreya Brahmana, Brihadranyaka Upanishad 2.4 it is also said that
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Shri. Dharampal rightly explained the influence of Kala on the Chitta (manas) or the psyche of people of Bharatavarsha as follows<ref>Dharampal. (2000) ''Dharampal Collected Writings. Volume 5 : Essays on Tradition, Recovery and Freedom.'' Goa : Other India Press</ref><blockquote>''The universe once created passes through a number of cycles of growth and decay, and at the end is drawn back into Brahman. This cycle of creation of the universe from Brahman and its disappearance into Him is repeated again and again according to the predefined flow of time. Within this large cycle, there are a number of shorter cycles, at the end of each of which the universe gets destroyed, and created again at the beginning of the next. Thus the universe keeps on passing through repeated cycles of creation and destruction, and there are series of cycles within cycles.''</blockquote><blockquote>''The terms ‘creation’ and ‘destruction’ are probably not wholly appropriate in this context. Because, at the time of creation, it is not something external to Him that Brahman creates. He only manifests Himself in the varied forms of the universe, and at the end He merely contracts those manifestations into Himself, and thus there is in reality nothing that gets created or destroyed. The universe, in a sense, is a mere play of Brahman, a cosmic game of repeated expansion and contraction of the ultimate essence of the universe. But it is a game that is played according to well defined cycles of time. The universe is play, but the play is not arbitrary. Even Brahman is governed by kala. He manifests and contracts according to a definite flow of time that even He cannot transcend.''</blockquote><blockquote>''Every Indian is probably aware of this Indian view of the universe as the play of Brahman. Every Indian is also aware of the supremacy of kala in this play. Many Indians may not know the very detailed arithmetic of the various cycles of time that is given in the Puranas. But the thought that the universe is a play that had no beginning and will have no end, and that this play of Brahman proceeds according to the inexorable flow of kala, is deeply etched on the chitta of the people of India.''</blockquote>
“ yaha prithvyam thisthan yesstaha atma antharyami yam amrithaha” 3.7 said that paramatma, because he is antharyami in everything therefore all srushti has become madhu maya, nectarean. That is what is explained. Dadhyancha rushi one who experienced this vidya gave knowledge to Ashwini devathas, this is explained in Rg Veda and Bradahrana Aprahanka and some ruk are given as example. Rk Samhita: 1.116.12 and 1.117.22 this is completely exhibited here. There was one restriction for Dadichi, Indra said, “if you give this knowledge to anyone, your head will fall off.” Therefore Aswini devathas, to free from such danger, they placed horse’s head by removing Dadhichis own head, and then at the end of the vidya when horses head fell off fro torso , they placed his original head back. This has been explained and we can see connection between madhu vidya and madhu kaitabha demons and Hayagriva Bhagavan and then this is very nicely indicated that the Hayagriva Bhagavan by being Dadichi, he explained madhu vidya.  
 
  
purah chakre dvipadaha purah chakre shatushpadaha puraha sapakshi bhutva puraha purusha avishata sa va ayam purushahsarvaasu purshu purishaya nainena kincanavritham nainenakinchana samamvritham”2.5.18
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== कालमानम् ॥ Kalamanam ==
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Kalapramana or the duration of time and measurements, are variously described in different texts. The calculations are based on nakshatras, suryodaya, chandra (moon), planetary transits for earthly time measurements. Thus we have nakshatramana, sauramana, chandramana etc ways to measure time. Astronomy and Astrology texts such as Surya Siddhanta, deal extensively with the topic of time and its calculations ranging from less than a second to trillions of years. Kala is classified into two according to Surya Siddhanta as follows  <blockquote>लोकानामन्तकृत्कालः कालोन्यः कलनात्मकः । स द्विधा स्थूलसूक्ष्मत्वान्मू्र्त्तश्चामूर्त उच्यते॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.10) (Page 5 of Book in Reference<ref name=":4">Mahaviraprasad, Shrivastav. (1982 2nd Edition) ''Surya Siddhanta with Vijnana Bhashya, Khanda One.'' Allahabad: Dr. Ratnakumari Svadhyaya Sansthan</ref>)</blockquote><blockquote>lokānāmantakr̥tkālaḥ kālonyaḥ kalanātmakaḥ । sa dvidhā sthūlasūkṣmatvānmūrttaścāmūrta ucyate॥</blockquote>Summary : Kala is (1) Anadi and Ananta (is continuous and endless) which destroys all animate and inanimate things (2) Kalanatmaka (that which can be known). The later kind of time which is measurable time is again of two kinds. (1) Sthula (2) Sukshma. Sthula time is that which can be measured hence called Murta, while Sukshma is (a small time scale) which cannot be measured (immeasurable due to its smallness) hence called Amurta.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">Pt. Bapu Deva Sastri (1861) ''Translation of the Surya Siddhanta from the Sanskrit.'' Calcutta : Asiatic Society of Bengal</ref>
  
He is the paramatma for those who have two legs. He is also paramatma for those who have four legs and he is paramatma for all living entities. He is the essence of all puras. He is the purishaya--one who is resting in the pura. He has covered everything. There is nothing in this world that is not covered by him and not included in him. Therefore all the ingredients of the entire creation, in isolation or in integration, it is all madhumaya. That means everywhere there is the power of paramatma. This is the essence of madhuvidya. In the Chandogya Sruthi allegorically it is given that the lord who is shaped in the honey hive, that was described previously. Why the Sun is compared? Because he is also the personification of kala and the flow of time is also engaged in collecting the madhu and the entire collection of madhu is none other than the personification of kala, who is Aditya. Therefore only kala has the power to transfer poison into nectar. That is how kala has been glorified. In that sense, sruthi is glorifying the Sun god. That is how it is described.
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First kind of Kala cannot be imagined as one cannot know its origin and end, it is indivisible and exists as is even though Brahmas and Indras pass, creation and destruction take place, hence Mrtyu is called also called Kala.<ref name=":4" />
  
== Father with 5 legs ==
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Various texts such as Manusmrti, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu purana, Bhavishya purana and Mahabharata, also deal elaborately with the creation of the universe, of the division of the movement of the Universe into specified periods called the Yugas. Indian time scales are unique in that they account for the cyclic and linear aspects as seen from the astronomical texts.  
“panchapadam pitaramdvadaashakritim diva ahuhu pare ardhe purishinam athemeanya upare vichakshanam sapta chakre shadara ahurpitamiti” Prashno Upanishad 1.11.
 
  
Aditya who is compared to kala and who is pitri for all living entities has 5 legs: vatsara, samvatsara, parivatsara, idavatsara, anuvatsara. OR if hemantha and sisshira are considered together, then there are 5 ruthus. They are the feet of the lord and he has got 12 forms because of having 12 months. “Nana lingathvadruthu nam nana suryathvam” Taitreya Aranyaka one sentence we can remember.
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== Yuga System ==
In the paramapada, he has a place in parardha. Aditya is compared having the covering of the Brahmanda which is golden hue that is what people say. Other great jnanis, kala tattva vidas also say in otherway. Aditya adi grihas they have chariot wheel which has 7 characteristics and 6 samvatsaras with 6 ruthis. He is sitting on the chariot with complete expertise and sobriety and one who can keep entire universe properly. This mantra is spoken in Ruk Samhita 1.164.12. Dirga thamasu was the one who revealed to this world. That is how it is famous to the world.
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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.    
  
== The 7 horses and a chariot with one wheel ==
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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> 
  “Saptayanjanthi rathame eka chakram eko ashvo mahati saptanama thrinabhi chakramajara manrvamam yathrema vishwabhuvanani tasthuhu” Ruk Samhita 1.104.2.
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Surya’s chariot has got one wheel with 7 horses or one horse having 7 names. That’s how this chariot is driven. This ratha or chariot has got 3 navels. This chariot is the chariot which no one can face. It’s inexhaustible. Entire lokas are completely dependent on this. It’s a very interesting description. Everyone knows that the horses of the Sun god, they drive the chariot. Everyone knows this (this could be 7 days of week or the 7 colors of the sun rays coming from sun god or surya can also be called as horse) Yajanvalkya was given Veda instructions by sun god in the form of Vaji, the horse. Therefore Sukla Yuju Samhitha is called Vajasaneyi samhita. In the kala swarupa, samvatsarais nothing but the body of the horse. Ushase is head, Surya is his eyes and this beautiful description is given in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad “ushyava ashwase medhasyasiraha” it is explained in the beginning of the chapter. The Ashwamedha Yaga has a special esoteric meaning. If sun god himself is one horse, because there are 7 days in the week and those days have different names that clearly indicates that there are no 7 horses, but one horse with 7 kinds of concepts. The sapta rasmi extracts juice for him. He is always glorified with sapta rushis. That’s how the esoteric meaning is given and that is the description in Nirukta Vyahyan 4.22. Smavatsara and yajna kaala swarupa
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=== Yuga in Vedas ===
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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 name=":10">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" />
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# संवत्सरः॥ Samvatsara
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# परिवत्सरः ॥ Parivatsara
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# इडावत्सरः ॥ Idaavatsara
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# अनुवत्सरः ॥ Anuvatsara
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# इद्वत्सरः ॥ Idvatsara
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This five-year cycle contains, 1830 civil days, 1835 sidereal days, 1800 saura days, 62 lunar months, 5 revolutions of the Sun, and 67 revolutions of the Moon.
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However, in astronomy, the epoch as well as the elements by which the mean motions were determined had to be changed from time to time, as a result of observation. But, on basic principles and theories, there was complete unanimity. Accordingly, the Hindu astronomers established an epoch when all the planets were in zero longitude. And the period from one such epoch to the next, according to Aryabhata I, is 10,80,000 years. When the Moon's apogee and the Moon's ascending node are included in the list of the planets, the above mentioned period becomes 43,20,000 years which is defined as the duration of a yuga. Thus, yuga is a period of time which begins and ends when the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, the Moon's apogee, and the Moon's ascending node are in zero longitude. According to Aryabhata I, the last time this phenomenon occurred was sunrise at Lanka (a hypothetical place at the intersection of the equator and the meridian of Ujjain) on Friday, 18 February, 3102 BC. It is also noted that this yuga consists of four periods of 10,80,000 years, which are called quarter yugas and bear the names Krtayuga, Tretayuga, Dvaparayuga and Kaliyuga. And the current quarter yuga is the Kaliyuga which is assumed to have begun at the sunrise at Lanka on Friday, 18 February, 3102 BC.<ref name=":10" />
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Thus, the term Yuga (युगम्) also referred, in general, to 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. Bhagavata Purana describes the concept of time and yugas (in Divya varshas) in the following verses<blockquote>कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चतुर्युगम् । दिव्यैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्षैः सावधानं निरूपितम् ॥ १८ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.18) kr̥taṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kaliśceti caturyugam । divyairdvādaśabhirvarṣaiḥ sāvadhānaṁ nirūpitam ॥ 18 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.18)</blockquote><blockquote>चत्वारि त्रीणि द्वे चैकं कृतादिषु यथाक्रमम् । सङ्ख्यातानि सहस्राणि द्विगुणानि शतानि च ॥ १९ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.19) <ref name=":3">Bhagavata Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7 Skanda 3 Adhyaya 11])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>catvāri trīṇi dvē caikaṁ kr̥tādiṣu yathākramam । saṅkhyātāni sahasrāṇi dviguṇāni śatāni ca ॥ 19 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.19)</blockquote>Meaning : The four yugas are namely Krta, Treta, Dvapara and Kali consisting of 12,000 divya varshas, in the order of 4000, 3000, 2000, and 1000 divya years respectively.
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The earliest reference to a mahayuga's division into 4 yugas is found in the Aitereya Brahmana belonging to the Rig Veda. <blockquote>कलिः शयानो भवति संजिहानस्तु द्वापरः। उत्तिष्ठंस्त्रेता भवति कृतं सम्पद्यते चरंश् चरैवेति चरैवेति... (Aite. Brah. 7.15)<ref>Aitereya Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A5%AD_(%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE) Panchika 7])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>kaliḥ śayānō bhavati saṁjihānastu dvāparaḥ। uttiṣṭhaṁstrētā bhavati kr̥taṁ sampadyatē caraṁś caraivēti caraivēti... (Aite. Brah. 7.15)</blockquote>Thus, the concept of four yugas is vedic in origin, although the exact measure is not mentioned we rely on the Puranas and other texts. 
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=== Kala in Puranas ===
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Thus even though the concept of yugas is vedic in origin, Puranas have dealt with this subject extensively. One of the 5 lakshanas of Puranas include that such texts should contain the information of Creation and Manvantaras. Thus, apart from description about the scheme and number of years, Puranas also deal with many other topics. However, the macrocosmic and microcosmic time scales are varying in Puranic texts. Commonly it is the सृष्टिप्रकरणम् Srsthiprakaranam that deals with the information regarding Kalapramanas. Below is a list of Puranas and the information of Kalapramana contained therein.
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* Brahmanda Purana (Purvabhaga)<ref>Brahmanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF Purvabhaga Adhyaya 29])</ref>
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* Vishnu Purana (Prathama Amsha)<ref>Sri Vishnu Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9 Amsha 1 Adhyaya 3])</ref>
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* Padma Purana (Khanda One)<ref>Padma Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7_(%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D)/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A9 Khanda 1, Srishti Khanda, Adhyaya 3])</ref>
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* Vishnudharmottara Purana (Khanda 1 and 2)<ref>Vishnudharmottara Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AD%E0%A5%A9 Khanda 1 Adhyaya 73]) and ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AC%E0%A5%AC-%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AD%E0%A5%A6 Khanda 2 Adhyaya 166-170])</ref>
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* Kurma Purana (Purvabhaga)<ref>Kurma Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Purvabhaga Adhyaya 5])</ref>
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* Linga Purana (Purvabhaga)<ref>Linga Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_-_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA Purvabhaga Adhyaya 4])</ref>
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* Narada Purana (Purvardha)<ref>Narada Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB Purvardha Adhyaya 5])</ref>
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* Matsya Purana (Adhyaya 3 and others)
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=== चतुर्युगाः ॥ Chaturyugas in terms of Divya Varshas ===
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This scheme of the Yuga Pramana includes calculations of Kala, the macroscopic time, in terms of Divya varshas. According to Surya Siddhanta,
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one human year = one day of devatas
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360 human years = one year of devatas (Divya varsha)
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So when the time lengths of Krtayuga, Tretayuga, Dvapara and Kali yugas in human years are divided by 360 we get the lengths of those yugas in Divya Varshas.
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Krtayuga = 17,28,000 years or 1728000/360 = 4,800 Divya varshas
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Tretayuga = 12,96,000 years or 12,96,000/360 = 3,600 Divya varshas
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Dvaparayuga = 8,64,000 years or 8,64,000/360 = 2,400 Divya varshas
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Kaliyuga = 4,32,000 years or 4,32,000/360 = 1,200 Divya varshas
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1 Mahayuga = 43,20,000 Human years = 12,000 Divya varshas
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=== चतुर्युगाः ॥ Chaturyugas in terms of Human Varshas ===
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[[File:Kalpa.png|thumb|654x654px|Chaturyugas in terms of Human Varshas]]
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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:
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# कृतयुगम् ॥ Krtayuga
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# त्रेतायुगम् ॥ Tretayuga
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# द्वापरयुगम् ॥ Dvaparayuga
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# कलियुगम् ॥ Kaliyuga
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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" /> 
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==== कृतयुगम् ॥ Krta Yuga  ====
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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><blockquote>dharmaścatuṣpānmanujān kr̥tē samanuvartatē । sa ēvānyēṣvadharmēṇa vyēti pādēna vardhatā ॥ 21 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.29)</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.
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==== त्रेतायुगम् ॥ Treta Yuga  ====
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The second Yuga of the Chaturyuga cycle. In this Yuga the bull representing Dharma is said to stand on three feet.
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==== द्वापरयुगम् ॥ Dvapara Yuga  ====
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The third of the four yugas of the Chaturyuga cycle. In this Yuga the bull representing dharma, that holds the earth, is left with only two feet. Dvapara in the current Chaturyuga begins with the ascendance of Srirama and ends with the ascendance of Srikrishna from the earth.
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==== कलियुगम् ॥ Kali Yuga  ====
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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<sup>o</sup> 11'N Latitude and 75<sup>o</sup> 46'E Longitude) meridian passing through Lanka on the equator according to the ardharatrika (midnight) system.<ref name=":0" />
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=== कल्पम् ॥ Kalpa ===
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Kalpa is the period of one thousand Chaturyugas or Mahayugas, forming a day of Brahma. Surya Siddhanta describes as follows  <blockquote>युगानां सप्ततिस्सैका मन्वन्तरमिहोच्यते । कृताब्दसङ्ख्या तस्यान्ते प्रोक्तो जलप्लवः ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.18)</blockquote><blockquote>yugānāṁ saptatissaikā manvantaramihōcyatē । kr̥tābdasaṅkhyā tasyāntē prōktō jalaplavaḥ ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.18)</blockquote><blockquote>ससन्धयस्ते मनवः कल्पे ज्ञेयाश्चतुर्दश  । कृतप्रमाणः कल्पादौ संधिः पञ्चदश स्मृताः ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.19)</blockquote><blockquote>sasandhayastē manavaḥ kalpē jñēyāścaturdaśa । kr̥tapramāṇaḥ kalpādau saṁdhiḥ pañcadaśa smr̥tāḥ ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.19)</blockquote>Summary : 71 Mahayugas (containing 306,720,000 solar years) constitute a Manvantara (ruled by a Manu). At the end of it, in the number of solar years (17,28,000 solar years) equal to that of the Krtayuga (called as Sandhi period) a Jalaplava or a universal deluge is said to happen. Fourteen such Manu periods along with the Sandhi periods and the fifteenth sandhi at the beginning, having the same number of years as the Krtayuga constitute a Kalpa.<ref name=":5" />
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A Kalpa is thus 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>trilōkyā yugasāhasraṁ bahirābrahmaṇō dinam । tāvatyēva niśā tāta yannimīlati viśvasr̥k ॥ 22 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.22)</blockquote><blockquote>निशावसान आरब्धो लोककल्पोऽनुवर्तते । यावद्दिनं भगवतो मनून् भुञ्जंश्चतुर्दश ॥ २३ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.23)<ref name=":3" /> </blockquote><blockquote>niśāvasāna ārabdhō lōkakalpō'nuvartatē । yāvaddinaṁ bhagavatō manūn bhuñjaṁścaturdaśa ॥ 23 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.23)</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) starts and proceeds so long as it is Brahma's day which covers the time period of fourteen Manus.
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1 Kalpa = 1 Day of Brahma
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360 Days and 360 Nights of Brahma = 1 Brahma Year
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According to Matsya purana<ref name=":9">Matsya Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 290])</ref>, a few names of the Kalpas are given in the following list{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 800px; font-style: normal;|# Svetakalpa (श्वेतकल्पः)
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# Nilalohita (नीललोहितः)
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# Vamadeva (वामदेवः)
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# Rathantara (राथन्तरः)
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# Raurava (रौरवः)
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# Deva (देवः)
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# Brhatkalpa (बृहत्कल्पः)
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# Kandarpa (कन्दर्पः)
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# Sadya (सद्यः)
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# Ishana (ईशानः)
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# Tama (तमः)
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# Sarasvata (सारस्वतः)
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# Udana (उदानः)
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# Gaaruda (गारुड़ः)
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# Kaurma (कौर्मः)
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# Narasimha (नारसिंहः)
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# Samana (समानः)
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# Agneya (आग्नेयः)
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# Soma (सोमः)
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# Manava(मानवः)
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# Puman (पुमान्)
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# Vaikuntha (वैकुण्ठः)
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# Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी)
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# Savitri (सावित्री)
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# Ghora (घोरः)
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# Varaha (वाराहः)
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# Vairaja (वैराजः)
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# Gauri (गौरी)
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# Maheshvara (माहेश्वरः)
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# Pitrkalpa (पितृकल्पः)}}
 +
 
 +
Indian astronomical siddhantas assumed that at the commencement of the Kalpa all the planets including Ketu were in conjunction (at the same celestial longitude) at the first point of Mesha and the ascending node (Rahu) of the Moon was 180 degrees away (i.e., at the first point of Tula).<ref name=":1">Balachandra Rao, S. (2014) Indian Astronomy. Concepts and Procedures. Benguluru : M.P. Birla Institute of Management</ref>
 +
 
 +
=== ब्राह्मायुः ॥ Brahma Ayuh ===
 +
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>ēvaṁvidhairahōrātraiḥ kālagatyōpalakṣitaiḥ । apakṣitamivāsyāpi paramāyurvayaḥśatam ॥ 32 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>यदर्धमायुषस्तस्य परार्धमभिधीयते । पूर्वः परार्धोऽपक्रान्तो ह्यपरोऽद्य प्रवर्तते ॥ ३३ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>yadardhamāyuṣastasya parārdhamabhidhīyatē । pūrvaḥ parārdhō'pakrāntō hyaparō'dya pravartatē ॥ 33 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>पूर्वस्यादौ परार्धस्य ब्राह्मो नाम महानभूत् । कल्पो यत्राभवद्‍ब्रह्मा शब्दब्रह्मेति यं विदुः ॥ ३४ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.32-34)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>pūrvasyādau parārdhasya brāhmō nāma mahānabhūt । kalpō yatrābhavad‍brahmā śabdabrahmēti yaṁ viduḥ ॥ 34 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.32-34)</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. 
 +
 
 +
Purva parardha constitutes the first fifty years and Dvitiya parardha makes 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 navel of Hari in the form of world-like lotus. 
 +
 
 +
=== 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.<blockquote>अयं तु कथितः कल्पो द्वितीयस्यापि भारत । वाराह इति विख्यातो यत्रासीत् शूकरो हरिः ॥ ३६ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.36)<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>ayaṁ tu kathitaḥ kalpō dvitīyasyāpi bhārata । vārāha iti vikhyātō yatrāsīt śūkarō hariḥ ॥ 36 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.36)</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 (51 year of the 100 years of Brahma Ayuh) 
 +
 
 +
'''Present Manvantara''' = Vaivasvata Manvantara (seventh of the 14 Manvantaras) 
 +
 
 +
'''Present Mahayuga''' = 28th (of the 71 Mahayugas) 
 +
 
 +
'''Present Chaturyuga''' = Kaliyuga (4th of the Chaturyugas) 
 +
 
 +
The later time points in Kali yuga are calculated in our calendars and Panchangas. Based on the periodical natural observations such as the sunrise and sunset, new moon, full moon, and seasons, a working scale of time commonly reckoned as the present [[Kalamana (कालमानम्)]] - consisting of day, fortnight, month and year - has been used from early times. Accurate prediction of the ending moment of tithis, sankramana (transit of sun across rasis), nakshatra and rashi transits, eclipses which have been discussed in established astronomical texts show, in a big way, the growth of mathematics in India.  
 +
 
 +
=== Importance of Astronomy ===
 +
[[Vedanga Jyotisha (वेदाङ्गज्योतिषम्)|Vedanga Jyotisha]] (Yajurveda recension) clearly indicates how Jyotisha forms a part of Veda apart from highlighting the need for an accurate calendar system.<blockquote>वेदा हि यज्ञार्थमभिप्रवृत्ताः कालानुपूर्व्या विहिताश्च यज्ञाः । तस्मादिदं कालविधामशास्त्रं यो ज्योतिषं वेद स वेद यज्ञम् ॥ (Veda. Jyot. Yaju. 3)<ref name=":8" /></blockquote><blockquote>vēdā hi yajñārthamabhipravr̥ttāḥ kālānupūrvyā vihitāśca yajñāḥ । tasmādidaṁ kālavidhāmaśāstraṁ yō jyōtiṣaṁ vēda sa vēda yajñam ॥ (Veda. Jyot. Yaju. 3)</blockquote>Summary : The Vedas have indeed been revealed for the sake of performance of the Yajnas. But these yajnas are dependent on (various segments of) time. Therefor, only he who knows the lore of time. viz., Jyotisha, understands the processes of [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|Yajnas]].<ref name=":8" />
 +
 
 +
Given the importance of the calendrical system, Indian astronomers took it as a challenge upon themselves to prepare accurate calendars to cater to the needs of the society. Thus arose the concepts of Panchangas and the specific calculations associated with them.
 +
 
 +
== शकाः ॥ Sakas or Eras ==
 +
A [[Saka (शकः)]] or "era" is an important aspect in preparing calendars which are used for civil purposes as well as official, religious, historical and chronological records and events. Among several different Indian eras in use, the most popular ones are the Kali (कलि), Vikrama Saka (विक्रमशकः), Salivahana saka (शालिवाहनशकः), Kollam. In any era adopted, the starting point is called epoch from which day the future periods of time, the day, months, years are counted. Such a reference day of an era were likely historical events such as the coronation of a famous king, the birth of a famous person, astronomical event of significance. In Indian astronomical texts, generally the Kali era is adopted, which is considered more advantageous compared to later eras for the simple reason that it covers the antiquity of our civilization adequately unlike the more later eras.
 +
 
 +
Many other eras have been in use, Saptarshi, Yudhisthira, Buddha nirvana, Mahavira nirvana, Bengali san, Lakshmanasena among others.<ref name=":1" />
 +
 
 +
== Microcosmic Time Scale ==
 +
Just as the macrocosmic Yuga system is discussed extensively in various texts, the microcosmic time scale is also widely explained in different texts and different scholars have given different measures. A few systems are discussed here below. 
 +
 
 +
=== Vedanga Jyotish<ref>Subhash Kak (2000), [http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/ast.pdf Astonomy and its Role in Vedic Culture], Chapter 23 in Science and Civilization in India, Vol.1, The Dawn of Indian Civilization, Part 1, edited by G. P. Pande, Delhi: ICPR/Munshiram Manoharlal, pp. 507-524.</ref> ===
 +
The measures of time used in Vedanga Jyotisha are as follows:
 +
 
 +
1 lunar year = 360 tithis
 +
 
 +
1 solar year = 366 solar days
 +
 
 +
1 day = 30 muhurtas
 +
 
 +
1 muhurta = 2 nadikas
 +
 
 +
1 nadika = 10 1/20 kalas
 +
 
 +
1 day = 124 amshas (parts)
 +
 
 +
1 day = 603 kalas
 +
 
 +
=== Surya Siddhanta ===
 +
<blockquote>प्राणादिः कथितो मूर्तः त्रुट्याद्योऽमूर्तसंज्ञकः । षड्भिःप्राणैः विनाडी स्यात्तत्षष्ट्या नाडिका स्मृता ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>prāṇādiḥ kathitō mūrtaḥ truṭyādyō'mūrtasaṁjñakaḥ । ṣaḍbhiḥprāṇaiḥ vināḍī syāttatṣaṣṭyā nāḍikā smr̥tā ॥</blockquote><blockquote>नाडी षष्ट्या तु नाक्षत्रमहोरात्रं प्रकीर्तितम् । तत्त्रिंशता भवेन्मासः सावनोऽर्कोदयैःस्मृतः ॥</blockquote><blockquote>nāḍī ṣaṣṭyā tu nākṣatramahōrātraṁ prakīrtitam । tattriṁśatā bhavēnmāsaḥ sāvanō'rkōdayaiḥsmr̥taḥ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>ऐन्दवस्तिथिभिः तद्वत्सङ्क्रान्त्या सौर उच्यते । मासैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्ष दिव्यं तदह उच्यते ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 11 - 13)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>aindavastithibhiḥ tadvatsaṅkrāntyā saura ucyatē । māsairdvādaśabhirvarṣa divyaṁ tadaha ucyatē ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 11 - 13)</blockquote>Summary : The time called Murta begins with Prana and the time called Amurta begins with Truti. The time which contains six Pranas is called Pala and that which contains sixty Palas is called a Nadika (also called Nadi or ghatika). The time which contains sixty Ghatikas is called Naakshatra Ahoratra (Sidereal Day and Night). Thirty Naakshatra Ahoratras makes up a Naakshatra Masa. Thirty Savana days (day counted from Sunrise to sunset) make a Savana month.
 +
 
 +
=== Shiva Mahapurana ===
 +
Shivapurana mentions that Kala is controlled by Sadashiva with time based on the divisions involving Kshana, Truti, Lava, Nimesha, Kashtha, Muhurta, Day, NIght, Paksha, Masa, season, Samvatsara, Yuga, Kalpa and Mahakalpa<ref>Shastri, J. L. (1960) Shiva Purana, Volume 3, Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Series. Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd. ([https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.459585/page/n492 Adhyaya 25 of Uma Samhita on Page 1558])</ref> as given in the following slokas<blockquote>क्षणं त्रुटिर्लवं चैव निमेषं काष्ठकालिकम् ।। ३८ ।। kṣaṇaṁ truṭirlavaṁ caiva nimēṣaṁ kāṣṭhakālikam ।। 38 ।। </blockquote><blockquote>मुहूर्तकं त्वहोरात्रं पक्षमासर्तुवत्सरम् ।। अब्दं युगं तथा कल्पं महाकल्पं तथैव च ।। ३९ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>muhūrtakaṁ tvahōrātraṁ pakṣamāsartuvatsaram ।। abdaṁ yugaṁ tathā kalpaṁ mahākalpaṁ tathaiva ca ।। 39 ।।</blockquote><blockquote>एवं स हरते कालः परिपाट्या सदाशिवः ।। ēvaṁ sa haratē kālaḥ paripāṭyā sadāśivaḥ ।। (Shiv. Pura. 5.25.38 - 40)<ref>Shiva Purana (Samhita 5 (Uma Samhita) [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A5%AB_(%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE)/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 25])</ref></blockquote>
 +
 
 +
Bhagavata Purana describes the smallest particles as Paramanus, two of which make up an Anu. Three such anus make up the Trasarenu. It is the smallest particle which is visible. (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.5-8)<ref name=":3" /> Another measure of Kala as mentioned in the Prashastapada Bhashya (chap 5) is also tabularized. After the lapse of a hundred years of Brahma (1 year of Brahma has 360 days of Brahma or Kalpa) there comes the time for the final deliverance of the Brahma of the time.<ref name=":6">Prashastapada Bhashya ([https://archive.org/details/prashastapadabhashya/page/n61 Chapter 5])</ref>
 +
 
 +
== Macro and Microcosmic Time Scales ==
 +
Different versions of time scales are given in various texts ranging from Puranas to Siddhantas. A few examples have been compiled in the table below.
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+Kala in Macro and Microcosmic Scales
 +
!No
 +
!Shiva Purana
 +
!Bhagavata Purana<ref name=":3" />
 +
!Vaiseshika Darshana<ref name=":6" />
 +
!Vedanga Jyotisha<ref name=":8">Kuppanna Sastry, T. S. and Sarma, K. V. (1985) ''Vedanga Jyotisa of Lagadha in its Rk and Yajus Recensions with the translation and notes of Prof. T. S. Kuppanna Sastry.'' New Delhi : Indian National Science Academy</ref>
 +
!Surya Siddhanta<ref name=":5" />
 +
|-
 +
|1
 +
|Kshana
 +
|3 Trasarenu = Truti
 +
|1 Nimesha = time taken for twinkling of eyes
 +
|5 Gurvaksharas (letters of double maatra) or 10 matras = 1 Kashta
 +
|Prana
 +
|-
 +
|2
 +
|Truti
 +
|100 Trutis = Vedha
 +
|5 Nimesha = 1 Kashtha
 +
|31 Kashtas = 1 Pada
 +
|6 Pranas = Pala
 +
|-
 +
|3
 +
|Lava
 +
|3 Vedhas = Lava
 +
|30 Kashthas = 1 Kalaa
 +
|4 Padas (124 Kashtas) = 1 Kalaa
 +
|60 Palas = Nadika or Nadi or Ghatika
 +
|-
 +
|4
 +
|Nimesha
 +
|3 Lavas = Nimesha
 +
|15 Kalaas = 1 Nadika
 +
|10 and 1/20 Kalaas = 1 Nadika
 +
|60 Ghatikas = Nakahsatra Ahoratra
 +
|-
 +
|5
 +
|Kashta
 +
|3 Nimeshas = Kshana
 +
|30 Kalas = 1 Muhurta
 +
|2 Nadikas = 1 Muhurtha
 +
|30 Nakshatra Ahoratras = Nakshatra Masa
 +
|-
 +
|6
 +
|Muhurta
 +
|5 Kshanas = Kashta
 +
|30 Muhurtas = 1 Ahoratra (day and night)
 +
|30 Muhurthas = 1 Day (i.e., the civil day)
 +
|30 Savana (terrestrial) = Savana Month
 +
|-
 +
|7
 +
|Ahoratram
 +
|15 Kashtas = Laghu
 +
|15 Ahoratras = 1 Paksha (fort-night)
 +
|366 Days = 12 Solar months or 6 Rtus, or 2 Ayanas, or 1 Solar year
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|8
 +
|Paksha
 +
|15 Laghus = Nadika or Ghatika
 +
|2 Pakshas = 1 Masa (Month)
 +
|5 Solar Years = 1 Yuga
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|9
 +
|Masa
 +
|2 Nadikas = Muhurta
 +
|2 Masas = 1 Rtu (Season)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|10
 +
|Abda (year)
 +
|6 or 7 nadikas = Prahara/Yama
 +
|3 Rtus or 6 Masas = 1 Ayana (Uttarayana = 1 Day of Devatas, Dakshinayana = 1 Night of Devatas)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|11
 +
|
 +
|4 Yamas = Day and Night (Ahahoratri)
 +
|6 Rtus or 12 Masas = 1 Samvatsara (Earth Year)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|12
 +
|
 +
|15 Days = Paksha
 +
|360 Samvatsaras(Earth years) = 1 Divyavarsha (1 Year of Devatas)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|13
 +
|
 +
|2 Pakshas = 1 Masa
 +
|1200 Divyavarshas = The Four Yugas
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|14
 +
|
 +
|2 Masas = Rtu
 +
|1000 Four yugas = 1 Day of Brahma
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|15
 +
|
 +
|6 Masas = Ayana
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|16
 +
|
 +
|2 Ayanas = Samvatsara
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== कालमापनयन्त्राणि ॥ Instruments to measure time ==
 +
[[File:Ghatika Yantra.png|thumb|455x455px|'''Ghati Yantra Creative Model''']]
 +
Again our ancients had different systems to measure time, distance, weights and numbers which are discussed under the heading [[Standards of Measurement (मापनमानदण्ड:)]]. Although the earlier texts do not describe many instruments of keeping time (except instruments such as Aadhaka mentioned in Vedanga Jyotisha), in the later day many astronomers such as Aryabhata, Bhaskaracharya, Ganesha Daivajna used different instruments to measure time. Some of them include 
 +
[[File:Gola Yantra.png|thumb|500x500px|'''Gola Yantra (Actual and Depictive images)''']]
 +
* गोलयन्त्रम् ॥ Spherical instrument
 +
* तुर्ययन्त्रम् ॥ Quarter circle instrument
 +
* चापयन्त्रम् ॥ Semicircular Disc instrument
 +
* धनुर्यन्त्रम् ॥ Bow and arrow instrument
 +
* चक्रयन्त्रम् ॥ Disc instrument
 +
* शङ्कुयन्त्रम् ॥ Cone instrument
 +
* नाडीवलययन्त्रम् ॥ Shadow instrument
 +
* फ़लकयन्त्रम् ॥ Spherical instrument
 +
* यष्टियन्त्रम् ॥ Stick instrument
 +
* घटियन्त्रम् ॥ Timing vessal
 +
* कर्तरीयन्त्रम् ॥ Scissor instrument
 +
* शकटयन्त्रम् ॥ Two pivoted sticks
 +
* जलत्नलिकायन्त्रम् ॥ Star positioning instrument
 +
* पीठयन्त्रम् ॥ Peetha Yantra
 +
Astrolabes were used to know the position of stars and also calculate time in more recent years. Siddhanta Shiromani by Bhaskaracharya II extensively describes the construction of yantras for various purposes. The construction of Gola (Sidd. Shir. Yant. 3 and 4) and Ghati Yantras are given in Siddhanta Shiromani in the following sloka as an example<blockquote>घटदलरूपा घटिता घटिका ताम्री तले पृथुच्छिद्रा।  द्युनिशनिमज्जनमित्या भक्तं द्युनिशं घटीमानम्॥ सि. शि. यन्त्र.८ (Sidd. Shir. Yant. 8)</blockquote><blockquote>ghaṭadalarūpā ghaṭitā ghaṭikā tāmrī tale pr̥thucchidrā। dyuniśanimajjanamityā bhaktaṁ dyuniśaṁ ghaṭīmānam॥ si. śi. yantra.8 (Sidd. Shir. Yant. 8)</blockquote>
 +
 
 +
== कालस्य ईश्वररूपम् ॥ Kala's Ishvaraswarupa ==
 +
Defining Kala, Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 3<ref name=":7" />) describes the different qualities of time and the divinity associated with it. Time is that divine form which is the cause of change in appearance of things.    <blockquote>रूपभेदास्पदं दिव्यं काल इत्यभिधीयते । भूतानां महदादीनां यतो भिन्नदृशां भयम् ॥ ३७ ॥ </blockquote><blockquote>rūpabhēdāspadaṁ divyaṁ kāla ityabhidhīyatē । bhūtānāṁ mahadādīnāṁ yatō bhinnadr̥śāṁ bhayam ॥ 37 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>योऽन्तः प्रविश्य भूतानि भूतैरत्त्यखिलाश्रयः । स विष्ण्वाख्योऽधियज्ञोऽसौ कालः कलयतां प्रभुः ॥ ३८ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>yō'ntaḥ praviśya bhūtāni bhūtairattyakhilāśrayaḥ । sa viṣṇvākhyō'dhiyajñō'sau kālaḥ kalayatāṁ prabhuḥ ॥ 38 ॥</blockquote>He pervades in all beings (भूतानि) and supports them. He is Vishnu, the deity of Yajnas, who blesses the performer with the fruits of Yajnas. He is the ruler of rulers.<blockquote>न चास्य कश्चिद् दयितो न द्वेष्यो न च बान्धवः । आविशत्यप्रमत्तोऽसौ प्रमत्तं जनमन्तकृत् ॥ ३९ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>na cāsya kaścid dayitō na dvēṣyō na ca bāndhavaḥ । āviśatyapramattō'sau pramattaṁ janamantakr̥t ॥ 39 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>यद्‍भयाद् वाति वातोऽयं सूर्यस्तपति यद्‍भयात् । यद्‍भयाद् वर्षते देवो भगणो भाति यद्‍भयात् ॥ ४० ॥</blockquote><blockquote>yad‍bhayād vāti vātō'yaṁ sūryastapati yad‍bhayāt । yad‍bhayād varṣatē dēvō bhagaṇō bhāti yad‍bhayāt ॥ 40 ॥</blockquote>He is neither shows compassion on anyone, nor hates, nor is a relative to anyone. He is always alert, and takes possession of the inattentive people to their destruction. It is out if fear of Kala that the wind blows, the sun shines, the devatas shower rains and the celestial bodies shine forth.<blockquote>यद् वनस्पतयो भीता लताश्चौषधिभिः सह । स्वे स्वे कालेऽभिगृह्णन्ति पुष्पाणि च फलानि च ॥ ४१ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>yad vanaspatayō bhītā latāścauṣadhibhiḥ saha । svē svē kālē'bhigr̥hṇanti puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca ॥ 41 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>स्रवन्ति सरितो भीता नोत्सर्पत्युदधिर्यतः । अग्निरिन्धे सगिरिभिः भूर्न मज्जति यद्‍भयात् ॥ ४२ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>sravanti saritō bhītā nōtsarpatyudadhiryataḥ । agnirindhē sagiribhiḥ bhūrna majjati yad‍bhayāt ॥ 42 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>सोऽनन्तोऽन्तकरः कालो अनादिरादिकृदव्ययः । जनं जनेन जनयन् मारयन् मृत्युनान्तकम् ॥ ४५ ॥<ref name=":7">Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 3 [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 29])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>sō'nantō'ntakaraḥ kālō anādirādikr̥davyayaḥ । janaṁ janēna janayan mārayan mr̥tyunāntakam ॥ 45 ॥</blockquote>It is out of fear (rather obedience to or in alignment with) that the trees, creepers, medicinal herbs and plants blossom forth and bear fruits in accordance to the seasonal changes. It is Kala that controls the flow of rivers and keeps the checks of seas from overflowing (crossing fixed limits). It is this power that makes the fires burn and prevents the earth though burdened with the mountains from submerging in the seas.
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It is due to the control of Kala that the sky gives space for the living breathing entities and Mahat pervades into the world enveloped in seven sheaths. It is this power which drives the devatas, who control the mobile and immobile beings, to carry out their duties of creation in every Yuga. Kala is Ananta (endless) but puts an end to all. TIme is Anadi (beginningless) but marks the beginning of all. Kala is Avyaya (immutable). Time causes beings to be born and by means of death takes them to their end.<ref>Tagare, Ganesh. Vasudeo. (1976) The Bhagavata Purana (Part 1 Skandas 1-3) Translation into English. Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 7. Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd. ([https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.190677/page/n530 Skanda 3 Adhyaya 29])</ref>
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== Verses and Meanings ==
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According to Matsya purana<ref name=":9" />, a few names of the Kalpas are given in the following verses<blockquote>प्रथमं श्वेतकल्पस्तु द्वितीयो नीललोहितः। वामदेवस्तृतीयस्तु ततोराथन्तरोऽपरः ।। २९०.३</blockquote><blockquote>रौरवः पञ्चमः प्रोक्तः षष्ठो देव इति स्मृतः। सप्तमोऽथ बृहत्कल्पः कन्दर्पोऽष्टम उच्यते ।। २९०.४</blockquote><blockquote>सद्योऽथ नवमः प्रोक्तः ईशानो दशमः स्मृतः। तम एकादशः प्रोक्तः तथा सारस्वतः परः ।। २९०.५</blockquote><blockquote>त्रयोदश उदानस्तु गारुड़ोऽथ चतुर्दशः। कौर्मः पञ्चदशः प्रोक्तः पौर्णमास्यामजायत ।। २९०.६</blockquote><blockquote>षोड़शो नारसिंहस्तु समानस्तु ततोऽपरः। आग्नेयोऽष्टादशः प्रोक्तः सोमकल्पस्तथापरः ।। २९०.७</blockquote><blockquote>मानवो विंशतिः प्रोक्तस्तत् पुमानिति चापरः। वैकुण्ठश्चापरस्तद्वल्लक्ष्मीकल्पस्तथापरः ।। २९०.८</blockquote><blockquote>चतुर्विंशतिमः प्रोक्तः सावित्री कल्पसंज्ञकः। पञ्चविंशस्ततो घोरो वाराहस्तु ततोऽपरः ।। २९०.९</blockquote><blockquote>सप्तविंशोऽथ वैराजो गौरि कल्पस्तथापरः। माहेश्वरस्तु स प्रोक्त स्त्रिपुरो यत्र घातितः ।। २९०.१०</blockquote><blockquote>पितृकल्पस्तथान्ते तु या कुहूर्ब्रह्मणः परा। इत्येवं ब्रह्मणो मासः सर्वपातकनाशनः ।। २९०.११</blockquote>
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== References ==
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<references />
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[[Category:Vedangas]]
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[[Category:Jyotisha]]

Latest revision as of 00:42, 14 December 2023

Kala (Samskrit : कालः) means "time period" in a broad sense. The concept of time is explained systematically in 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 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.[1]Thus, Kala is usually represented as a wheel due to its cyclic nature (although linear time scales are also present).

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

Talk on the Theory of Four Yuga in Vedas
Talk on Time - Its Nature & Mysterious Dimensions Cosmos to Common Man

कालः सृष्टिः च ॥ Kala and Creation

Kala as related to the Universe refers to the theories of creation, the cosmogenesis on the macroscopic scale.

Kala pertains to that cycle where creation begins with the intense effort, tapas and the determination, the samkalpa, of Brahman as given in the Prasnopanishad and reiterated by the Taittiropanishad

तस्मै स होवाच प्रजाकामो वै प्रजापतिः स तपोऽतप्यत स तपस्तप्त्वा स मिथुनमुत्पादयते । रयिं च प्रणं चेत्येतौ मे बहुधा प्रजाः करिष्यत इति ॥ ४ ॥ (Pras. Upan. 1.4)[2]

tasmai sa hovāca prajākāmo vai prajāpatiḥ sa tapo'tapyata sa tapastaptvā sa mithunamutpādayate । rayiṁ ca praṇaṁ cetyetau me bahudhā prajāḥ kariṣyata iti ॥ 4 ॥ (Pras. Upan. 1.4)

सोऽकामयत । बहुभ्यां प्रजायेयेति । स तपोऽतप्यत । स तपस्तप्त्वा । इदँ सर्वमसृजत । (Taitt. Upan. 2.6) [3]

so'kāmayata । bahubhyāṁ prajāyeyeti । sa tapo'tapyata । sa tapastaptvā । idam̐ sarvamasr̥jata । (Taitt. Upan. 2.6)

Summary : Pippalada, the venerable seer, tells about the beginning of the creation that the creator became desirous of creating and with that in view, practiced tapas and created a pair Rayi, the moon, the food and Prana, fire, the consumer, the surya (corresponding to matter and life force) with the intention of springing forth all dual existence whatsoever from them. In a similar spirit Taittriyopanishad also tells us that the creator at the beginning practiced tapas and having done so created all that exists.[4] Shri. Dharampal rightly explained the influence of Kala on the Chitta (manas) or the psyche of people of Bharatavarsha as follows[5]

The universe once created passes through a number of cycles of growth and decay, and at the end is drawn back into Brahman. This cycle of creation of the universe from Brahman and its disappearance into Him is repeated again and again according to the predefined flow of time. Within this large cycle, there are a number of shorter cycles, at the end of each of which the universe gets destroyed, and created again at the beginning of the next. Thus the universe keeps on passing through repeated cycles of creation and destruction, and there are series of cycles within cycles.

The terms ‘creation’ and ‘destruction’ are probably not wholly appropriate in this context. Because, at the time of creation, it is not something external to Him that Brahman creates. He only manifests Himself in the varied forms of the universe, and at the end He merely contracts those manifestations into Himself, and thus there is in reality nothing that gets created or destroyed. The universe, in a sense, is a mere play of Brahman, a cosmic game of repeated expansion and contraction of the ultimate essence of the universe. But it is a game that is played according to well defined cycles of time. The universe is play, but the play is not arbitrary. Even Brahman is governed by kala. He manifests and contracts according to a definite flow of time that even He cannot transcend.

Every Indian is probably aware of this Indian view of the universe as the play of Brahman. Every Indian is also aware of the supremacy of kala in this play. Many Indians may not know the very detailed arithmetic of the various cycles of time that is given in the Puranas. But the thought that the universe is a play that had no beginning and will have no end, and that this play of Brahman proceeds according to the inexorable flow of kala, is deeply etched on the chitta of the people of India.

कालमानम् ॥ Kalamanam

Kalapramana or the duration of time and measurements, are variously described in different texts. The calculations are based on nakshatras, suryodaya, chandra (moon), planetary transits for earthly time measurements. Thus we have nakshatramana, sauramana, chandramana etc ways to measure time. Astronomy and Astrology texts such as Surya Siddhanta, deal extensively with the topic of time and its calculations ranging from less than a second to trillions of years. Kala is classified into two according to Surya Siddhanta as follows

लोकानामन्तकृत्कालः कालोन्यः कलनात्मकः । स द्विधा स्थूलसूक्ष्मत्वान्मू्र्त्तश्चामूर्त उच्यते॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.10) (Page 5 of Book in Reference[6])

lokānāmantakr̥tkālaḥ kālonyaḥ kalanātmakaḥ । sa dvidhā sthūlasūkṣmatvānmūrttaścāmūrta ucyate॥

Summary : Kala is (1) Anadi and Ananta (is continuous and endless) which destroys all animate and inanimate things (2) Kalanatmaka (that which can be known). The later kind of time which is measurable time is again of two kinds. (1) Sthula (2) Sukshma. Sthula time is that which can be measured hence called Murta, while Sukshma is (a small time scale) which cannot be measured (immeasurable due to its smallness) hence called Amurta.[6][7]

First kind of Kala cannot be imagined as one cannot know its origin and end, it is indivisible and exists as is even though Brahmas and Indras pass, creation and destruction take place, hence Mrtyu is called also called Kala.[6]

Various texts such as Manusmrti, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu purana, Bhavishya purana and Mahabharata, also deal elaborately with the creation of the universe, of the division of the movement of the Universe into specified periods called the Yugas. Indian time scales are unique in that they account for the cyclic and linear aspects as seen from the astronomical texts.

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. The concept of Yugas is extensively discussed in various puranas.

While in the 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.[8]

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

दीर्घतमा मामतेयो जुजुर्वान् दशमे युगे । dīrghatamā māmateyo jujurvān daśame yuge । (Rig Veda 1.158.6)[9]

Prof K. S. Shukla explains the evolution of the Vedic concept of a Yuga as follows:

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.[10]

The names of the five years of a yuga being[8]

  1. संवत्सरः॥ Samvatsara
  2. परिवत्सरः ॥ Parivatsara
  3. इडावत्सरः ॥ Idaavatsara
  4. अनुवत्सरः ॥ Anuvatsara
  5. इद्वत्सरः ॥ Idvatsara

This five-year cycle contains, 1830 civil days, 1835 sidereal days, 1800 saura days, 62 lunar months, 5 revolutions of the Sun, and 67 revolutions of the Moon.

However, in astronomy, the epoch as well as the elements by which the mean motions were determined had to be changed from time to time, as a result of observation. But, on basic principles and theories, there was complete unanimity. Accordingly, the Hindu astronomers established an epoch when all the planets were in zero longitude. And the period from one such epoch to the next, according to Aryabhata I, is 10,80,000 years. When the Moon's apogee and the Moon's ascending node are included in the list of the planets, the above mentioned period becomes 43,20,000 years which is defined as the duration of a yuga. Thus, yuga is a period of time which begins and ends when the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, the Moon's apogee, and the Moon's ascending node are in zero longitude. According to Aryabhata I, the last time this phenomenon occurred was sunrise at Lanka (a hypothetical place at the intersection of the equator and the meridian of Ujjain) on Friday, 18 February, 3102 BC. It is also noted that this yuga consists of four periods of 10,80,000 years, which are called quarter yugas and bear the names Krtayuga, Tretayuga, Dvaparayuga and Kaliyuga. And the current quarter yuga is the Kaliyuga which is assumed to have begun at the sunrise at Lanka on Friday, 18 February, 3102 BC.[10]

Thus, the term Yuga (युगम्) also referred, in general, to 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. Bhagavata Purana describes the concept of time and yugas (in Divya varshas) in the following verses

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्चेति चतुर्युगम् । दिव्यैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्षैः सावधानं निरूपितम् ॥ १८ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.18) kr̥taṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kaliśceti caturyugam । divyairdvādaśabhirvarṣaiḥ sāvadhānaṁ nirūpitam ॥ 18 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.18)

चत्वारि त्रीणि द्वे चैकं कृतादिषु यथाक्रमम् । सङ्ख्यातानि सहस्राणि द्विगुणानि शतानि च ॥ १९ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.19) [11]

catvāri trīṇi dvē caikaṁ kr̥tādiṣu yathākramam । saṅkhyātāni sahasrāṇi dviguṇāni śatāni ca ॥ 19 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.19)

Meaning : The four yugas are namely Krta, Treta, Dvapara and Kali consisting of 12,000 divya varshas, in the order of 4000, 3000, 2000, and 1000 divya years respectively. The earliest reference to a mahayuga's division into 4 yugas is found in the Aitereya Brahmana belonging to the Rig Veda.

कलिः शयानो भवति संजिहानस्तु द्वापरः। उत्तिष्ठंस्त्रेता भवति कृतं सम्पद्यते चरंश् चरैवेति चरैवेति... (Aite. Brah. 7.15)[12]

kaliḥ śayānō bhavati saṁjihānastu dvāparaḥ। uttiṣṭhaṁstrētā bhavati kr̥taṁ sampadyatē caraṁś caraivēti caraivēti... (Aite. Brah. 7.15)

Thus, the concept of four yugas is vedic in origin, although the exact measure is not mentioned we rely on the Puranas and other texts.

Kala in Puranas

Thus even though the concept of yugas is vedic in origin, Puranas have dealt with this subject extensively. One of the 5 lakshanas of Puranas include that such texts should contain the information of Creation and Manvantaras. Thus, apart from description about the scheme and number of years, Puranas also deal with many other topics. However, the macrocosmic and microcosmic time scales are varying in Puranic texts. Commonly it is the सृष्टिप्रकरणम् Srsthiprakaranam that deals with the information regarding Kalapramanas. Below is a list of Puranas and the information of Kalapramana contained therein.

  • Brahmanda Purana (Purvabhaga)[13]
  • Vishnu Purana (Prathama Amsha)[14]
  • Padma Purana (Khanda One)[15]
  • Vishnudharmottara Purana (Khanda 1 and 2)[16]
  • Kurma Purana (Purvabhaga)[17]
  • Linga Purana (Purvabhaga)[18]
  • Narada Purana (Purvardha)[19]
  • Matsya Purana (Adhyaya 3 and others)

चतुर्युगाः ॥ Chaturyugas in terms of Divya Varshas

This scheme of the Yuga Pramana includes calculations of Kala, the macroscopic time, in terms of Divya varshas. According to Surya Siddhanta,

one human year = one day of devatas 
360 human years = one year of devatas (Divya varsha)

So when the time lengths of Krtayuga, Tretayuga, Dvapara and Kali yugas in human years are divided by 360 we get the lengths of those yugas in Divya Varshas.

Krtayuga = 17,28,000 years or 1728000/360 = 4,800 Divya varshas

Tretayuga = 12,96,000 years or 12,96,000/360 = 3,600 Divya varshas

Dvaparayuga = 8,64,000 years or 8,64,000/360 = 2,400 Divya varshas

Kaliyuga = 4,32,000 years or 4,32,000/360 = 1,200 Divya varshas

1 Mahayuga = 43,20,000 Human years = 12,000 Divya varshas

चतुर्युगाः ॥ Chaturyugas in terms of Human Varshas

Chaturyugas 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:

  1. कृतयुगम् ॥ Krtayuga
  2. त्रेतायुगम् ॥ Tretayuga
  3. द्वापरयुगम् ॥ Dvaparayuga
  4. 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.[20]

कृतयुगम् ॥ Krta Yuga

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.[1]

धर्मश्चतुष्पान्मनुजान् कृते समनुवर्तते । स एवान्येष्वधर्मेण व्येति पादेन वर्धता ॥ २१ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.29)[11]

dharmaścatuṣpānmanujān kr̥tē samanuvartatē । sa ēvānyēṣvadharmēṇa vyēti pādēna vardhatā ॥ 21 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.29)

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.

त्रेतायुगम् ॥ Treta Yuga

The second Yuga of the Chaturyuga cycle. In this Yuga the bull representing Dharma is said to stand on three feet.

द्वापरयुगम् ॥ Dvapara Yuga

The third of the four yugas of the Chaturyuga cycle. In this Yuga the bull representing dharma, that holds the earth, is left with only two feet. Dvapara in the current Chaturyuga begins with the ascendance of Srirama and ends with the ascendance of Srikrishna from the earth.

कलियुगम् ॥ 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 (23o 11'N Latitude and 75o 46'E Longitude) meridian passing through Lanka on the equator according to the ardharatrika (midnight) system.[8]

कल्पम् ॥ Kalpa

Kalpa is the period of one thousand Chaturyugas or Mahayugas, forming a day of Brahma. Surya Siddhanta describes as follows

युगानां सप्ततिस्सैका मन्वन्तरमिहोच्यते । कृताब्दसङ्ख्या तस्यान्ते प्रोक्तो जलप्लवः ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.18)

yugānāṁ saptatissaikā manvantaramihōcyatē । kr̥tābdasaṅkhyā tasyāntē prōktō jalaplavaḥ ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.18)

ससन्धयस्ते मनवः कल्पे ज्ञेयाश्चतुर्दश । कृतप्रमाणः कल्पादौ संधिः पञ्चदश स्मृताः ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.19)

sasandhayastē manavaḥ kalpē jñēyāścaturdaśa । kr̥tapramāṇaḥ kalpādau saṁdhiḥ pañcadaśa smr̥tāḥ ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 1.19)

Summary : 71 Mahayugas (containing 306,720,000 solar years) constitute a Manvantara (ruled by a Manu). At the end of it, in the number of solar years (17,28,000 solar years) equal to that of the Krtayuga (called as Sandhi period) a Jalaplava or a universal deluge is said to happen. Fourteen such Manu periods along with the Sandhi periods and the fifteenth sandhi at the beginning, having the same number of years as the Krtayuga constitute a Kalpa.[7] A Kalpa is thus 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

त्रिलोक्या युगसाहस्रं बहिराब्रह्मणो दिनम् । तावत्येव निशा तात यन्निमीलति विश्वसृक् ॥ २२ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.22)

trilōkyā yugasāhasraṁ bahirābrahmaṇō dinam । tāvatyēva niśā tāta yannimīlati viśvasr̥k ॥ 22 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.22)

निशावसान आरब्धो लोककल्पोऽनुवर्तते । यावद्दिनं भगवतो मनून् भुञ्जंश्चतुर्दश ॥ २३ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.23)[11]

niśāvasāna ārabdhō lōkakalpō'nuvartatē । yāvaddinaṁ bhagavatō manūn bhuñjaṁścaturdaśa ॥ 23 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.23)

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) starts and proceeds so long as it is Brahma's day which covers the time period of fourteen Manus.

1 Kalpa = 1 Day of Brahma
360 Days and 360 Nights of Brahma = 1 Brahma Year

According to Matsya purana[21], a few names of the Kalpas are given in the following list

  1. Svetakalpa (श्वेतकल्पः)
  2. Nilalohita (नीललोहितः)
  3. Vamadeva (वामदेवः)
  4. Rathantara (राथन्तरः)
  5. Raurava (रौरवः)
  6. Deva (देवः)
  7. Brhatkalpa (बृहत्कल्पः)
  8. Kandarpa (कन्दर्पः)
  9. Sadya (सद्यः)
  10. Ishana (ईशानः)
  11. Tama (तमः)
  12. Sarasvata (सारस्वतः)
  13. Udana (उदानः)
  14. Gaaruda (गारुड़ः)
  15. Kaurma (कौर्मः)
  16. Narasimha (नारसिंहः)
  17. Samana (समानः)
  18. Agneya (आग्नेयः)
  19. Soma (सोमः)
  20. Manava(मानवः)
  21. Puman (पुमान्)
  22. Vaikuntha (वैकुण्ठः)
  23. Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी)
  24. Savitri (सावित्री)
  25. Ghora (घोरः)
  26. Varaha (वाराहः)
  27. Vairaja (वैराजः)
  28. Gauri (गौरी)
  29. Maheshvara (माहेश्वरः)
  30. Pitrkalpa (पितृकल्पः)

Indian astronomical siddhantas assumed that at the commencement of the Kalpa all the planets including Ketu were in conjunction (at the same celestial longitude) at the first point of Mesha and the ascending node (Rahu) of the Moon was 180 degrees away (i.e., at the first point of Tula).[20]

ब्राह्मायुः ॥ Brahma Ayuh

The largest Indian time cycle is that of 100 years of the life of Brahma. Like Indra is a position, Brahma is also a position of a creator.

एवंविधैरहोरात्रैः कालगत्योपलक्षितैः । अपक्षितमिवास्यापि परमायुर्वयःशतम् ॥ ३२ ॥

ēvaṁvidhairahōrātraiḥ kālagatyōpalakṣitaiḥ । apakṣitamivāsyāpi paramāyurvayaḥśatam ॥ 32 ॥

यदर्धमायुषस्तस्य परार्धमभिधीयते । पूर्वः परार्धोऽपक्रान्तो ह्यपरोऽद्य प्रवर्तते ॥ ३३ ॥

yadardhamāyuṣastasya parārdhamabhidhīyatē । pūrvaḥ parārdhō'pakrāntō hyaparō'dya pravartatē ॥ 33 ॥

पूर्वस्यादौ परार्धस्य ब्राह्मो नाम महानभूत् । कल्पो यत्राभवद्‍ब्रह्मा शब्दब्रह्मेति यं विदुः ॥ ३४ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.32-34)[11]

pūrvasyādau parārdhasya brāhmō nāma mahānabhūt । kalpō yatrābhavad‍brahmā śabdabrahmēti yaṁ viduḥ ॥ 34 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.32-34)

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.

Purva parardha constitutes the first fifty years and Dvitiya parardha makes 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 navel of Hari in the form of world-like lotus.

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.

अयं तु कथितः कल्पो द्वितीयस्यापि भारत । वाराह इति विख्यातो यत्रासीत् शूकरो हरिः ॥ ३६ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.36)[11]

ayaṁ tu kathitaḥ kalpō dvitīyasyāpi bhārata । vārāha iti vikhyātō yatrāsīt śūkarō hariḥ ॥ 36 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.36)

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 (51 year of the 100 years of Brahma Ayuh)

Present Manvantara = Vaivasvata Manvantara (seventh of the 14 Manvantaras)

Present Mahayuga = 28th (of the 71 Mahayugas)

Present Chaturyuga = Kaliyuga (4th of the Chaturyugas)

The later time points in Kali yuga are calculated in our calendars and Panchangas. Based on the periodical natural observations such as the sunrise and sunset, new moon, full moon, and seasons, a working scale of time commonly reckoned as the present Kalamana (कालमानम्) - consisting of day, fortnight, month and year - has been used from early times. Accurate prediction of the ending moment of tithis, sankramana (transit of sun across rasis), nakshatra and rashi transits, eclipses which have been discussed in established astronomical texts show, in a big way, the growth of mathematics in India.

Importance of Astronomy

Vedanga Jyotisha (Yajurveda recension) clearly indicates how Jyotisha forms a part of Veda apart from highlighting the need for an accurate calendar system.

वेदा हि यज्ञार्थमभिप्रवृत्ताः कालानुपूर्व्या विहिताश्च यज्ञाः । तस्मादिदं कालविधामशास्त्रं यो ज्योतिषं वेद स वेद यज्ञम् ॥ (Veda. Jyot. Yaju. 3)[22]

vēdā hi yajñārthamabhipravr̥ttāḥ kālānupūrvyā vihitāśca yajñāḥ । tasmādidaṁ kālavidhāmaśāstraṁ yō jyōtiṣaṁ vēda sa vēda yajñam ॥ (Veda. Jyot. Yaju. 3)

Summary : The Vedas have indeed been revealed for the sake of performance of the Yajnas. But these yajnas are dependent on (various segments of) time. Therefor, only he who knows the lore of time. viz., Jyotisha, understands the processes of Yajnas.[22]

Given the importance of the calendrical system, Indian astronomers took it as a challenge upon themselves to prepare accurate calendars to cater to the needs of the society. Thus arose the concepts of Panchangas and the specific calculations associated with them.

शकाः ॥ Sakas or Eras

A Saka (शकः) or "era" is an important aspect in preparing calendars which are used for civil purposes as well as official, religious, historical and chronological records and events. Among several different Indian eras in use, the most popular ones are the Kali (कलि), Vikrama Saka (विक्रमशकः), Salivahana saka (शालिवाहनशकः), Kollam. In any era adopted, the starting point is called epoch from which day the future periods of time, the day, months, years are counted. Such a reference day of an era were likely historical events such as the coronation of a famous king, the birth of a famous person, astronomical event of significance. In Indian astronomical texts, generally the Kali era is adopted, which is considered more advantageous compared to later eras for the simple reason that it covers the antiquity of our civilization adequately unlike the more later eras.

Many other eras have been in use, Saptarshi, Yudhisthira, Buddha nirvana, Mahavira nirvana, Bengali san, Lakshmanasena among others.[20]

Microcosmic Time Scale

Just as the macrocosmic Yuga system is discussed extensively in various texts, the microcosmic time scale is also widely explained in different texts and different scholars have given different measures. A few systems are discussed here below.

Vedanga Jyotish[23]

The measures of time used in Vedanga Jyotisha are as follows:

1 lunar year = 360 tithis

1 solar year = 366 solar days

1 day = 30 muhurtas

1 muhurta = 2 nadikas

1 nadika = 10 1/20 kalas

1 day = 124 amshas (parts)

1 day = 603 kalas

Surya Siddhanta

प्राणादिः कथितो मूर्तः त्रुट्याद्योऽमूर्तसंज्ञकः । षड्भिःप्राणैः विनाडी स्यात्तत्षष्ट्या नाडिका स्मृता ॥

prāṇādiḥ kathitō mūrtaḥ truṭyādyō'mūrtasaṁjñakaḥ । ṣaḍbhiḥprāṇaiḥ vināḍī syāttatṣaṣṭyā nāḍikā smr̥tā ॥

नाडी षष्ट्या तु नाक्षत्रमहोरात्रं प्रकीर्तितम् । तत्त्रिंशता भवेन्मासः सावनोऽर्कोदयैःस्मृतः ॥

nāḍī ṣaṣṭyā tu nākṣatramahōrātraṁ prakīrtitam । tattriṁśatā bhavēnmāsaḥ sāvanō'rkōdayaiḥsmr̥taḥ ॥

ऐन्दवस्तिथिभिः तद्वत्सङ्क्रान्त्या सौर उच्यते । मासैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्ष दिव्यं तदह उच्यते ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 11 - 13)[6]

aindavastithibhiḥ tadvatsaṅkrāntyā saura ucyatē । māsairdvādaśabhirvarṣa divyaṁ tadaha ucyatē ॥ (Sury. Sidd. 11 - 13)

Summary : The time called Murta begins with Prana and the time called Amurta begins with Truti. The time which contains six Pranas is called Pala and that which contains sixty Palas is called a Nadika (also called Nadi or ghatika). The time which contains sixty Ghatikas is called Naakshatra Ahoratra (Sidereal Day and Night). Thirty Naakshatra Ahoratras makes up a Naakshatra Masa. Thirty Savana days (day counted from Sunrise to sunset) make a Savana month.

Shiva Mahapurana

Shivapurana mentions that Kala is controlled by Sadashiva with time based on the divisions involving Kshana, Truti, Lava, Nimesha, Kashtha, Muhurta, Day, NIght, Paksha, Masa, season, Samvatsara, Yuga, Kalpa and Mahakalpa[24] as given in the following slokas

क्षणं त्रुटिर्लवं चैव निमेषं काष्ठकालिकम् ।। ३८ ।। kṣaṇaṁ truṭirlavaṁ caiva nimēṣaṁ kāṣṭhakālikam ।। 38 ।।

मुहूर्तकं त्वहोरात्रं पक्षमासर्तुवत्सरम् ।। अब्दं युगं तथा कल्पं महाकल्पं तथैव च ।। ३९ ।।

muhūrtakaṁ tvahōrātraṁ pakṣamāsartuvatsaram ।। abdaṁ yugaṁ tathā kalpaṁ mahākalpaṁ tathaiva ca ।। 39 ।।

एवं स हरते कालः परिपाट्या सदाशिवः ।। ēvaṁ sa haratē kālaḥ paripāṭyā sadāśivaḥ ।। (Shiv. Pura. 5.25.38 - 40)[25]

Bhagavata Purana describes the smallest particles as Paramanus, two of which make up an Anu. Three such anus make up the Trasarenu. It is the smallest particle which is visible. (Bhag. Pura. 3.11.5-8)[11] Another measure of Kala as mentioned in the Prashastapada Bhashya (chap 5) is also tabularized. After the lapse of a hundred years of Brahma (1 year of Brahma has 360 days of Brahma or Kalpa) there comes the time for the final deliverance of the Brahma of the time.[26]

Macro and Microcosmic Time Scales

Different versions of time scales are given in various texts ranging from Puranas to Siddhantas. A few examples have been compiled in the table below.

Kala in Macro and Microcosmic Scales
No Shiva Purana Bhagavata Purana[11] Vaiseshika Darshana[26] Vedanga Jyotisha[22] Surya Siddhanta[7]
1 Kshana 3 Trasarenu = Truti 1 Nimesha = time taken for twinkling of eyes 5 Gurvaksharas (letters of double maatra) or 10 matras = 1 Kashta Prana
2 Truti 100 Trutis = Vedha 5 Nimesha = 1 Kashtha 31 Kashtas = 1 Pada 6 Pranas = Pala
3 Lava 3 Vedhas = Lava 30 Kashthas = 1 Kalaa 4 Padas (124 Kashtas) = 1 Kalaa 60 Palas = Nadika or Nadi or Ghatika
4 Nimesha 3 Lavas = Nimesha 15 Kalaas = 1 Nadika 10 and 1/20 Kalaas = 1 Nadika 60 Ghatikas = Nakahsatra Ahoratra
5 Kashta 3 Nimeshas = Kshana 30 Kalas = 1 Muhurta 2 Nadikas = 1 Muhurtha 30 Nakshatra Ahoratras = Nakshatra Masa
6 Muhurta 5 Kshanas = Kashta 30 Muhurtas = 1 Ahoratra (day and night) 30 Muhurthas = 1 Day (i.e., the civil day) 30 Savana (terrestrial) = Savana Month
7 Ahoratram 15 Kashtas = Laghu 15 Ahoratras = 1 Paksha (fort-night) 366 Days = 12 Solar months or 6 Rtus, or 2 Ayanas, or 1 Solar year
8 Paksha 15 Laghus = Nadika or Ghatika 2 Pakshas = 1 Masa (Month) 5 Solar Years = 1 Yuga
9 Masa 2 Nadikas = Muhurta 2 Masas = 1 Rtu (Season)
10 Abda (year) 6 or 7 nadikas = Prahara/Yama 3 Rtus or 6 Masas = 1 Ayana (Uttarayana = 1 Day of Devatas, Dakshinayana = 1 Night of Devatas)
11 4 Yamas = Day and Night (Ahahoratri) 6 Rtus or 12 Masas = 1 Samvatsara (Earth Year)
12 15 Days = Paksha 360 Samvatsaras(Earth years) = 1 Divyavarsha (1 Year of Devatas)
13 2 Pakshas = 1 Masa 1200 Divyavarshas = The Four Yugas
14 2 Masas = Rtu 1000 Four yugas = 1 Day of Brahma
15 6 Masas = Ayana
16 2 Ayanas = Samvatsara

कालमापनयन्त्राणि ॥ Instruments to measure time

Ghati Yantra Creative Model

Again our ancients had different systems to measure time, distance, weights and numbers which are discussed under the heading Standards of Measurement (मापनमानदण्ड:). Although the earlier texts do not describe many instruments of keeping time (except instruments such as Aadhaka mentioned in Vedanga Jyotisha), in the later day many astronomers such as Aryabhata, Bhaskaracharya, Ganesha Daivajna used different instruments to measure time. Some of them include

Gola Yantra (Actual and Depictive images)
  • गोलयन्त्रम् ॥ Spherical instrument
  • तुर्ययन्त्रम् ॥ Quarter circle instrument
  • चापयन्त्रम् ॥ Semicircular Disc instrument
  • धनुर्यन्त्रम् ॥ Bow and arrow instrument
  • चक्रयन्त्रम् ॥ Disc instrument
  • शङ्कुयन्त्रम् ॥ Cone instrument
  • नाडीवलययन्त्रम् ॥ Shadow instrument
  • फ़लकयन्त्रम् ॥ Spherical instrument
  • यष्टियन्त्रम् ॥ Stick instrument
  • घटियन्त्रम् ॥ Timing vessal
  • कर्तरीयन्त्रम् ॥ Scissor instrument
  • शकटयन्त्रम् ॥ Two pivoted sticks
  • जलत्नलिकायन्त्रम् ॥ Star positioning instrument
  • पीठयन्त्रम् ॥ Peetha Yantra

Astrolabes were used to know the position of stars and also calculate time in more recent years. Siddhanta Shiromani by Bhaskaracharya II extensively describes the construction of yantras for various purposes. The construction of Gola (Sidd. Shir. Yant. 3 and 4) and Ghati Yantras are given in Siddhanta Shiromani in the following sloka as an example

घटदलरूपा घटिता घटिका ताम्री तले पृथुच्छिद्रा। द्युनिशनिमज्जनमित्या भक्तं द्युनिशं घटीमानम्॥ सि. शि. यन्त्र.८ (Sidd. Shir. Yant. 8)

ghaṭadalarūpā ghaṭitā ghaṭikā tāmrī tale pr̥thucchidrā। dyuniśanimajjanamityā bhaktaṁ dyuniśaṁ ghaṭīmānam॥ si. śi. yantra.8 (Sidd. Shir. Yant. 8)

कालस्य ईश्वररूपम् ॥ Kala's Ishvaraswarupa

Defining Kala, Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 3[27]) describes the different qualities of time and the divinity associated with it. Time is that divine form which is the cause of change in appearance of things.

रूपभेदास्पदं दिव्यं काल इत्यभिधीयते । भूतानां महदादीनां यतो भिन्नदृशां भयम् ॥ ३७ ॥

rūpabhēdāspadaṁ divyaṁ kāla ityabhidhīyatē । bhūtānāṁ mahadādīnāṁ yatō bhinnadr̥śāṁ bhayam ॥ 37 ॥

योऽन्तः प्रविश्य भूतानि भूतैरत्त्यखिलाश्रयः । स विष्ण्वाख्योऽधियज्ञोऽसौ कालः कलयतां प्रभुः ॥ ३८ ॥

yō'ntaḥ praviśya bhūtāni bhūtairattyakhilāśrayaḥ । sa viṣṇvākhyō'dhiyajñō'sau kālaḥ kalayatāṁ prabhuḥ ॥ 38 ॥

He pervades in all beings (भूतानि) and supports them. He is Vishnu, the deity of Yajnas, who blesses the performer with the fruits of Yajnas. He is the ruler of rulers.

न चास्य कश्चिद् दयितो न द्वेष्यो न च बान्धवः । आविशत्यप्रमत्तोऽसौ प्रमत्तं जनमन्तकृत् ॥ ३९ ॥

na cāsya kaścid dayitō na dvēṣyō na ca bāndhavaḥ । āviśatyapramattō'sau pramattaṁ janamantakr̥t ॥ 39 ॥

यद्‍भयाद् वाति वातोऽयं सूर्यस्तपति यद्‍भयात् । यद्‍भयाद् वर्षते देवो भगणो भाति यद्‍भयात् ॥ ४० ॥

yad‍bhayād vāti vātō'yaṁ sūryastapati yad‍bhayāt । yad‍bhayād varṣatē dēvō bhagaṇō bhāti yad‍bhayāt ॥ 40 ॥

He is neither shows compassion on anyone, nor hates, nor is a relative to anyone. He is always alert, and takes possession of the inattentive people to their destruction. It is out if fear of Kala that the wind blows, the sun shines, the devatas shower rains and the celestial bodies shine forth.

यद् वनस्पतयो भीता लताश्चौषधिभिः सह । स्वे स्वे कालेऽभिगृह्णन्ति पुष्पाणि च फलानि च ॥ ४१ ॥

yad vanaspatayō bhītā latāścauṣadhibhiḥ saha । svē svē kālē'bhigr̥hṇanti puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca ॥ 41 ॥

स्रवन्ति सरितो भीता नोत्सर्पत्युदधिर्यतः । अग्निरिन्धे सगिरिभिः भूर्न मज्जति यद्‍भयात् ॥ ४२ ॥

sravanti saritō bhītā nōtsarpatyudadhiryataḥ । agnirindhē sagiribhiḥ bhūrna majjati yad‍bhayāt ॥ 42 ॥

सोऽनन्तोऽन्तकरः कालो अनादिरादिकृदव्ययः । जनं जनेन जनयन् मारयन् मृत्युनान्तकम् ॥ ४५ ॥[27]

sō'nantō'ntakaraḥ kālō anādirādikr̥davyayaḥ । janaṁ janēna janayan mārayan mr̥tyunāntakam ॥ 45 ॥

It is out of fear (rather obedience to or in alignment with) that the trees, creepers, medicinal herbs and plants blossom forth and bear fruits in accordance to the seasonal changes. It is Kala that controls the flow of rivers and keeps the checks of seas from overflowing (crossing fixed limits). It is this power that makes the fires burn and prevents the earth though burdened with the mountains from submerging in the seas.

It is due to the control of Kala that the sky gives space for the living breathing entities and Mahat pervades into the world enveloped in seven sheaths. It is this power which drives the devatas, who control the mobile and immobile beings, to carry out their duties of creation in every Yuga. Kala is Ananta (endless) but puts an end to all. TIme is Anadi (beginningless) but marks the beginning of all. Kala is Avyaya (immutable). Time causes beings to be born and by means of death takes them to their end.[28]

Verses and Meanings

According to Matsya purana[21], a few names of the Kalpas are given in the following verses

प्रथमं श्वेतकल्पस्तु द्वितीयो नीललोहितः। वामदेवस्तृतीयस्तु ततोराथन्तरोऽपरः ।। २९०.३

रौरवः पञ्चमः प्रोक्तः षष्ठो देव इति स्मृतः। सप्तमोऽथ बृहत्कल्पः कन्दर्पोऽष्टम उच्यते ।। २९०.४

सद्योऽथ नवमः प्रोक्तः ईशानो दशमः स्मृतः। तम एकादशः प्रोक्तः तथा सारस्वतः परः ।। २९०.५

त्रयोदश उदानस्तु गारुड़ोऽथ चतुर्दशः। कौर्मः पञ्चदशः प्रोक्तः पौर्णमास्यामजायत ।। २९०.६

षोड़शो नारसिंहस्तु समानस्तु ततोऽपरः। आग्नेयोऽष्टादशः प्रोक्तः सोमकल्पस्तथापरः ।। २९०.७

मानवो विंशतिः प्रोक्तस्तत् पुमानिति चापरः। वैकुण्ठश्चापरस्तद्वल्लक्ष्मीकल्पस्तथापरः ।। २९०.८

चतुर्विंशतिमः प्रोक्तः सावित्री कल्पसंज्ञकः। पञ्चविंशस्ततो घोरो वाराहस्तु ततोऽपरः ।। २९०.९

सप्तविंशोऽथ वैराजो गौरि कल्पस्तथापरः। माहेश्वरस्तु स प्रोक्त स्त्रिपुरो यत्र घातितः ।। २९०.१०

पितृकल्पस्तथान्ते तु या कुहूर्ब्रह्मणः परा। इत्येवं ब्रह्मणो मासः सर्वपातकनाशनः ।। २९०.११

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