Hindu units of time

What links here Related changes Page information
Created by CleanupBot II
Last edited August 14, 2023

Template:Redirect


Hindu units of time are described in Hindu texts ranging from microseconds to trillions of years, including cycles of cosmic time that repeat general events in Hindu cosmology.[1][2] Time ([[Kaal|Template:IAST]]) is described as eternal.Template:Sfn Various fragments of time are described in the Vedas, Manusmriti, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, Surya Siddhanta etc.Template:Citation needed

Sidereal metrics

Template:Expand section

File:HinduMeasurements.svg
Hindu measurements in logarithmic scale based on seconds

Sidereal Units:Template:Sfn

Unit Definition Value in SI units
truti (Template:Lang) base unit ≈ 0.30 µs
renu (Template:Lang) 60 truti ≈ 18 µs
lava (Template:Lang) 60 renu ≈ 1080 µs
Template:IAST (Template:Lang) 60 lava ≈ 64.8 ms
lipta (Template:Lang) 64.8 Template:IAST ≈ 0.4 s
vipala (Template:Lang)
pala (Template:Lang) 60 lipta ≈ 24 s
Template:IAST (Template:Lang)
Template:IAST (Template:Lang)
Template:IAST (Template:Lang) 60 Template:IAST ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min)
Template:IAST (Template:Lang)
danda (Template:Lang)
Template:IAST (Template:Lang) 2 Template:IAST ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min)
Template:IAST
(sidereal day; Template:Lang) 		60 Template:IAST ≈ 86.4 ks (24 hrs)
30 Template:IAST

According to Template:IAST:Template:Sfn[3]

Unit Definition Value in SI units
truti base unit ≈ 29.6 µs
tatpara 100 truti ≈ 2.96 ms
nimesha 30 tatpara ≈ 88.9 ms
Template:IAST 18 nimesha ≈ 1.6 s
Template:IAST 30 Template:IAST ≈ 48 s
ghatika 30 Template:IAST ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min)
Template:IAST 2 ghatika ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min)
Template:IAST
(sidereal day) 		30 Template:IAST ≈ 86.4 ks (24 hrs)

Small units of time used in the Vedas:Template:Sfn[4]

Unit Definition Value in SI units
Template:IAST base unit ≈ 26.3 µs
Template:IAST 2 Template:IAST ≈ 52.67 µs
Template:IAST 3 Template:IAST ≈ 158 µs
Template:IAST 3 Template:IAST ≈ 474 µs
vedha 100 Template:IAST ≈ 47.4 ms
lava 3 vedha ≈ 0.14 s
Template:IAST 3 lava ≈ 0.43 s
Template:IAST 3 Template:IAST ≈ 1.28 s
Template:IAST 5 Template:IAST ≈ 6.4 s
laghu 15 Template:IAST ≈ 96 s (1.6 min)
danda 15 laghu ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min)
Template:IAST 2 danda ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min)
Template:IAST 30 Template:IAST ≈ 86.4 ks (24 hrs)
masa (month) 30 Template:IAST ≈ 2592 ks
ritu (season) 2 masa ≈ 5184 ks
ayana 3 ritu ≈ 15552 ks
samvatsara (year) 2 ayana ≈ 31104 ks
Template:IAST of Deva

Lunar metrics

Template:Expand section

Consists of the following:Template:Sfn

Tropical metrics

Template:Expand section

Consists of the following:Template:Sfn

Name Definition Equivalence
yama (Template:Lang) Template:1/4 of a day (light or night);
Template:Frac ghatis (Template:Lang);
Template:Frac muhurtas 		1 prahara or 3 [[Hour|Template:IAST]] (Template:Lang)
≈ 3 hours
Template:IAST
(Template:Lang) 		8 yamas 1 solar/tropical day
starting at sunrise

Cosmic metrics

The table below contains calculations of cosmic Hindu units of time as experienced by different entities, namely humans, Pitris (forefathers), Devas (gods), Manu (progenitor of humanity), and Brahma (creator god). Calculations use a traditional 360-day year (twelve 30-day months) and a standard 24-hour day for all entities.

UnitTemplate:Efn Definition Human Pitri Deva Manu Brahma
Template:IAST 36,000 kalpa & pralaya 311,040,000,000,000 yr 10,368,000,000,000 yr 864,000,000,000 yr ~Template:H:title 100 yr
Template:IAST Template:IAST length
Template:IAST Template:Frac Template:IAST 155,520,000,000,000 yr 5,184,000,000,000 yr 432,000,000,000 yr ~Template:H:title 50 yr
kalpa 14 m + 15 ms; 1,000 cy 4,320,000,000 yr 144,000,000 yr 12,000,000 yr ~Template:H:title 12 hr
pralaya kalpa length
manvantara [m] 71 Template:IAST 306,720,000 yr 10,224,000 yr 852,000 yr 100 yr Template:H:title
Template:IAST [ms] Template:IAST length 1,728,000 yr 57,600 yr 4,800 yr ~Template:H:title 17.28 sec
[[Yuga Cycle|Template:IAST]] [cy] Template:IAST, Template:IAST, Template:IAST & Kali-yugas 4,320,000 yr 144,000 yr 12,000 yr ~Template:H:title 43.20 sec
 
[[Satya Yuga|Template:IAST]] sum total 1,728,000 yr 57,600 yr 4,800 yr ~Template:H:title 17.28 sec
Template:IAST Template:Frac Template:IASTTemplate:Efn length 144,000 yr 4,800 yr 400 yr ~Template:H:title 1.44 sec
Template:IAST
Template:IASTTemplate:Efn 4 Kali-yugaTemplate:Efn lengths 1,440,000 yr 48,000 yr 4,000 yr ~Template:H:title 14.40 sec
 
[[Treta Yuga|Template:IAST]] sum total 1,296,000 yr 43,200 yr 3,600 yr ~Template:H:title 12.96 sec
Template:IAST Template:Frac Template:IASTTemplate:Efn length 108,000 yr 3,600 yr 300 yr ~Template:H:title 1.08 sec
Template:IAST
Template:IASTTemplate:Efn 3 Kali-yugaTemplate:Efn lengths 1,080,000 yr 36,000 yr 3,000 yr ~Template:H:title 10.80 sec
 
[[Dvapara Yuga|Template:IAST]] sum total 864,000 yr 28,800 yr 2,400 yr ~Template:H:title 8.64 sec
Template:IAST Template:Frac Template:IASTTemplate:Efn length 72,000 yr 2,400 yr 200 yr ~Template:H:title 0.72 sec
Template:IAST
Template:IASTTemplate:Efn 2 Kali-yugaTemplate:Efn lengths 720,000 yr 24,000 yr 2,000 yr ~Template:H:title 7.20 sec
 
Kali-yuga sum total 432,000 yr 14,400 yr 1,200 yr ~Template:H:title 4.32 sec
Template:IAST Template:Frac Kali-yugaTemplate:Efn length 36,000 yr 1,200 yr 100 yr ~Template:H:title 0.36 sec
Template:IAST
Kali-yugaTemplate:Efn 1,000 Deva years 360,000 yr 12,000 yr 1,000 yr ~Template:H:title 3.60 sec

Lifespans

Hindu texts define lifespans differently for humans, Pitris (forefathers), Devas (gods), Manus (progenitors of mankind), and Brahma (creator god). The division of a year for each is twelve 30-day months or 360 days, where a day is divided into a 12-hour dawn and 12-hour dusk.Template:Cn A 30-day month amounts to four 7-day weeks with an extra 8th day every two weeks (48-week year). A traditional human year is measured by the sun's northern (uttarayana) and southern (dakshinayana) movements in the sky,Template:Efn where the new year commences only when the sun returns to the same starting point and a pause on the commencement otherwise. Ebenezer Burgess postulates an intercalary month was inserted every five years to anciently maintain the correspondence of the 360-day years with the true solar years (~365.24-day years).Template:Sfn For these reason, a traditional 360-day year is equivalent to a modern ~365.24-day solar or tropical year.

UnitTemplate:Efn Human Pitri Deva Manu Brahma
Brahma year 3,110,400,000,000 yr 103,680,000,000 yr 8,640,000,000 yr ~Template:H:title 1 yr
Manu year 3,067,200 yr 102,240 yr 8,520 yr 1 yr Template:H:title
Deva year 360 yr 12 yr 1 yr ~Template:H:title Template:H:title
Pitri year 30 yr 1 yr Template:H:title ~Template:H:title Template:H:title
Human year 1 yr Template:H:title Template:H:title ~Template:H:title Template:H:title

Cosmic date

Template:See also

According to Puranic sources,Template:Efn Krishna's departure marks the end of the human age of Dvapara-yuga and the start of Kali-yuga, which is dated to midnight on 17/18 February 3102Template:NbspBCE of the proleptic Julian calendar. We are currently halfway through Brahma's life (maha-kalpa), whose lifespan is equal to the duration of the manifested material elements, from which Brahma manifests his universe in kalpa cycles:[6]Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[7][8]

A maha-kalpa is followed by a maha-pralaya (full dissolution) of equal length. Each kalpa (day of Brahma) is followed by a pralaya (night of Brahma or partial dissolution) of equal length. Preceding the first and following each manvantara is a manvantara-sandhya (connection period), each with a length of Krita-yuga (Template:Aka Satya-yuga).[6]Template:Sfn

Hindu texts specify that the start and end of each of the yugas are marked by astronomical alignments. This cycle's Treta-yuga began with 5 planets residing in the "Aries" constellation. This cycle's Dvapara-yuga ended with the "Saptarshi" constellation (Ursa major) residing in the "Magha" constellation. The current Kali-yuga will end with the Sun, Moon and Jupiter residing in the "Pushya" sector.[9]Template:Better source

Human

Template:Main

The history of humanity is divided up into four yugas (Template:Aka dharmic ages or world ages)—Template:IAST (pronounced Krita-yuga; Template:Aka Satya-yuga), [[Treta Yuga|Template:IAST]], [[Dvapara Yuga|Template:IAST]] and Kali-yuga—each with a 25% decline in dharmic practices and length, giving proportions (Template:IAST; pronounced charanas) of 4:3:2:1 (e.g. Satya: 100% start; Kali: 25% start, 0% end), indicating a de-evolution in spiritual consciousness and an evolution in material consciousness. Kali-yuga is followed by Satya-yuga of the next cycle, where a cycle is called a [[Yuga Cycle|Template:IAST]] (pronounced chatur-yuga; Template:Aka mahā-yuga). Each yuga is divided into a main period (Template:Aka yuga proper) and two yuga-sandhis (Template:Aka Template:IAST; connecting periods)⁠—Template:IAST (dawn) and Template:IAST (Template:Aka Template:IAST; dusk)⁠—where each yuga-sandhi lasts for 10% of the main period. Lengths are given in divine years (Template:Aka celestial or Deva years), where a divine year lasts for 360 solar (human) years. A chatur-yuga lasts for 4.32 million solar (12,000 divine) years with 1,728,000 years of Krita-yuga, 1,296,000 years of Treta-yuga, 864,000 years of Dvapara-yuga, and 432,000 years of Kali-yuga.Template:Sfn[10][11][12][13]Template:Efn

Current yuga

Kali-yuga lasts for 432,000 years and is the 4th of 4 yugas in a cycle as well as the current yuga, with two sandhyas, each lasting for 36,000 years:Template:Efn

= current year + Kali-yuga start year - year zero
= 2026 + 3102 - 1
= Template:Val years
= Kali-yuga-sandhya + elapsed Kali-yuga
= Template:Val - (2026 + 3102 - 1)
= Template:Val years
= Kali-yuga - Kali-yuga-sandhyamsa - elapsed Kali-yuga
= Template:Val - Template:Val - (2026 + 3102 - 1)
= Template:Val years
= Kali-yuga - elapsed Kali-yuga
= Template:Val - (2026 + 3102 - 1)
= Template:Val years

Current chatur yuga

A chatur-yuga lasts for 4.32Template:Nbspmillion years, where the current is the 28th of 71:Template:Efn

= chatur-yuga - Kali-yuga + elapsed Kali-yuga
= Template:Val - Template:Val + (2026 + 3102 - 1)
= Template:Val years
≈ Template:Round million years
= Kali-yuga - elapsed Kali-yuga
= Template:Val - (2026 + 3102 - 1)
= Template:Val years
28th chatur-yuga
Yuga Start (– End) Length
Krita (Satya) 3,891,102Template:NbspBCE 1,728,000 (4,800)
Treta 2,163,102Template:NbspBCE 1,296,000 (3,600)
Dvapara 867,102Template:NbspBCE 864,000 (2,400)
Kali* 3102Template:NbspBCETemplate:Snd428,899Template:NbspCE 432,000 (1,200)
Years: 4,320,000 solar (12,000 divine)
Template:Sup Template:EfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Pitri

The lifespan of the Pitris (forefathers) lasts for 100 of their years.Template:Sfn

  • 24 hours (1 day/night) of Pitris = 1 solar month (masa; Moon's two 15-day fortnights: bright and dark)
  • 30 days (1 month) of Pitris = 30 solar months (2.5 solar years)
  • 12 months (1 year) of Pitris = 30 solar years (1 month of Devas)
  • 100 years (lifespan) of Pitris = 3,000 solar years

Deva

The lifespan of the Devas (gods) lasts for 100 of their years.Template:Sfn

  • 24 hours (1 day/night) of Devas = 1 solar year (Sun's two 180-day motions: northern and southern)
  • 30 days (1 month) of Devas = 30 solar years (1 year of Pitris)
  • 12 months (1 year) of Devas = 360 solar years
  • 100 years (lifespan) of Devas = 36,000 solar years

Manu

Template:Main

The lifespan of the Manus (progenitors of mankind) lasts for 100 of their years. Each Manu reigns over a period called a manvantara, each lasting for 71 chatur-yugas (306.72 million years). A total of 14 Manus reign successively in one kalpa (day of Brahma). Preceding the first and following each manvantara is a Template:IAST (connection period), each lasting the duration of Satya-yuga (1.728 million years). During each Template:IAST (Template:Aka manvantara-sandhi), Earth (Bhu-loka) is submerged in water.[6]Template:Sfn[14][15]

  • 24 hours (1 day/night) of Manu = 8,520 solar years
  • 30 days (1 month) of Manu = 255,600 solar years
  • 12 months (1 year) of Manu = 3,067,200 solar years
  • 100 years (lifespan) of Manu = 306,720,000 solar years (71 chatur-yugas)

Current manvantara

A manvantara lasts for 306.72Template:Nbspmillion years, where the current (ruled by Vaivasvatha Manu) is the 7th of 14:Template:Efn

  • Started in past:
= elapsed 28th chatur-yuga + 27 chatur-yugas
= chatur-yuga - Kali-yuga + elapsed Kali-yuga + 27 chatur-yugas
= (Template:Val - Template:Val + (2026 + 3102 - 1)) + Template:Val * 27
= Template:Val years
≈ Template:Round million years
  • Ends in future:
= remaining 28th chatur-yuga + 43 chatur-yugas
= Kali-yuga - elapsed Kali-yuga + 43 chatur-yugas
= (Template:Val - (2026 + 3102 - 1)) + Template:Val * 43
= Template:Val years
≈ Template:Round million years

Brahma

Template:Main

The lifespan of Brahma (creator god) lasts for 100 of his years. His 12-hour day or kalpa (Template:Aka day of Brahma) is followed by a 12-hour night or pralaya (Template:Aka night of Brahma) of equal length, each lasting for 4.32 billion years. A kalpa lasts for 1,000 chatur-yugas and has 14 manvantaras and 15 manvantara-sandhyas occurring in it. At the start of Brahma's days, he is re-born and creates the planets and the first living entities. At the end of his days, he and his creations are unmanifest (partial dissolution). His 100-year life (311.04 trillion years) is called a Template:IAST, which is followed by a Template:IAST (full dissolution) of equal length, where the bases of the universe, prakriti, is manifest at the start and unmanifest at the end of a maha-kalpa. His 100-year life is divided into two 50-year periods, each called a Template:IAST.Template:Sfn[15][16] In 100 360-day years (maha-kalpa), there are a total of 36,000 full days: 36,000 kalpas (days proper) and 36,000 pralayas (nights).

  • 12 hours (1 day proper: kalpa) of Brahma = 4.32 billion solar years (1,000 chatur-yugas; 14 manvantaras + 15 manvantara-sandhyas)
  • 24 hours (1 day/night: kalpa + pralaya) of Brahma = 8.64 billion solar years
  • 30 days (1 month) of Brahma = 259.2 billion solar years
  • 12 months (1 year) of Brahma = 3.1104 trillion solar years
  • 50 years (parardha) of Brahma = 155.52 trillion solar years
  • 100 years (lifespan: 2 parardhas) of Brahma = 311.04 trillion solar years

Current kalpa

A kalpa (day of Brahma, 12 hours) lasts for 4.32Template:Nbspbillion years, where the current (Shveta-Varaha Kalpa) is the 1st of 30 in his 1st month of his 51st year:Template:Efn

  • Started in past:
= elapsed 7th manvantara + 7 manvantara-sandhyas + 6 manvantaras
= elapsed 28th chatur-yuga + 27 chatur-yugas + 7 manvantara-sandhyas + 6 manvantaras
= chatur-yuga - Kali-yuga + elapsed Kali-yuga + 27 chatur-yugas + 7 manvantara-sandhyas + 6 manvantaras
= ((Template:Val - Template:Val + (2026 + 3102 - 1)) + Template:Val * 27) + Template:Val * 7 + Template:Val * 6
= Template:Val years
≈ Template:Round billion years
  • Ends in future:
= remaining 7th manvantara + 8 manvantara-sandhyas + 7 manvantaras
= remaining 28th chatur-yuga + 43 chatur-yugas + 8 manvantara-sandhyas + 7 manvantaras
= Kali-yuga - elapsed Kali-yuga + 43 chatur-yugas + 8 manvantara-sandhyas + 7 manvantaras
= ((Template:Val - (2026 + 3102 - 1)) + Template:Val * 43) + Template:Val * 8 + Template:Val * 7
= Template:Val years
≈ Template:Round billion years

Current maha kalpa

A maha-kalpa (life of Brahma) lasts for 311.04Template:Nbsptrillion years:Template:Efn

  • Started in past:
= elapsed 18,001st kalpa + 18,000 kalpas + 18,000 pralayas
= elapsed 7th manvantara + 7 manvantara-sandhyas + 6 manvantaras + 36,000 kalpas/pralayas
= elapsed 28th chatur-yuga + 27 chatur-yugas + 7 manvantara-sandhyas + 6 manvantaras + 36,000 kalpas/pralayas
= chatur-yuga - Kali-yuga + elapsed Kali-yuga + 27 chatur-yugas + 7 manvantara-sandhyas + 6 manvantaras + 36,000 kalpas/pralayas
= (((Template:Val - Template:Val + (2026 + 3102 - 1)) + Template:Val * 27) + Template:Val * 7 + Template:Val * 6) + Template:Val * Template:Val
= Template:Val years
≈ Template:Round trillion years
  • Ends in future:
= remaining 18,001st kalpa + 17,999 kalpas + 18,000 pralayas
= remaining 7th manvantara + 8 manvantara-sandhyas + 7 manvantaras + 35,999 kalpas/pralayas
= remaining 28th chatur-yuga + 43 chatur-yugas + 8 manvantara-sandhyas + 7 manvantaras + 35,999 kalpas/pralayas
= Kali-yuga - elapsed Kali-yuga + 43 chatur-yugas + 8 manvantara-sandhyas + 7 manvantaras + 35,999 kalpas/pralayas
= (((Template:Val - (2026 + 3102 - 1)) + Template:Val * 43) + Template:Val * 8 + Template:Val * 7) + Template:Val * Template:Val
= Template:Val years
≈ Template:Round trillion years

Sources

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata (12.231.12–31) describes a small unit of time, a wink of the eye, up to the days (kalpa) and nights (pralaya) of Brahma.[17]

Template:Quote box

Manusmriti

The Manusmriti (Template:Aka Laws of Manu; 1.64–80) describes a small unit of time, a twinkling of the eye (nimesha), up to the days (kalpa) and nights (pralaya) of Brahma.[18][19][20]

Template:Quote box

According to Patrick Olivelle, most scholars take the table of contents (1.111–118) to be an addition, but for him the account of time and cosmology (1.61–86) to the aforementioned (1.118) are out of place redactions. He feels the narrative should have ended when the initial command to "listen" (1.4) was repeated (1.60), then transition to "learn" (2.1).Template:Sfn

Georg Bühler, whose translation has remained the standard for over a century according to Olivelle, translated 1.71 as 12,000 years in a four-aged period, same as Jones's translation, both based on Kulluka Bhatta's commentary. Medhatithi translated it as 12,000 four-aged periods in an age of the gods. Kulluka and Olivelle reject Medhatithi's interpretation based on 1.79 mentioning 12,000 without a qualifier ("etat" or "this") and must be assumed as years.[21]

Surya Siddhanta

The Surya Siddhanta (1.10–21) describes a small unit of time, a respiration (prana),Template:Sfn up to the 100-year lifespan of Brahma (maha-kalpa).[22]

Template:Quote box

See also

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

  1. ↑ Units of Measurement: Past, Present and Future. International System of Units{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Springer(2010). ISBN 9783642007378
  2. ↑ Lost Discoveries: The Ancient Roots of Modern Science—from the Babylonians to the Maya{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. SimonandSchuster
  3. ↑ Vedic Time System - वेद Veda. veda.wikidot.com. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
  4. ↑ MEASUREMENT UNITS OF LENGTH, MASS AND TIME IN INDIA THROUGH THE AGES. International Journal of Physical and Social Science(May 2017).
  5. ↑ Vaastu: The Art And Science Of Living{{#if:Kumar|, Kumar}. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd(2005). ISBN 81-207-2569-7
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Meet the Ancient Scriptures of Hinduism{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Notion Press(2019). ISBN 9781684669387
  7. ↑ Translation of the Sûrya-Siddhânta: A text-book of Hindu astronomy, with notes and an appendix{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Journal of the American Oriental Society(1860)
  8. ↑ The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Blackwell Publishing(2003). ISBN 0631215352
  9. ↑ Bharatbarsha – A Living Legend.
  10. ↑ Atlantis and the Cycles of Time: Prophecies, Traditions, and Occult Revelations{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Inner Traditions(2011). ISBN 9781594778575
  11. ↑ Template:Cite encyclopedia
  12. ↑ Tracing The Way: Spiritual Dimensions of the World Religions{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. A&C Black(31 October 2006). ISBN 9780826494238
  13. ↑ Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) 3.11.19. Bhaktivedanta Vedabase. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  14. ↑ Template:Cite encyclopedia
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 The Power of Stars{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Springer(2017). ISBN 9783319525976
  16. ↑ A Dictionary of Hinduism{{#if:Johnson|, Johnson}. Oxford University Press(2009). ISBN 978-0-19-861025-0
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Dutt 1903
  18. ↑ The Works of Sir William Jones in thirteen volumes.{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}(1807)
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Bühler 1886
  20. ↑ Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi in Ten Volumes{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.(1999). ISBN 8120811550
  21. ↑ Manu's Code of Law{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oxford University Press(2005). ISBN 0-19-517146-2
  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Burgess 1935

Template:Navboxes

Retrieved from "https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Hindu_units_of_time&oldid=408539"
Discover more