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 (kāla) is described as eternal.[3] Various fragments of time are described in the Vedas, Manusmriti, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, Surya Siddhanta etc.[4][5][6]
Sidereal astrology maintains the alignment between signs and constellations via corrective systems of Hindu (Vedic)-origin known as ayanamsas (Sanskrit: 'ayana' "movement" + 'aṃśa' "component"), to allow for the observed precession of equinoxes, whereas tropical astrology ignores precession.[7] This has caused the two systems, which were aligned around 2,000 years ago, to drift apart over the centuries.[7][8]
Ayanamsa systems used in Hindu astrology (also known as Vedic astrology) include the Lahiriayanamsa and the Raman ayanamsa.[9] The Fagan-Bradley ayanamsa is an example of an ayanamsa system used in Western sidereal astrology.[9] As of 2020, sun signs calculated using the Sri Yukteswar ayanamsa were around 23 degrees behind tropical sun signs.[7] Per these calculations, persons born between March 12 - April 12, for instance, would have the sun sign of Pisces.[7] By contrast, persons born between March 21 - April 19 would have the sun sign of Aries per tropical calculations.[10]
Sidereal Units:[11][failed verification]
Unit | Definition | Value in SI units |
---|---|---|
truti (त्रुटि) | base unit | ≈ 300 ns |
renu (रेणु) | 60truti | ≈ 18 μs |
lava (लव) | 60renu | ≈ 1,080 μs |
līkṣaka (लीक्षक) | 60lava | ≈ 64.8 ms |
liptā(लिप्ता) | 6līkṣaka | ≈ 0.3888 s |
vipala (विपल) | ||
prāṇa[12]
(प्राण) |
10liptā | ≈ 3.888 s |
pala (पल) | 60liptā or 6 prāṇa | ≈ 24 s |
vighaṭi (विघटि) | ||
vināḍī (विनाडी) | ||
ghaṭi (घटि) | 60vighaṭi | ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min) |
nādī (नाडी) | ||
danda (दण्ड) | ||
muhūrta (मुहूर्त) | 2ghaṭi | ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min) |
nakṣhatra ahorātram (sidereal day; नक्षत्र अहोरात्रम्) |
60ghaṭī | ≈ 86.4 ks (24h) |
30muhūrta |
According to Sūrya Siddhānta:[13][14]
Unit | Definition | Value in SI units |
---|---|---|
truti | base unit | ≈ 29.6 μs |
tatpara | 100 truti | ≈ 2.96 ms |
nimesha | 30tatpara | ≈ 88.9 ms |
kāṣṭhā | 18nimesha | ≈ 1.6 s |
kalā | 30kāṣṭhā | ≈ 48 s |
ghatika | 30kalā | ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min) |
muhūrta (kṣaṇa) | 2ghatika | ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min) |
ahorātram (sidereal day) |
30muhūrta | ≈ 86.4 ks (24h) |
Small units of time used in the Vedas:[15][16]
Unit | Definition | Value in SI units |
---|---|---|
paramāṇu | base unit | ≈ 26.3 μs |
aṇu | 2paramāṇu | ≈ 52.67 μs |
trasareṇu | 3aṇu | ≈ 158 μs |
truṭi | 3trasareṇu | ≈ 474 μs |
vedha | 100 truṭi | ≈ 47.4 ms |
lava | 3vedha | ≈ 0.14 s |
nimeṣa | 3lava | ≈ 0.43 s |
kṣaṇa | 3nimeṣa | ≈ 1.28 s |
kāṣṭhā | 5kṣaṇa | ≈ 6.4 s |
laghu | 15kāṣṭhā | ≈ 96 s (1.6 min) |
danda (nadika) | 15laghu | ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min) |
muhūrta | 2danda | ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min) |
ahorātram (sidereal day) |
30muhūrta | ≈ 86.4 ks (24h) |
masa (month) | 30ahorātram | ≈ 2,592 ks |
ritu (season) | 2masa | ≈ 5,184 ks |
ayana | 3ritu | ≈ 15,552 ks (6 mth) |
samvatsara (year) | 2ayana | ≈ 31,104 ks |
ahorātram of Deva |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2021)
|
Consists of the following:[17][18]
Unit | Definition | Equivalence |
---|---|---|
tithi (lunar day) | Time for 12° increase of longitudinal angle between Moon and Sun | ≈ 1 day (varies 19–26 hours) |
pakṣa (lunar fortnight) | 15tithis | ≈ 15 days |
māsa (lunar month) | 2pakṣas: gaura (bright) or śukla pakṣa during waxing moon; kṛṣṇa (dark) pakṣa during waning moon | ≈ 30 days (29.5 days) |
ṛitu (season) | 2māsas | ≈ 60 days |
ayanam | 3ṛitus | ≈ 180 days |
varsha (lunar year) | 2ayanams | ≈ 360 days (354.36707 days) |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2021)
|
Consists of the following:[19][a]
Unit | Definition | Equivalence |
---|---|---|
ghaṭi (घटि) | base unit | ≈ 24 minutes |
yāma (याम) | 7.5 ghaṭis | ≈ 3 hours |
ahorātram (अहोरात्रम्) | 8yāmas | ≈ 24 hours (tropical day starting at sunrise) |
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.
Unit[b] | Definition | Human | Pitri | Deva | Manu | Brahma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mahā-kalpa | 36,000 kalpa & pralaya | 311,040,000,000,000 yr | 10,368,000,000,000 yr | 864,000,000,000 yr | ~101,408,450.70 yr | 100 yr |
mahā-pralaya | mahā-kalpa length | |||||
parārdha | 1⁄2 mahā-kalpa | 155,520,000,000,000 yr | 5,184,000,000,000 yr | 432,000,000,000 yr | ~50,704,225.35 yr | 50 yr |
kalpa | 14 m + 15 ms; 1,000 cy | 4,320,000,000 yr | 144,000,000 yr | 12,000,000 yr | ~1,408.45 yr | 12 h |
pralaya | kalpa length | |||||
manvantara [m] | 71catur-yuga | 306,720,000 yr | 10,224,000 yr | 852,000 yr | 100 yr | 51.12 min |
manvantara-sandhyā [ms] | Kṛta-yuga length | 1,728,000 yr | 57,600 yr | 4,800 yr | ~6.76 mo | 17.28 s |
catur-yuga [cy] | Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara & Kali-yugas | 4,320,000 yr | 144,000 yr | 12,000 yr | ~1.41 yr | 43.20 s |
Kṛta-yuga | sum total | 1,728,000 yr | 57,600 yr | 4,800 yr | ~6.76 mo | 17.28 s |
Kṛta-yuga-sandhyā | 1⁄10 Kṛta-yuga[c] length | 144,000 yr | 4,800 yr | 400 yr | ~16.90 day | 1.44 s |
Kṛta-yuga-sandhyāṃśa | ||||||
Kṛta-yuga[c] | 4Kali-yuga[c] lengths | 1,440,000 yr | 48,000 yr | 4,000 yr | ~5.63 mo | 14.40 s |
Tretā-yuga | sum total | 1,296,000 yr | 43,200 yr | 3,600 yr | ~5.07 mo | 12.96 s |
Tretā-yuga-sandhyā | 1⁄10 Tretā-yuga[c] length | 108,000 yr | 3,600 yr | 300 yr | ~12.68 day | 1.08 s |
Tretā-yuga-sandhyāṃśa | ||||||
Tretā-yuga[c] | 3Kali-yuga[c] lengths | 1,080,000 yr | 36,000 yr | 3,000 yr | ~4.23 mo | 10.80 s |
Dvāpara-yuga | sum total | 864,000 yr | 28,800 yr | 2,400 yr | ~3.38 mo | 8.64 s |
Dvāpara-yuga-sandhyā | 1⁄10 Dvāpara-yuga[c] length | 72,000 yr | 2,400 yr | 200 yr | ~8.45 day | 0.72 s |
Dvāpara-yuga-sandhyāṃśa | ||||||
Dvāpara-yuga[c] | 2Kali-yuga[c] lengths | 720,000 yr | 24,000 yr | 2,000 yr | ~2.82 mo | 7.20 s |
Kali-yuga | sum total | 432,000 yr | 14,400 yr | 1,200 yr | ~1.69 mo | 4.32 s |
Kali-yuga-sandhyā | 1⁄10 Kali-yuga[c] length | 36,000 yr | 1,200 yr | 100 yr | ~4.23 day | 0.36 s |
Kali-yuga-sandhyāṃśa | ||||||
Kali-yuga[c] | 1,000 Deva years | 360,000 yr | 12,000 yr | 1,000 yr | ~1.41 mo | 3.60 s |
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 day proper and 12-hour night.[20] 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,[d] 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).[21] For this reason, a traditional 360-day year is equivalent to a modern ~365.24-day solar or tropical year.
Unit[b] | Human | Pitri | Deva | Manu | Brahma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brahma year | 3,110,400,000,000 yr | 103,680,000,000 yr | 8,640,000,000 yr | ~1,014,084.51 yr | 1 yr |
Manu year | 3,067,200 yr | 102,240 yr | 8,520 yr | 1 yr | 30.67 s |
Deva year | 360 yr | 12 yr | 1 yr | ~1.01 h | 3.60 ms |
Pitri year | 30 yr | 1 yr | 1 mo | ~5.07 min | 300 μs |
Human year | 1 yr | 12 day | 1 day | ~10.14 s | 10 μs |
According to Puranic sources,[e] 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 3102 BCE 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:[27][28][29][30][31]
Amaha-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 (a.k.a. Satya-yuga).[27][28]
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.[32][better source needed]
The history of humanity is divided up into four yugas (a.k.a. dharmic ages or world ages)—Kṛta-yuga (pronounced Krita-yuga; a.k.a. Satya-yuga), Tretā-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga and Kali-yuga—each with a 25% decline in dharmic practices and length, giving proportions (caraṇas; 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 catur-yuga (pronounced chatur-yuga; a.k.a. mahā-yuga). Each yuga is divided into a main period (a.k.a. yuga proper) and two yuga-sandhis (a.k.a. yuga-sandhyās; connecting periods)—yuga-sandhyā (dawn) and yuga-sandhyāṃśa (a.k.a. yuga-sandhyānśa; dusk)—where each yuga-sandhi lasts for 10% of the main period. Lengths are given in divine years (a.k.a. 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.[33][34][35][36][37][f]
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:[g]
Achatur-yuga lasts for 4.32 million years, where the current is the 28th of 71:[g]
Yuga | Start (– End) | Length |
---|---|---|
Krita (Satya) | 3,891,102 BCE | 1,728,000 (4,800) |
Treta | 2,163,102 BCE | 1,296,000 (3,600) |
Dvapara | 867,102 BCE | 864,000 (2,400) |
Kali* | 3102 BCE – 428,899 CE | 432,000 (1,200) |
Years: 4,320,000 solar (12,000 divine) | ||
(*) Current. | [h][29][38] |
The lifespan of the Pitris (forefathers) lasts for 100 of their years.[19]
The lifespan of the Devas (gods) lasts for 100 of their years.[19]
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 sandhyā (connection period), each lasting the duration of Satya-yuga (1.728 million years). During each manvantara-sandhyā (a.k.a. manvantara-sandhi), Earth (Bhu-loka) is submerged in water.[27][33][39][40]
Amanvantara lasts for 306.72 million years, where the current (ruled by Vaivasvatha Manu) is the 7th of 14:[g]
The lifespan of Brahma (creator god) lasts for 100 of his years. His 12-hour day or kalpa (a.k.a. day of Brahma) is followed by a 12-hour night or pralaya (a.k.a. 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 mahā-kalpa, which is followed by a mahā-pralaya (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 parārdha.[28][40][41] 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).
Akalpa (day of Brahma, 12 hours) lasts for 4.32 billion years, where the current (Shveta-Varaha Kalpa) is the 1st of 30 in his 1st month of his 51st year:[g]
Amaha-kalpa (life of Brahma) lasts for 311.04 trillion years:[g]
The Mahabharata (12.231.12–31) describes units of time from a wink of the eye (nimesha) up to the days (kalpa) and nights (pralaya) of Brahma.[42]
(12–13) The Rishis, measuring time, have given particular names to particular portions. Five and ten winks of the eye make what is called a Kashtha. Thirty Kashthas make what is called a Kala. Thirty Kalas, with the tenth part of a Kala, make a Muhurta. Thirty Muhurtas make up one day and night. Thirty days and nights form a month, and twelve months form a year.
(14) Persons well-read in mathematical science say that a year is made up of two solar motions, viz, the northern and the southern.
(15) The sun makes the day and the night for men. The night is for the sleep of all living creatures and the day is for work.
(16) A month of human beings is equal to a day and night of the departed manes. That division consists in this the light half of the month is their day which is for work, and the dark fortnight is their night for sleep.
(17) A year (of men) is equal to a day and night of the gods. This division consists in this the half year for which the sun travels from the vernal to the autumnal equinox is the day of the gods, and the half year for which the sun moves from the latter to the former is their night.
(18) Calculating by the days and nights of human beings about which I have told you I shall speak of the day and night of Brahman [(Brahma)] and his years also.
(19) I shall, in their order, tell you the number of years that are for different purposes calculated differently, in the Krita, the Treta, the Dwapara, and the Kali yugas.
(20) Four thousand celestial years is the duration of the first or Krita age. The morning of that cycle consists of four hundred years and its evening is of four hundred years.
(21) Regarding the other cycles, the duration of each gradually decreases by a quarter in respect of both the principal period with the minor portion and the conjoining portion itself.
(29) The learned say that these twelve thousand celestial years form what is called a cycle. A thousand such cycles form a single day of Brahman [(Brahma)].
(30) The same is the duration of Brahman's [(Brahma's)] night. With the beginning of Brahman's [(Brahma's)] day the universe begins to come into being. During the period of universal dissolution the Creator sleeps in Yoga meditation. When the period of sleep expires, He awakes.
(31) What is Brahman's [(Brahma's)] day covers a thousand such cycles. His night also covers a thousand similar cycles. They who know this are said to know the day and the night.
— Mahabharata, Book 12 (Shanti Parva), Ch. 231[42][i]
6.2.2: For all human,
divine, and Brahma scales, one
year equals 360 'days' of resp
ective scale.
On the v
ery day, and at the very moment
the Lord [Krishna] left the ea
rth, on that very day this Kali,
the source of irreligiousness,
(in this world), entered here.
The
Parijata tree proceeded to hea
ven, and on the same day that H
ari [Krishna] departed from the
earth the dark-bodied Kali age
descended.
Kali Yuga be
gan on the day when Krsna passe
d on to heaven. Understand how
it is calculated.
Kali Yuga had started on the v
ery day when Krsna passed away.
It was on
the day on which Krishna left t
he Earth and went to heaven tha
t the Kali age, with time for i
ts body set in.
Each manvantara is preceded
and followed by a period of 1,
728,000 (= 4K) years when the e
ntire earthly universe (bhu-lok
a) will submerge under water. T
he period of this deluge is kno
wn as manvantara-sandhya (sandh
ya meaning, twilight). ... Acco
rding to the traditional time-k
eeping ... Thus in Brahma's cal
endar the present time may be c
oded as his 51st year - first m
onth - first day - 7th manvanta
ra - 28th maha-yuga - 4th yuga
or kaliyuga.
* HINDUISM: Myths of time and e
ternity: ... Each yuga is prece
ded by an intermediate "dawn" a
nd "dusk." The Krita yuga lasts
4,000 god-years, with a dawn a
nd dusk of 400 god-years each,
or a total of 4,800 god-years;
Treta a total of 3,600 god-year
s; Dvapara 2,400 god-years; and
Kali (the current yuga) 1,200
god-years. A mahayuga thus last
s 12,000 god-years ... Since ea
ch god-year lasts 360 human yea
rs, a mahayuga is 4,320,000 yea
rs long in human time. Two thou
sand mahayugas form one kalpa (
eon) [and pralaya], which is it
self but one day in the life of
Brahma, whose full life lasts
100 years; the present is the m
idpoint of his life. Each kalpa
is followed by an equally long
period of abeyance (pralaya),
in which the universe is asleep.
Seemingly the universe will co
me to an end at the end of Brah
ma's life, but Brahmas too are
innumerable, and a new universe
is reborn with each new Brahma.
* YUGA: Each yuga is progressiv
ely shorter than the preceding
one, corresponding to a decline
in the moral and physical stat
e of humanity. Four such yugas .
.. make up a mahayuga ("great y
uga") ... The first yuga (Krita)
was an age of perfection, last
ing 1,728,000 years. The fourth
and most degenerate yuga (Kali)
began in 3102 BCE and will las
t 432,000 years. At the close o
f the Kali yuga, the world will
be destroyed by fire and flood,
to be re-created as the cycle
resumes. In a partially competi
ng vision of time, Vishnu's 10t
h and final Avatar, Kalki, is d
escribed as bringing the presen
t cosmic cycle to a close by de
stroying the evil forces that r
ule the Kali yuga and ushering
in an immediate return to the i
dyllic Krita yuga.
catvāri trīṇi dve caikaṁ kṛtādi
ṣu yathā-kramam ।
saṅkhyātāni sahasrāṇi dvi-guṇān
i śatāni ca ॥ 19 ॥
(19) The duration of the Satya m
illennium equals 4,800 years of
the years of the demigods; the
duration of the Tretā millenni
um equals 3,600 years of the de
migods; the duration of the Dvā
para millennium equals 2,400 ye
ars; and that of the Kali mille
nnium is 1,200 years of the dem
igods. PURPORT: As aforemention
ed, one year of the demigods is
equal to 360 years of the huma
n beings. The duration of the S
atya-yuga is therefore 4,800 ×
360, or 1,728,000 years. The du
ration of the Tretā-yuga is 3,6
00 × 360, or 1,296,000 years. T
he duration of the Dvāpara-yuga
is 2,400 × 360, or 864,000 yea
rs. And the last, the Kali-yuga,
is 1,200 × 360, or 432,000 yea
rs.
a day in the life of Brahma is
divided into 14 periods called
manvantaras ("Manu intervals"),
each of which lasts for 306,72
0,000 years. In every second cy
cle [(new kalpa after pralaya)]
the world is recreated, and a
new Manu appears to become the
father of the next human race.
The present age is considered t
o be the seventh Manu cycle.