According to our ancient scriptures, Brahma, the creator, creates and destroys the universe cyclically. The life of Brahma is 100 divine years called Mahakalpa. Everyday he creates 14 Manus one by one and they create and control the world. So there are fourteen Manus in one divine day called Kalpa of Brahma. The life of each Manu is called Manvantara and it has 71 eras of four quarters. Each quarter is has four Yugas - Krita or Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. The following are the complete calculations of Vedic units of time and periods.
India has given the idea of the smallest and the largest measure of time.
Krati = 34,000th of a second
The time taken to tear apart the softest petals of a lotus is called 'TRUTI'
100 Trutis make 1 Lub
30 Lub make 1 Nimesh
27 Nimesh make 1 Guru Akshar
10 Guru Akshar Make 1 Pran
6 pran Vighatika make 1 Ghatika or Dand
60 Ghati make 1 day and night
That means, in a day and night, there are 17,49,60,000,00 Trutis
Thus, according to Western science, there are 86,400 seconds in a day and night, whereas in Indian science, a day and night consists of 17,49,60,000,00 Trutis.
According to another system, the division of time is
1 day or 24 hours = 60 Ghatis
1 Ghati = 60 Vighati (also called Pala or Kala)
1 Vighati = 60 Lipta or (also called Vipala or Vikala)
1 Lipta = 60 Vilipta
1 Vilipta = 60 Para
1 Para = 60 Tatpara
As a lot of charts made in the olden days mention the birth time in Ghatis and Vighatis the following is the conversion to remember:
5 Ghatis = 2 hours
5 Vighati = 2 minutes
Another system of time at micro level is
60 Tatparas = 1 Paras
60 Paras = 1 Vilipta
60 Vilipta = 1 Lipta
60 Lipta = 1 Ghatika (Dand)
60 Ghatika = 1 Day & Night)
Therefore, it is clear that there are 46,65,60,000,00 Tatparas in a day and night.
6.3. The Vedic Units of Time – Macro level
SATYUG 4,32,000 YEARS X 4 = 17,28,000 YEARS
TRETA 4,32,000 YEARS X 3 = 12,96,000 YEARS
DWAPAR 4,32,000 YEARS X 2 = 8,64,000 YEARS
KALIYUG 4,32,000 YEARS X 1 = 4,32,000 YEARS
1 MAHAYUG (GRAND TOTAL OF ALL THE YUGAS) = 4,320,000 YEARS
71 MAHAYUG = 43,20,000X71 = 1 MANVANTAR
1 MANVANTAR = 30,6720,000 YEARS
14 MANVANTAR = 4,294,080,000 YEARS
(There are 14 Manvantars)
The earth remains submerged in the water for the period of 8,64,000 years i.e. half the number of Satyug, before the start of each Manvantar, it also remains submerged in the water for the same number of years, i.e. 8,64,000 years, after the completion of each Manvantar.
So in 14 Manvantars the number of years
17,28,000 x 15 = 2,59,20,000
(Number of year in Satyug)
+ 14 Manvantar = 42,9, 40,80,000
1 Kalpa = 4320,000,000 years
One day & night of Brahma = 4,320,000 Mahayug x 100 = 4,320,00,000 years
Since the one moment in the life of Brahma is considered to be of our 100years, therefore the life of Brahma in 100 years will be
4,32,00,00,000 x 360 x 100 = 1,555,200,000,000 years
The Present Age of Cosmos according to the Vedic System is as follows:
There are 14 Manvantaras altogether. The present period is passing through the seventh Manvantara called Vaivaswata Manvantara.
One Manvantara consists of 71 Mahayugs, out of which 27 Mahayugs have already passed. We are passing through the first phase of the Kali Yuga which itself is the third Yuga of the 28th Mahayuga and which has come after the passing of Satya Yuga, Treta and Dwapar Yuga.
The time period of Manvantara (exclusive period, when the earth is submerged in water, in the beginning and in the end) = 306,720,000 years
1) Multiplying these years by 6 = 30,67,20,000 x 6 (Because we are in the midst of 7th Manvantara, of the Svetvaaraah Kalpa and 6 Manvantaras have already passed) = 1,8,0,300,000 years
The time period of Pralaya consists of 17,28,000 years since 7 Pralayas have passed, after the end of 6th Kalpa and before the beginning of 7th Kalpa, so 17,28,000x 7 = 12,096,000 years
Adding we have:
1,840,300,000 + 120 96 000 + 1,852,396,000 years
Therefore, after 1,85,24,16,000 years 'VAIVASVAT MANVANTARA' has started.
2) 27 Mahayugs with each Mahayuga consisting of 43,20,000 years. 43,20,000 x 27 = 116,640,000 years have passed
Total = 1,96,90,56,000 years
3) Now the time period of Kali Yuga in the 28th Yuga =
Time period of Satya Yuga = 17,28,000
Time period of Treta = 12,96,000
Time period of Dwapar = 8,64,000
TOTAL = 38,88,000
Since all the above three Yugas have already passed, it means that after 38,88,000 years, Kali Yuga came into existence.
4) Kali Yuga started on Bhadrapada, Krishnapaksha -13th day, in Vyatipaat yoga at midnight, in the Aashlesha Nakshatra and the age of the Kali Yuga has been fixed as 5101 years as till date that is Vikram Samvat 2057 = Shaka 1922 = 2000 AD.
Sum of all the three Yugs = the Sum of 27 Mahayugas and Manvantar + the time period of Kali Yuga till date.
Kalpa consist of 4,32,00,00,000 years and out of these 1,97,29,49,101 years have passed. Therefore, the earth's existence, according to the calculations devised by our ancient sages, comes up to 1,97,29,49,101 years till date. It is interesting to note that according to scientific calculations, the age of the cosmos is estimated between 15 and 20 billion years.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Rishi Agastya : few facts
Rishi Agasthya is one of the greatest seers of the Vedas. Rishi is a title given to the great seers of the Vedas.
Agasthya was sent by Lord Shiva to the south inorder to restore the Spiritual balance , as all the Rishis & Munis had gathered at north to see him (attend barat/marriage) at mount Kailash and the equilibrium was lost.By Agasthya reaching the Pothigaimalai the earth was put on balance.Even the Dravidian parties agree to this story.Agasthya is believed to be roaming about in the mountains even today.In his name many grammarr books of Tamil are there.
His name means Aga means mountain and astya is subdued. His name refers to the time her subdued the Vindhayachal mountains. The Vindhyachal mountain range divides North and South India in the middle. These mountains had the tendency to grow so high that they obscured the Sun. When Rishi Agastya journeyed from north to south, and on the way encountered the now impassable Vindhyachal mountains. He asked the mountain range to facilitate his passage across to the south. In reverence for so eminent a sage as Agastya, the Vindhyachal mountains bent low enough to enable the sage and his family to cross over and enter south India. The Vindhyachal range also promised not to increase in height until Agastya and his family returned to the northern solstice. Agastya settled permanently in the south, and the Vindhyachal range, true to its word, never grew further. ( more below)
Rishi Agastya is considered as the first and foremost Siddha (knowledge and accomplishments),and therefore the guru of many Siddhars. Another name for Rsi Agastya is Kurumuni (short muni). Rishi Agastya made pioneering contributions to the field of Ayurveda (alternative medicine) and Jyotish (Vedic Astrology particularly Nadi Astrology). Rishi Agastya lived for over 5000 years, and one of his medicinal preparations, Boopathi Kuligai, was so powerful that it could even bring the dead back to life. Two of his disciples were Therayar and Tholkappiar carried this knowledge forward for him.
Brahma had ten Maanas (mind born) sons who were great Rishi’s called: Angiras, Atri, Bhrigu, Daksha, Kratu, Marichi,
Narada, Pulaha, Pulastya, and Vashishta; of which Rishi Pulastya was married to Havirbhoo one of the nine daughters of Rishi Kardam and Devhooti. Rishi Pulastya and Havirbhoo had two sons: Maharishi Agastya and Maharishi Vishravaa.
Rishi Agastya was named because of his Karma. His wife was a princess and was called Lopaamudraa and is mentioned Lalitha Sahasranama (Thousand Names of the Goddess – a Sacred composition).
Rishi Agastya is associated with the Sthira Rashi’s of the Drekkana. Rishi Agastya is best known for The Lalitha Sahasranama, which sing the praises of the Goddess through her thousand names and so is deeply pleasing to the divine mother (also known as Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, etc) that it has the power to give moksha when repeated enough times with deep sincerity. This composition was first revealed to the world when an incarnation of Vishnu Hayagriva taught the hymn to Rsi Agastya.
The Aditya Hridayam (A hymn to Surya deva – pacifiess most flaws of the Sun and pleases him a great deal.) is also said to be composed by Rsi Agastya and taught personally by him to Sri Ram just before the war between Sri Rama and Ravana.
Rishi Agastya also composed the Saraswati Stotram. (Saraswati is the Goddess of all knowledge, music and singing.)
Humbling the Vindhyachal mountains
Meru Parvat (mountain) is the highest peak in the world and by its nature grows a little everyday. Vindhyaachal Parvat (mountain) was so jealous of Meru that he started to rise up even higher. The Vindhyachal mountain ranges which separate north and south India wished to grow so high as to block the Sun. Day was turned into night and the movements of the Sun and Moon became irregular making the vedic rituals based on their movements irregular too. The gods prayed to Rishi Agastya to do something about this with his siddhis and subdue the Vindhya Mountains. Rishi Agastya decided that he would move to southern India in order to accomplish this task for the gods. When he came with his wife to the Vindhyachal mountain and saw his height and humbly requested the mountain to lower it self so that he and his wife could pass. The Vindhyachal mountain was a great worshipper of saints and Rsi’s felt very humbled by and honoured by such a request from a person of Rishi Agastya’s magnitude and agreed to not only lower himself so the that the Rishi and his family could walk accross but to stay low until they returned. Rishi Agastya never returned and permanantly settled in Southern India and went onto to produce the famous Rishi Agastya Nadis (palm leaf books of knowledge) click here for more on palm leaves and Nadi. It is also from this that Vastu Shastra reportedly originated as the movements of the Sun and Moon also became regular.
Rishi Agastya and Lopamudra
Rishi Agastya was once visiting heaven, he saw his deceased ancestors suspended with their head downwards. Agastya was surprised because this was a sign that they were preparing to go to hell. Agastya asked them what wrong had they committed. They told him that it was Agastya's fault that they would go to hell. Rishi Agastya did not have a son; in fact he was not even married. Hence the lineage would end with him. Then there would be no one to offer prayers on their behalf and they, Agastya included, would all go to hell, Agastya assured his ancestors that he would do the needful. But the task was easier said than done because there was no woman on earth worthy of his qualities and stature. So the Rishi with his ascetic and yogic powers created a female infant who possessed all the special qualities of character and personality that would be appropriate in the wife of a Rishi and called the infant Lopamudra.
It was that time the king of Vidarbha was undergoing austerities in order to obtain an offspring Rsi Agastya decided to gift this child to the noble and virtuous king of Vidarbha.
When Lopamudra was of marriageable age, Rsi Agastya approached the King and asked for the hand his daughter. The king was very disturbed to have such a request made of him by a renunciate, Especially as it was this Rsi that had donated the child to him in the first place. However, the king was also aware that his daughter had from childhood exhibited a very unusually high sense of discipline and charcacter, and had been naturally inclined to fasting, worship, penances etc. Lopamudra upon learning of the proposal insisted that her father accept. Lopamudra was happy to marry Rsi Agastya, however her father placed a condition that Rishi Agastya had to fulfil if the marriage was to take place. The king asked Agastya to get enough money so that his daughter would not have to live a life of total hardship.
In order fulfil this condition Agastya approached king Srutarvan for assistance. The king was more than willing to help, but Rsi Agastya in his greatness had put an unusual condition. He had insisted that the king should not give him wealth by depriving any other person of assistance. When the king demonstrated the equality of his income and expenditure (which included substantial charity) Agastya refused to take any assistance. Srutarvan then took Agastya to a greater king, Vradhnaswa, but the same story was repeated there. Then the three of them went to king Trasadasyu, but with the same outcome. Trasadasyu explained that only a Demon king would be able to meet Rishi Agastya's requirement because he gave no wealth in charity but accumulated it.
Accordingly they went to the Demon king Ilwala who had a younger brother named Vatapi, who had developed a very unusual power. He could transform himself into any creature. Then the creature could be cut up into any number of pieces and strewn about. When Ilwala summoned Vatapi with the mritsanjivani mantra, the pieces would join together with great force to reform the creature. The Demon brothers would use this technique to destroy brahmins. Vatapi would transform himself into a goat. His flesh would then be cooked and given to brahmins to eat, flavoured and disguised as a vegetarian dish. After the brahmins had eaten their fill, Ilwala would summon his brother and the pieces of the goat would burst through the stomachs of the brahmins, killing them.
When the three kings and Rishi Agastya arrived at Ilwala's court, the king decided to use the goat technique to kill them. After due courtesies dishes containing the goat were served to the guests. Rsi Agastya knew beforehand about the plan due to his immense Siddhi’s so Rishi Agastya ate all the dishes himself and said “Vathapi Jeer No bhava” which literally means may Vathapi be digested. Ilwala then made many attempts to summon his brother but all that happened was a loud belch by the Rishi. Ilwala kept on repeating his command, but to no avail. Rsi Agastya laughed and said, "He cannot come out now. I have completely digested him." Though Ilwala was saddened at the death of his brother he asked the Rishi of what service he could be. Agastya repeated his request and condition. Ilwala then gave the sage more than he needed. In addition he gave a golden chariot and two super-fast steeds so that Rsi Agastya would reach his hermitage very quickly.
At the hermitage Rishi Agastya gave the excess wealth to the three kings and thanked them for their time and company. With the wealth obtained from Ilwala, Rishi Agastya was able to satisfy all of the king Vidarbha’s conditions. In time Rishi Agastya asked for the hand of Lopamudra in marriage. The king was initially chagrined to hear such a suggestion from a renunciate, but found that his daughter, who had early exhibited extraordinary standards of mind and character, was insistent that he should accept the proposal. She was utterly intent upon exchanging the palace of her father the king for the forest-hermitage of Agastya.
Lopamudra and Agastya were duly married and lived a life of extraordinary felicity. On their union Lopamudra asked for a son endowed with great power. Agastya asked her if she would like a thousand sons, or a hundred sons who are ten times as powerful as the first or ten who are a hundred times as powerful as the first or one son who is a thousand times as powerful as a thousand sons? Lopamudra chose one son. Agastya went to the forest after Lopamudra conceived and bore the embryo for seven years whilst Rishi Agastya meditated after which a resplendent son was born called Dridhasyu. Rishi Agastya’s ancestors no longer had to hang upside down but obtained the regions of heaven that they desired.
Agasthya was sent by Lord Shiva to the south inorder to restore the Spiritual balance , as all the Rishis & Munis had gathered at north to see him (attend barat/marriage) at mount Kailash and the equilibrium was lost.By Agasthya reaching the Pothigaimalai the earth was put on balance.Even the Dravidian parties agree to this story.Agasthya is believed to be roaming about in the mountains even today.In his name many grammarr books of Tamil are there.
His name means Aga means mountain and astya is subdued. His name refers to the time her subdued the Vindhayachal mountains. The Vindhyachal mountain range divides North and South India in the middle. These mountains had the tendency to grow so high that they obscured the Sun. When Rishi Agastya journeyed from north to south, and on the way encountered the now impassable Vindhyachal mountains. He asked the mountain range to facilitate his passage across to the south. In reverence for so eminent a sage as Agastya, the Vindhyachal mountains bent low enough to enable the sage and his family to cross over and enter south India. The Vindhyachal range also promised not to increase in height until Agastya and his family returned to the northern solstice. Agastya settled permanently in the south, and the Vindhyachal range, true to its word, never grew further. ( more below)
Rishi Agastya is considered as the first and foremost Siddha (knowledge and accomplishments),and therefore the guru of many Siddhars. Another name for Rsi Agastya is Kurumuni (short muni). Rishi Agastya made pioneering contributions to the field of Ayurveda (alternative medicine) and Jyotish (Vedic Astrology particularly Nadi Astrology). Rishi Agastya lived for over 5000 years, and one of his medicinal preparations, Boopathi Kuligai, was so powerful that it could even bring the dead back to life. Two of his disciples were Therayar and Tholkappiar carried this knowledge forward for him.
Brahma had ten Maanas (mind born) sons who were great Rishi’s called: Angiras, Atri, Bhrigu, Daksha, Kratu, Marichi,
Narada, Pulaha, Pulastya, and Vashishta; of which Rishi Pulastya was married to Havirbhoo one of the nine daughters of Rishi Kardam and Devhooti. Rishi Pulastya and Havirbhoo had two sons: Maharishi Agastya and Maharishi Vishravaa.
Rishi Agastya was named because of his Karma. His wife was a princess and was called Lopaamudraa and is mentioned Lalitha Sahasranama (Thousand Names of the Goddess – a Sacred composition).
Rishi Agastya is associated with the Sthira Rashi’s of the Drekkana. Rishi Agastya is best known for The Lalitha Sahasranama, which sing the praises of the Goddess through her thousand names and so is deeply pleasing to the divine mother (also known as Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, etc) that it has the power to give moksha when repeated enough times with deep sincerity. This composition was first revealed to the world when an incarnation of Vishnu Hayagriva taught the hymn to Rsi Agastya.
The Aditya Hridayam (A hymn to Surya deva – pacifiess most flaws of the Sun and pleases him a great deal.) is also said to be composed by Rsi Agastya and taught personally by him to Sri Ram just before the war between Sri Rama and Ravana.
Rishi Agastya also composed the Saraswati Stotram. (Saraswati is the Goddess of all knowledge, music and singing.)
Humbling the Vindhyachal mountains
Meru Parvat (mountain) is the highest peak in the world and by its nature grows a little everyday. Vindhyaachal Parvat (mountain) was so jealous of Meru that he started to rise up even higher. The Vindhyachal mountain ranges which separate north and south India wished to grow so high as to block the Sun. Day was turned into night and the movements of the Sun and Moon became irregular making the vedic rituals based on their movements irregular too. The gods prayed to Rishi Agastya to do something about this with his siddhis and subdue the Vindhya Mountains. Rishi Agastya decided that he would move to southern India in order to accomplish this task for the gods. When he came with his wife to the Vindhyachal mountain and saw his height and humbly requested the mountain to lower it self so that he and his wife could pass. The Vindhyachal mountain was a great worshipper of saints and Rsi’s felt very humbled by and honoured by such a request from a person of Rishi Agastya’s magnitude and agreed to not only lower himself so the that the Rishi and his family could walk accross but to stay low until they returned. Rishi Agastya never returned and permanantly settled in Southern India and went onto to produce the famous Rishi Agastya Nadis (palm leaf books of knowledge) click here for more on palm leaves and Nadi. It is also from this that Vastu Shastra reportedly originated as the movements of the Sun and Moon also became regular.
Rishi Agastya and Lopamudra
Rishi Agastya was once visiting heaven, he saw his deceased ancestors suspended with their head downwards. Agastya was surprised because this was a sign that they were preparing to go to hell. Agastya asked them what wrong had they committed. They told him that it was Agastya's fault that they would go to hell. Rishi Agastya did not have a son; in fact he was not even married. Hence the lineage would end with him. Then there would be no one to offer prayers on their behalf and they, Agastya included, would all go to hell, Agastya assured his ancestors that he would do the needful. But the task was easier said than done because there was no woman on earth worthy of his qualities and stature. So the Rishi with his ascetic and yogic powers created a female infant who possessed all the special qualities of character and personality that would be appropriate in the wife of a Rishi and called the infant Lopamudra.
It was that time the king of Vidarbha was undergoing austerities in order to obtain an offspring Rsi Agastya decided to gift this child to the noble and virtuous king of Vidarbha.
When Lopamudra was of marriageable age, Rsi Agastya approached the King and asked for the hand his daughter. The king was very disturbed to have such a request made of him by a renunciate, Especially as it was this Rsi that had donated the child to him in the first place. However, the king was also aware that his daughter had from childhood exhibited a very unusually high sense of discipline and charcacter, and had been naturally inclined to fasting, worship, penances etc. Lopamudra upon learning of the proposal insisted that her father accept. Lopamudra was happy to marry Rsi Agastya, however her father placed a condition that Rishi Agastya had to fulfil if the marriage was to take place. The king asked Agastya to get enough money so that his daughter would not have to live a life of total hardship.
In order fulfil this condition Agastya approached king Srutarvan for assistance. The king was more than willing to help, but Rsi Agastya in his greatness had put an unusual condition. He had insisted that the king should not give him wealth by depriving any other person of assistance. When the king demonstrated the equality of his income and expenditure (which included substantial charity) Agastya refused to take any assistance. Srutarvan then took Agastya to a greater king, Vradhnaswa, but the same story was repeated there. Then the three of them went to king Trasadasyu, but with the same outcome. Trasadasyu explained that only a Demon king would be able to meet Rishi Agastya's requirement because he gave no wealth in charity but accumulated it.
Accordingly they went to the Demon king Ilwala who had a younger brother named Vatapi, who had developed a very unusual power. He could transform himself into any creature. Then the creature could be cut up into any number of pieces and strewn about. When Ilwala summoned Vatapi with the mritsanjivani mantra, the pieces would join together with great force to reform the creature. The Demon brothers would use this technique to destroy brahmins. Vatapi would transform himself into a goat. His flesh would then be cooked and given to brahmins to eat, flavoured and disguised as a vegetarian dish. After the brahmins had eaten their fill, Ilwala would summon his brother and the pieces of the goat would burst through the stomachs of the brahmins, killing them.
When the three kings and Rishi Agastya arrived at Ilwala's court, the king decided to use the goat technique to kill them. After due courtesies dishes containing the goat were served to the guests. Rsi Agastya knew beforehand about the plan due to his immense Siddhi’s so Rishi Agastya ate all the dishes himself and said “Vathapi Jeer No bhava” which literally means may Vathapi be digested. Ilwala then made many attempts to summon his brother but all that happened was a loud belch by the Rishi. Ilwala kept on repeating his command, but to no avail. Rsi Agastya laughed and said, "He cannot come out now. I have completely digested him." Though Ilwala was saddened at the death of his brother he asked the Rishi of what service he could be. Agastya repeated his request and condition. Ilwala then gave the sage more than he needed. In addition he gave a golden chariot and two super-fast steeds so that Rsi Agastya would reach his hermitage very quickly.
At the hermitage Rishi Agastya gave the excess wealth to the three kings and thanked them for their time and company. With the wealth obtained from Ilwala, Rishi Agastya was able to satisfy all of the king Vidarbha’s conditions. In time Rishi Agastya asked for the hand of Lopamudra in marriage. The king was initially chagrined to hear such a suggestion from a renunciate, but found that his daughter, who had early exhibited extraordinary standards of mind and character, was insistent that he should accept the proposal. She was utterly intent upon exchanging the palace of her father the king for the forest-hermitage of Agastya.
Lopamudra and Agastya were duly married and lived a life of extraordinary felicity. On their union Lopamudra asked for a son endowed with great power. Agastya asked her if she would like a thousand sons, or a hundred sons who are ten times as powerful as the first or ten who are a hundred times as powerful as the first or one son who is a thousand times as powerful as a thousand sons? Lopamudra chose one son. Agastya went to the forest after Lopamudra conceived and bore the embryo for seven years whilst Rishi Agastya meditated after which a resplendent son was born called Dridhasyu. Rishi Agastya’s ancestors no longer had to hang upside down but obtained the regions of heaven that they desired.
Karma and Dharama
Karma and Dharama are the only two threads on which the life of a person should hang. It is only these have been explained in both Ramayana and Mahabharata.
I will write different articles on Karma and Dharama. There is always a conflict between Dharama and Adharama in this universe. The one who binds his Karma with Dharama wins in the end. This is what is the basis of Hindu Philosophy.
Please note that Hinduism is not a Dharama. It is know as a religion now and religion should not be interpreted as Dharma.
I will write different articles on Karma and Dharama. There is always a conflict between Dharama and Adharama in this universe. The one who binds his Karma with Dharama wins in the end. This is what is the basis of Hindu Philosophy.
Please note that Hinduism is not a Dharama. It is know as a religion now and religion should not be interpreted as Dharma.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Ramayana (few unnoticed and untouched facts)
1. Implied meaning of some names in the Ramayan
1.1 According to the Bhavartha Ramayan by Saint Ekanath
Aja: Parabrahman or Paramatma (The Absolute Being).
Dasharath: The word Dasharath (दशरथ) is derived from two words, dash (दश)
and rath (रथ). Dash means ten and rath, the body. Dasharath thus refers to
the body with the five sense organs and five motor organs. Dasharath was
created from Aja.
Rama: Without loosing ajatva (absoluteness) Rama that is ahamatma (The
embodied soul) was born to Dasharath.
Kousalya: Sadvidya (The Divine intellect)
Sumitra: Shuddha buddhi (The Pure Intellect)
Kaikeyi: Avidya (Nescience)
Manthara: Kuvidya (The Impure Intellect)
Lakshman: Atmaprabodh (Awakened state of the soul)
Bharat: Bhavartha (The implied meaning)
Shatrughna: Nijanirdhar (His own Resolve)
Vishvamitra: Vivek (The Intellect that differentiates between Sat and Asat)
Vasishtha: Vichar (The Holy thinking)
Sita: Chitshakti (The Divine Energy). The union of the Absolute Being and
The Divine Energy is eternal.
1.2 As told by H.H. Anna Karandikar
A. Dasharathi Rama
Such a body in which Rama dwells is the soul principle (atmaram).
‘Dasharath refers to the seeker, and the intellect in the form of Kousalya
is his wife. When the seeker behaves in a manner conducive for
Self-realisation, having faith and detachment generated from devotion, he is
showered with Bliss. This itself is Self-realisation and the incarnation of
Lord Shrirama.’
B. According to Ramottartapaniya Upanishad: Syllables of Omkar have been
described in the Ramottartapaniya Upanishad as follows.
Syllables of
ॐState of the mindPrincipleCreation of
whom?
A (अ)Waking (jagruti)Universe,
VaishvanarLakshman
U (उ)Dream (svapna)Taijas,
HiranyagarbhaShatrughna
M (म)Deep sleep (sushupti)Pradnya, GodBharat
Half
MantraSuperconsciousness (turya)Parameshvar, the
Absolute BrahmanShrirama
The Upanishad further states that the Primal Energy in the form of Prakruti
which causes creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe is ‘Shri
Sita’.
C. Names in the Ramayan and numerology
Rama (राम) and Sita (सीता): There are 2 letters in each of these Names.
Lakshman (लक्ष्मण) and Urmila (ऊर्मिला): There are 3 letters in each of these
names.
Bharat (भरत) and Mandavi (मांडवी): In each of these names there are 3 letters.
Shatrughna (शत्रुघ्न) and Shrutkirti (श्रुतकीर्ति): There are 4 letters in
each of these names.
According to numerology the number 3 is closer to number 2. Hence Lakshman and
Bharat both being three letter words, were closer to Rama which is a two
letter word. Since number four is not as close to number two, there is not
much reference of Shatrughna in the Ramayan.
D. Lav: One who bends in whatever direction the wind blows and does not get
destroyed, one who can thrive under all circumstances.
E. Kush: This is a type of grass. Just as grass thrives even on rocks he is
one who survives under all circumstances.
F. The everlasting quiver: The same amount of radiance emanating from the sun
principle is reflected back onto the basic sun principle (mula surya); hence
the sun is eternal. Similarly the number of arrows (energy) shot by Rama
returned to Him. Hence His quiver was everlasting.
G. Shabari: Shabari was conversant with Shabari vidya, a type of occult
science. Under the pretext of eating berries, Rama learnt it from her and she
imparted that knowledge to Him.
H. Marich: The supernatural power which enables one to transform oneself into
a deer is called Maruchi. The one who posesses such a power is called Marich.
I. The ten-headed Ravan: Ravan was ten-headed that is a Brahman well versed in
the knowledge of the ten scriptures (dashgranthi). Ravan was the son of Sage
Pulastya. Pula is the vagina or the birth passage. This sage had made
spiritual progress through the Path of Distressing Energy (Vamamarga). Once
Ravan shook every channel (nadi) in his body and created a sound like that of
Rudra’s vina (a stringed instrument). This appeased Lord Shiva.
J. Bibhishan: The embodied soul is situated above the navel according to one
school of thought. During spiritual practice as it descends to the region of
the navel (बिंब), one gets a terrifying (भीषण) experience. Hence it is called
bibhishan [बिभीषण= bhishan (भीषण) + bimba (बिंब) by reversing the order of
words]. Bibhishan’s spiritual level corresponding to his name was upto the
level of the navel, that is the level of the Manipur chakra.
K. Lanka: Lanka means the head which lies above the neck. Rama handed over the
kingdom of Lanka to Bibhishan means that He made Bibhishan progress
spiritually upto the level of the Sahasrar chakra.
L. Indrajit: Indrajit had control over all His organs (jitendriya). (Jit means
victory and indriya means sense organs.)
M. Bindu and Rekha: These are the consorts of Narantak one of the sons of
Ravan. The embodied soul should not remain bound by attractions of Bindu and
Rekha, that is any kind of attraction. Otherwise they bring about the end
(ant, antak) of man (nara).
2. Implied meaning of some incidents from the Ramayan
2.1 Sita, the daughter of the Earth
Incident: Sita was found while ploughing the soil.
Implied meaning: Infant Sita was the manifest form of the hiranyagarbha
frequencies emanating from the centre of the earth. Since sound, touch, form,
taste, odour and energy coexist, when one of the components is present, all
the others are also present. For instance, when a Name is chanted, the form,
odour, etc. accompany it; so also Infant Sita was the manifest form of a
specific energy that is hiranyagarbha energy, while Sita as Rama’s wife was
the form of Rama’s Energy. Further information on hiranyagarbha frequencies is
given in ‘Science of Spirituality - Chapter 11 - Supreme God, God,
Incarnations and Deities’, point ‘Guardian deity of a territory
(kshetrapaldevata)’.
2.2 Kaikeyi’s asking for a boon
Incident: With one boon Kaikeyi got Rama banished to the forest for fourteen
years and with the other, she asked that Bharat be made the crown prince.
Implied meaning: Shravankumar’s grandfather was Sage Dhoumya and his parents
were Ratnavali and Sage Ratna. Sage Ratna was the royal priest of the kingdom
of Nandigram ruled by King Ashvapati. Kaikeyi was the daughter of King
Ashvapati. Sage Ratna had taught Kaikeyi all the scriptures and had also
warned her that Dasharath’s children would not be able to ascend the throne
and that if they did ascend it within fourteen years after him, then the Raghu
dynasty would be destroyed. To prevent this mishap, Sage Vasishtha told
Kaikeyi to ask Dasharath for two boons, by one of which she sent Rama into
exile for fourteen years and by the other asked Bharat to rule the kingdom
because she knew that as long as Rama lived, Bharat would never ascend the
throne. It is on the advice of Sage Vasishtha, that Bharat installed Rama’s
paduka (wooden footwear) instead of His idol, on the throne. If instead of the
paduka an idol was installed on the throne, then by the rule that sound,
touch, form, taste and odour all coexist, the effect would have been just as
if Rama had ascended the throne. The original Valmiki Ramayan contains three
verses (shlokas) in this context. However some researchers feel that those who
rewrote the Ramayan after 1228 A.D. omitted these.
2.3 Bharat’s asking for Rama’s paduka (wooden footwear)
‘Asking for the paduka’ means ‘placing the head on the feet’ or ‘complete
surrender’. When Bharat asked for Rama’s paduka the latter gave them to him.
The former carried them placing them on his head such that the big toes faced
the front. Then he installed them on the throne and worshipped them. Since
then the custom of worshipping paduka of the spiritually evolved began.
2.4 Bharat’s stay at Nandigram
A. Incident: After acquiring Rama’s paduka Bharat took them to Nandigram and
installed them there. He did not reside in Ayodhya.
Implied meaning: Nandigram means the testes. So it implies that Bharat
observed celibacy. ‘Installation of Rama’s paduka’ implies that Bharat lived
like a seeker.
B. Incident: When accepting Rama’s paduka Bharat requested Him to inform him
about His return from exile along with Sita, on the eve of His arrival, so
that he could make preparations for His reception. Upon this, Rama uttered,
“So be it (tathastu)”.
Implied meaning: ‘Along with Sita’ means along with Divine Energy, that is
after activation of the spiritual energy (kundalini). ‘About His return’ means
before attainment of Self-realisation, that is before going into the nirbij
superconscious state (samadhi). Bharat said that he should know when He would
go into that state.
2.5 Lakshman’s life in exile
Incident: Sita used to feel that before fetching home roots and tubers,
Lakshman must have already eaten some. Rama used to feel that Sita must have
served him a meal. So both of them did not bother to enquire about his meals.
Implied meaning: For fourteen years Lakshman survived only on air. He did not
even sleep for the sake of Rama’s security. He practised Spirituality
constantly.
2.6 Sita’s abduction
Incident: Ravan abducted Sita and kept Her with him.
Implied meaning: The real Sita never went with Ravan. She entered the fire. It
was Sita’s image which accompanied Ravan. It was here that Rama’s divine sport
(Ramalila) really began. After being liberated from the clutches of Ravan, on
the pretext of purification in the fire, this form of Hers entered the fire
again and the real Sita emerged from it.
2.7 Rama’s embracing the trees
Incident: After Sita’s abduction crying out for Sita, Rama embraced the trees.
Implied meaning: He found out how the trees and creepers felt.
2.8 Slaying of Vali
Incident: Rama shot Vali with an arrow and killed him.
Implied meaning: After the arrow struck Vali, his spiritual progress which had
stopped at the level of the Anahat chakra began once again and he was
liberated.
2.9 Rajak’s accusing Sita
Incident: A washerman named Rajak pronounced that Sita was unchaste. Hence
Rama forsook Her.
Implied meaning 1: The one accusing Sita, Rajak is depicted as a washerman.
His job is to wash clothes and cleanse them of stains. The washerman said so
to prevent Rama from being stigmatised.
Implied meaning 2: The washerman’s name Rajak (रजक) is derived from two words
‘raja (रज)’ and ‘k (क)’. ‘K’ denotes a small part of an object. This means
that the washerman was one who possessed some portion of the raja component in
him. Hence he could not perceive the sattvik (sattva predominant) nature of
Sita.
2.10 Slaying of Shambuk
Incident: Rama slayed Shambuk, a matang (one belonging to a low class) because
he undertook austerities (tapashcharya).
Implied meaning: Shambuk undertook the wrong austerities. Consequently the
atmosphere on the earth was polluted to such an extent that the subjects were
distressed and the spiritual practice of the sages was interrupted. So to
fulfill the duty of a king, in the interest of His subjects and to protect the
sages Rama beheaded Shambuk.
2.11 Rama’s renouncing His body in water (jalasamadhi)
Incident: After Sita was engulfed by Mother Earth, Rama ended His life by
jumping into river Sharayu.
Implied meaning: Rama did not commit suicide by jumping into river Sharayu,
but took samadhi in water. There are several types of samadhis - samadhi in
the earth (bhumisamadhi), in water (jalasamadhi), in the fire (agnisamadhi),
etc. Saint Eknath and Saint Ramatirtha also took samadhi in water. This is
possible only for those who have no attachment to the body. All the residents
of Ayodhya too followed suit because, after Shrirama’s renunciation of the
body they felt that their life without Rama was now meaningless.
Detailed information on the superconscious state (samadhi) is given in
‘Science of Spirituality : Chapter 36 - Path of Meditation (Dhyanyoga)’.
Reference: ‘Vishnu and His forms’, published by Sanatan Sanstha.
1.1 According to the Bhavartha Ramayan by Saint Ekanath
Aja: Parabrahman or Paramatma (The Absolute Being).
Dasharath: The word Dasharath (दशरथ) is derived from two words, dash (दश)
and rath (रथ). Dash means ten and rath, the body. Dasharath thus refers to
the body with the five sense organs and five motor organs. Dasharath was
created from Aja.
Rama: Without loosing ajatva (absoluteness) Rama that is ahamatma (The
embodied soul) was born to Dasharath.
Kousalya: Sadvidya (The Divine intellect)
Sumitra: Shuddha buddhi (The Pure Intellect)
Kaikeyi: Avidya (Nescience)
Manthara: Kuvidya (The Impure Intellect)
Lakshman: Atmaprabodh (Awakened state of the soul)
Bharat: Bhavartha (The implied meaning)
Shatrughna: Nijanirdhar (His own Resolve)
Vishvamitra: Vivek (The Intellect that differentiates between Sat and Asat)
Vasishtha: Vichar (The Holy thinking)
Sita: Chitshakti (The Divine Energy). The union of the Absolute Being and
The Divine Energy is eternal.
1.2 As told by H.H. Anna Karandikar
A. Dasharathi Rama
Such a body in which Rama dwells is the soul principle (atmaram).
‘Dasharath refers to the seeker, and the intellect in the form of Kousalya
is his wife. When the seeker behaves in a manner conducive for
Self-realisation, having faith and detachment generated from devotion, he is
showered with Bliss. This itself is Self-realisation and the incarnation of
Lord Shrirama.’
B. According to Ramottartapaniya Upanishad: Syllables of Omkar have been
described in the Ramottartapaniya Upanishad as follows.
Syllables of
ॐState of the mindPrincipleCreation of
whom?
A (अ)Waking (jagruti)Universe,
VaishvanarLakshman
U (उ)Dream (svapna)Taijas,
HiranyagarbhaShatrughna
M (म)Deep sleep (sushupti)Pradnya, GodBharat
Half
MantraSuperconsciousness (turya)Parameshvar, the
Absolute BrahmanShrirama
The Upanishad further states that the Primal Energy in the form of Prakruti
which causes creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe is ‘Shri
Sita’.
C. Names in the Ramayan and numerology
Rama (राम) and Sita (सीता): There are 2 letters in each of these Names.
Lakshman (लक्ष्मण) and Urmila (ऊर्मिला): There are 3 letters in each of these
names.
Bharat (भरत) and Mandavi (मांडवी): In each of these names there are 3 letters.
Shatrughna (शत्रुघ्न) and Shrutkirti (श्रुतकीर्ति): There are 4 letters in
each of these names.
According to numerology the number 3 is closer to number 2. Hence Lakshman and
Bharat both being three letter words, were closer to Rama which is a two
letter word. Since number four is not as close to number two, there is not
much reference of Shatrughna in the Ramayan.
D. Lav: One who bends in whatever direction the wind blows and does not get
destroyed, one who can thrive under all circumstances.
E. Kush: This is a type of grass. Just as grass thrives even on rocks he is
one who survives under all circumstances.
F. The everlasting quiver: The same amount of radiance emanating from the sun
principle is reflected back onto the basic sun principle (mula surya); hence
the sun is eternal. Similarly the number of arrows (energy) shot by Rama
returned to Him. Hence His quiver was everlasting.
G. Shabari: Shabari was conversant with Shabari vidya, a type of occult
science. Under the pretext of eating berries, Rama learnt it from her and she
imparted that knowledge to Him.
H. Marich: The supernatural power which enables one to transform oneself into
a deer is called Maruchi. The one who posesses such a power is called Marich.
I. The ten-headed Ravan: Ravan was ten-headed that is a Brahman well versed in
the knowledge of the ten scriptures (dashgranthi). Ravan was the son of Sage
Pulastya. Pula is the vagina or the birth passage. This sage had made
spiritual progress through the Path of Distressing Energy (Vamamarga). Once
Ravan shook every channel (nadi) in his body and created a sound like that of
Rudra’s vina (a stringed instrument). This appeased Lord Shiva.
J. Bibhishan: The embodied soul is situated above the navel according to one
school of thought. During spiritual practice as it descends to the region of
the navel (बिंब), one gets a terrifying (भीषण) experience. Hence it is called
bibhishan [बिभीषण= bhishan (भीषण) + bimba (बिंब) by reversing the order of
words]. Bibhishan’s spiritual level corresponding to his name was upto the
level of the navel, that is the level of the Manipur chakra.
K. Lanka: Lanka means the head which lies above the neck. Rama handed over the
kingdom of Lanka to Bibhishan means that He made Bibhishan progress
spiritually upto the level of the Sahasrar chakra.
L. Indrajit: Indrajit had control over all His organs (jitendriya). (Jit means
victory and indriya means sense organs.)
M. Bindu and Rekha: These are the consorts of Narantak one of the sons of
Ravan. The embodied soul should not remain bound by attractions of Bindu and
Rekha, that is any kind of attraction. Otherwise they bring about the end
(ant, antak) of man (nara).
2. Implied meaning of some incidents from the Ramayan
2.1 Sita, the daughter of the Earth
Incident: Sita was found while ploughing the soil.
Implied meaning: Infant Sita was the manifest form of the hiranyagarbha
frequencies emanating from the centre of the earth. Since sound, touch, form,
taste, odour and energy coexist, when one of the components is present, all
the others are also present. For instance, when a Name is chanted, the form,
odour, etc. accompany it; so also Infant Sita was the manifest form of a
specific energy that is hiranyagarbha energy, while Sita as Rama’s wife was
the form of Rama’s Energy. Further information on hiranyagarbha frequencies is
given in ‘Science of Spirituality - Chapter 11 - Supreme God, God,
Incarnations and Deities’, point ‘Guardian deity of a territory
(kshetrapaldevata)’.
2.2 Kaikeyi’s asking for a boon
Incident: With one boon Kaikeyi got Rama banished to the forest for fourteen
years and with the other, she asked that Bharat be made the crown prince.
Implied meaning: Shravankumar’s grandfather was Sage Dhoumya and his parents
were Ratnavali and Sage Ratna. Sage Ratna was the royal priest of the kingdom
of Nandigram ruled by King Ashvapati. Kaikeyi was the daughter of King
Ashvapati. Sage Ratna had taught Kaikeyi all the scriptures and had also
warned her that Dasharath’s children would not be able to ascend the throne
and that if they did ascend it within fourteen years after him, then the Raghu
dynasty would be destroyed. To prevent this mishap, Sage Vasishtha told
Kaikeyi to ask Dasharath for two boons, by one of which she sent Rama into
exile for fourteen years and by the other asked Bharat to rule the kingdom
because she knew that as long as Rama lived, Bharat would never ascend the
throne. It is on the advice of Sage Vasishtha, that Bharat installed Rama’s
paduka (wooden footwear) instead of His idol, on the throne. If instead of the
paduka an idol was installed on the throne, then by the rule that sound,
touch, form, taste and odour all coexist, the effect would have been just as
if Rama had ascended the throne. The original Valmiki Ramayan contains three
verses (shlokas) in this context. However some researchers feel that those who
rewrote the Ramayan after 1228 A.D. omitted these.
2.3 Bharat’s asking for Rama’s paduka (wooden footwear)
‘Asking for the paduka’ means ‘placing the head on the feet’ or ‘complete
surrender’. When Bharat asked for Rama’s paduka the latter gave them to him.
The former carried them placing them on his head such that the big toes faced
the front. Then he installed them on the throne and worshipped them. Since
then the custom of worshipping paduka of the spiritually evolved began.
2.4 Bharat’s stay at Nandigram
A. Incident: After acquiring Rama’s paduka Bharat took them to Nandigram and
installed them there. He did not reside in Ayodhya.
Implied meaning: Nandigram means the testes. So it implies that Bharat
observed celibacy. ‘Installation of Rama’s paduka’ implies that Bharat lived
like a seeker.
B. Incident: When accepting Rama’s paduka Bharat requested Him to inform him
about His return from exile along with Sita, on the eve of His arrival, so
that he could make preparations for His reception. Upon this, Rama uttered,
“So be it (tathastu)”.
Implied meaning: ‘Along with Sita’ means along with Divine Energy, that is
after activation of the spiritual energy (kundalini). ‘About His return’ means
before attainment of Self-realisation, that is before going into the nirbij
superconscious state (samadhi). Bharat said that he should know when He would
go into that state.
2.5 Lakshman’s life in exile
Incident: Sita used to feel that before fetching home roots and tubers,
Lakshman must have already eaten some. Rama used to feel that Sita must have
served him a meal. So both of them did not bother to enquire about his meals.
Implied meaning: For fourteen years Lakshman survived only on air. He did not
even sleep for the sake of Rama’s security. He practised Spirituality
constantly.
2.6 Sita’s abduction
Incident: Ravan abducted Sita and kept Her with him.
Implied meaning: The real Sita never went with Ravan. She entered the fire. It
was Sita’s image which accompanied Ravan. It was here that Rama’s divine sport
(Ramalila) really began. After being liberated from the clutches of Ravan, on
the pretext of purification in the fire, this form of Hers entered the fire
again and the real Sita emerged from it.
2.7 Rama’s embracing the trees
Incident: After Sita’s abduction crying out for Sita, Rama embraced the trees.
Implied meaning: He found out how the trees and creepers felt.
2.8 Slaying of Vali
Incident: Rama shot Vali with an arrow and killed him.
Implied meaning: After the arrow struck Vali, his spiritual progress which had
stopped at the level of the Anahat chakra began once again and he was
liberated.
2.9 Rajak’s accusing Sita
Incident: A washerman named Rajak pronounced that Sita was unchaste. Hence
Rama forsook Her.
Implied meaning 1: The one accusing Sita, Rajak is depicted as a washerman.
His job is to wash clothes and cleanse them of stains. The washerman said so
to prevent Rama from being stigmatised.
Implied meaning 2: The washerman’s name Rajak (रजक) is derived from two words
‘raja (रज)’ and ‘k (क)’. ‘K’ denotes a small part of an object. This means
that the washerman was one who possessed some portion of the raja component in
him. Hence he could not perceive the sattvik (sattva predominant) nature of
Sita.
2.10 Slaying of Shambuk
Incident: Rama slayed Shambuk, a matang (one belonging to a low class) because
he undertook austerities (tapashcharya).
Implied meaning: Shambuk undertook the wrong austerities. Consequently the
atmosphere on the earth was polluted to such an extent that the subjects were
distressed and the spiritual practice of the sages was interrupted. So to
fulfill the duty of a king, in the interest of His subjects and to protect the
sages Rama beheaded Shambuk.
2.11 Rama’s renouncing His body in water (jalasamadhi)
Incident: After Sita was engulfed by Mother Earth, Rama ended His life by
jumping into river Sharayu.
Implied meaning: Rama did not commit suicide by jumping into river Sharayu,
but took samadhi in water. There are several types of samadhis - samadhi in
the earth (bhumisamadhi), in water (jalasamadhi), in the fire (agnisamadhi),
etc. Saint Eknath and Saint Ramatirtha also took samadhi in water. This is
possible only for those who have no attachment to the body. All the residents
of Ayodhya too followed suit because, after Shrirama’s renunciation of the
body they felt that their life without Rama was now meaningless.
Detailed information on the superconscious state (samadhi) is given in
‘Science of Spirituality : Chapter 36 - Path of Meditation (Dhyanyoga)’.
Reference: ‘Vishnu and His forms’, published by Sanatan Sanstha.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The story of creation
The material universe is temporary while spiritual universe is eternal. Material universe has 14 parts called lokas. One of them is Bhu i.e. Earth where we live. There are seven lokas below Earth:-
Atal, Vital, Sutal, Talatal, Rasatal, Mahatal, Patal.
There are six locas above Earth:-
Bhuvar, Suvar, Mahar, Jan, Tap, Satya.
Lord Brahma lives in Satya lok.
Time is not the same in all lokas. Below, one year as measured on Earth is written as Earth year. Please note that 1 Earth year = 360 day nights and not 365 or 366. This is because in scriptures of Hinduism, one year equals 360 day nights.
There are 4 yugs. Their durations in Earth years are as given below:-
Satya yug(also called Krit yug) - 1,728,000
Treta yug - 1,296,000
Dwapar yug - 864,000
Kali yug - 432,000
_____________________________________
Total - 4,320,000
One revolution of the four yugs is called one Maha yug or one Divya yug. So, one Maha yug equals 4,32,000 Earth years.
One day of Brahma equals 1000 Maha yugs i.e. 4.32 billion Earth years. His one night is of the same duration.
When Brahma's night arrives, then he sleeps. At that time except the top four i.e. Mahar, Jan, Tap, Satya, the other ten lokas are destroyed.
When Brahms's 100 years are over then all the 14 lokas i.e. the entire material universe is destroyed and Brahma himself merges into the body of Lord Vishnu. After 100 years are over, then the start of the next day, Brahma comes comes out and creates all the 14 lokas. Some people believe that the same Brahma comes every time and some believe that after 100 years a new Brahma comes.
In between on any new day, Brahma creates 10 lokas because they were destroyed the previous night.
Out of the 100 years of the present Brahma, 50 years are already over. The 1st day of his 51st year is going on. One day of Brahma is called as kalp. Let us go through creation in the current day of Brahma:-
In the beginning of his current day, Brahma got up. He came out of a lotus flower coming out of Lord Vishnu's navel. He created four sons from his mind. They are called as Kumar brothers and their names are Sanak Kumar, Sanand Kumar, Sanatan Kumar and Sanat Kumar. In spite of being very old, they always look like children. But they are highly knowledgeable. They were not interested in family life. Not only that, they were not interested in any material pleasures.
Then Brahma created following sages one after another: -
Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulah, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vashishth, Daksh, Narad, Kardam.
Brahma thought that this was not sufficient to have enough population in the world. In order for population to sustain, he needed to create both male and female. He created another body just like himself. That body divided into two parts - male and female. Male was named Swyambhuv and female was named Shatrupa.
Swyambuv and Shatrupa became husband and wife. Swyambhuv and Shatrupa had two sons Priyavrat and Uttanpad and three daughters Akuti, Devhuti, Prasuti.
Akuti married Ruchi,
Devhuti married Kardam,
Prasuti married Daksh.
Kardam and Daksh were created by Brahma. Marichi created Ruchi from his mind while Marichi himself was created by Brahma.
The descendants of the five children of Swyambhuv filled the world with population. This is why Swyambhuv was given the tile of Manu, which means father of mankind.
In one day of Brahma there are 14 manus. Swyambhuv was the first manu. At present, there is seventh manu named Sraddhadev; he is also called Vaivasvat Manu because he is the son of Sun god Vivasvan.
Before a new Manu comes, majority of population becomes extinct. From Manu, population again starts. That is why in any cycle of the new population creation, Manu is called as first man. From Manu, the word Maanav has come, which means human. Since we are children of Manu, we are Maanavs.Current Manu is Vaivasvat Manu. Therefore, we can say that Vaivasvat Manu is the guardian of all mankind at present.
Before Akuti's marriage to Ruchi, Akuti's father Swyambhuv said that Swyambhuv himself will raise the first male child of Ruchi and Akuti.
Ruchi and Akuti had a son named Yagya and a daughter named Dakshina. Yagya got the post of Lord Indra at that time i.e. in the time of Swyambhuv Manu. During different manus, there are different Indras.
Yagya was partial incarnation of Vishnu and Dakshina was partial incarnation of Laxmi. As had been agreed upon, Swambhuv brought Yagya to his home while Dakshina remained with Ruchi. When Yagya and Dakshina grew up, they married each other. This is one instance of brother-sister marriage.
Yagya and Dakshina had 12 sons. They all became gods. As mentioned earlier, Yagya himself became Indra i.e. king of gods.
Kardam and Devhuti had nine daughters and one son. The son was sage Kapil who was an incarnation of Vishnu. The nine daughters were Kala, Ansuya, Shraddha, Havirbhu, Gati, Kriya, Arundhati(also called Urja), Chitti, Khyati.
Kala married Marichi. They had one son Kashyap and one daughter Punima.
Ansuya married Atri and gave birth to Som, Dattatreya and Durvasa. Som became moon god. Dattatreya and Durvasa became sages. Som was part of Brahma, Dattatreya was part of Vishnu and Durvasa was part of Shiv.
Shraddha married Angira and gave birth to four daughters and two sons. One son Brihaspati was a great scholar and he became the guru of gods.
Havirbhu married Pulastya and gave birth to two very famous sages Agasyta and Vishrava.Vishrava was Ravan's father.
Gati married Pulah and gave birth to three great sages.
Kriya married Kratu and gave birth to sixty thousand great sages.
Arundhati married Vashishth and gave birth to seven great sages, the eldest of whom was Chitraketu, who was a great devotee of Vishnu.
Chitti married Atharv and gave birth to a son named Ashwashir.
Khyati married Bhrigu and had two sons and one daughter. The daughter was named Sri and she was an incarnation of Laxmi.
Thus the nine daughters of Kardam married sages created by Lord Brahma.
Daksh had thousands of sons. They became renunciates and did not have any children. After that Daksh had 60 daughters who married sages and gods. One daughter Sati married Lord Shiv.
Seventeen daughters of Daksh married sage Kashyap. These seventeen were mothers of majority of living beings and gave births to various kinds of beings - gods, demons, gandharvas, apsaras, animals, birds, snakes.
Atal, Vital, Sutal, Talatal, Rasatal, Mahatal, Patal.
There are six locas above Earth:-
Bhuvar, Suvar, Mahar, Jan, Tap, Satya.
Lord Brahma lives in Satya lok.
Time is not the same in all lokas. Below, one year as measured on Earth is written as Earth year. Please note that 1 Earth year = 360 day nights and not 365 or 366. This is because in scriptures of Hinduism, one year equals 360 day nights.
There are 4 yugs. Their durations in Earth years are as given below:-
Satya yug(also called Krit yug) - 1,728,000
Treta yug - 1,296,000
Dwapar yug - 864,000
Kali yug - 432,000
_____________________________________
Total - 4,320,000
One revolution of the four yugs is called one Maha yug or one Divya yug. So, one Maha yug equals 4,32,000 Earth years.
One day of Brahma equals 1000 Maha yugs i.e. 4.32 billion Earth years. His one night is of the same duration.
When Brahma's night arrives, then he sleeps. At that time except the top four i.e. Mahar, Jan, Tap, Satya, the other ten lokas are destroyed.
When Brahms's 100 years are over then all the 14 lokas i.e. the entire material universe is destroyed and Brahma himself merges into the body of Lord Vishnu. After 100 years are over, then the start of the next day, Brahma comes comes out and creates all the 14 lokas. Some people believe that the same Brahma comes every time and some believe that after 100 years a new Brahma comes.
In between on any new day, Brahma creates 10 lokas because they were destroyed the previous night.
Out of the 100 years of the present Brahma, 50 years are already over. The 1st day of his 51st year is going on. One day of Brahma is called as kalp. Let us go through creation in the current day of Brahma:-
In the beginning of his current day, Brahma got up. He came out of a lotus flower coming out of Lord Vishnu's navel. He created four sons from his mind. They are called as Kumar brothers and their names are Sanak Kumar, Sanand Kumar, Sanatan Kumar and Sanat Kumar. In spite of being very old, they always look like children. But they are highly knowledgeable. They were not interested in family life. Not only that, they were not interested in any material pleasures.
Then Brahma created following sages one after another: -
Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulah, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vashishth, Daksh, Narad, Kardam.
Brahma thought that this was not sufficient to have enough population in the world. In order for population to sustain, he needed to create both male and female. He created another body just like himself. That body divided into two parts - male and female. Male was named Swyambhuv and female was named Shatrupa.
Swyambuv and Shatrupa became husband and wife. Swyambhuv and Shatrupa had two sons Priyavrat and Uttanpad and three daughters Akuti, Devhuti, Prasuti.
Akuti married Ruchi,
Devhuti married Kardam,
Prasuti married Daksh.
Kardam and Daksh were created by Brahma. Marichi created Ruchi from his mind while Marichi himself was created by Brahma.
The descendants of the five children of Swyambhuv filled the world with population. This is why Swyambhuv was given the tile of Manu, which means father of mankind.
In one day of Brahma there are 14 manus. Swyambhuv was the first manu. At present, there is seventh manu named Sraddhadev; he is also called Vaivasvat Manu because he is the son of Sun god Vivasvan.
Before a new Manu comes, majority of population becomes extinct. From Manu, population again starts. That is why in any cycle of the new population creation, Manu is called as first man. From Manu, the word Maanav has come, which means human. Since we are children of Manu, we are Maanavs.Current Manu is Vaivasvat Manu. Therefore, we can say that Vaivasvat Manu is the guardian of all mankind at present.
Before Akuti's marriage to Ruchi, Akuti's father Swyambhuv said that Swyambhuv himself will raise the first male child of Ruchi and Akuti.
Ruchi and Akuti had a son named Yagya and a daughter named Dakshina. Yagya got the post of Lord Indra at that time i.e. in the time of Swyambhuv Manu. During different manus, there are different Indras.
Yagya was partial incarnation of Vishnu and Dakshina was partial incarnation of Laxmi. As had been agreed upon, Swambhuv brought Yagya to his home while Dakshina remained with Ruchi. When Yagya and Dakshina grew up, they married each other. This is one instance of brother-sister marriage.
Yagya and Dakshina had 12 sons. They all became gods. As mentioned earlier, Yagya himself became Indra i.e. king of gods.
Kardam and Devhuti had nine daughters and one son. The son was sage Kapil who was an incarnation of Vishnu. The nine daughters were Kala, Ansuya, Shraddha, Havirbhu, Gati, Kriya, Arundhati(also called Urja), Chitti, Khyati.
Kala married Marichi. They had one son Kashyap and one daughter Punima.
Ansuya married Atri and gave birth to Som, Dattatreya and Durvasa. Som became moon god. Dattatreya and Durvasa became sages. Som was part of Brahma, Dattatreya was part of Vishnu and Durvasa was part of Shiv.
Shraddha married Angira and gave birth to four daughters and two sons. One son Brihaspati was a great scholar and he became the guru of gods.
Havirbhu married Pulastya and gave birth to two very famous sages Agasyta and Vishrava.Vishrava was Ravan's father.
Gati married Pulah and gave birth to three great sages.
Kriya married Kratu and gave birth to sixty thousand great sages.
Arundhati married Vashishth and gave birth to seven great sages, the eldest of whom was Chitraketu, who was a great devotee of Vishnu.
Chitti married Atharv and gave birth to a son named Ashwashir.
Khyati married Bhrigu and had two sons and one daughter. The daughter was named Sri and she was an incarnation of Laxmi.
Thus the nine daughters of Kardam married sages created by Lord Brahma.
Daksh had thousands of sons. They became renunciates and did not have any children. After that Daksh had 60 daughters who married sages and gods. One daughter Sati married Lord Shiv.
Seventeen daughters of Daksh married sage Kashyap. These seventeen were mothers of majority of living beings and gave births to various kinds of beings - gods, demons, gandharvas, apsaras, animals, birds, snakes.
The Concept of Time
Srimad Bhagavatham, 3rd skandam, 11th Adhyaaya
“swasthe nare samaaseene yaavathspandhathi lochanam|
Thathra thrinshathmo baaga: thathpara: parikeerthitha: |
Tathparasya shathaanshasuthu dhrutisthiyabigiiyathe|| “
The time taken for blinking the eye lids once by a man who is in ‘swasthi’ (without any ailments) state is called as ‘Nimesha’.
1/30th of a Nimesha is called a ‘Tharpara (thathpara)
1/100th of a tharpara is called a ‘dhruti’
Our ancestors have calculated ‘time’ better than anybody else in the world, without having any of the modern day computing assists and capabilities. The following is the list of time units as defined per our ‘Jyothisha’ sasthra.
60 kooshvaas – 1 tharpara (thathpara)
60 tharparas – 1 vinaadi
60 Vinaadia – 1 Naalika
60 Naalikas – 1 day
Mapping these to the modern day ‘English’ time units:
1 hour - 2-1/2 naalikas
1 naalika – 24 minutes
1 Vinaadi – 24 Seconds
1 tharpara – 6/15 of a second
1 kooshvaa – 1/150 of a second
The Hindu Dharma practices mathematics in everyday life. Another example from a simple ‘sankalpa’ mantra that is recited before any pooja or a good intended event as part of our Dharma would show us how much Hinduism is not a religion but a Dharma – to be practiced.
“Adhya Brahmana; dvithiya praarthe
Swetha varaaha kalpe
Vaivasvatha manvanthre
Ashtavimsathi thame
Kaliyuge prathame paathe
Jambuthveepe
Bharatha varshe
Baratha: kande
Meroho: dhakshine paarshve
Saalivaahana sahaapte
Asmin varthamaane vyavahaarike
Prabhavaathi sashti samvathsaaraanaam madhye
‘sarvajit’ naama samvathsare
Dhakshinaayane; Sharad rithou;
Kaarthika maase; sukla pakshe
Panchamyaam Subha thithou
Vaasara: sthira vaasara yukthaayaam
… nakshathra ….”
Before understanding this sankalpa, some brief on how Hinduism calculates ‘time’! Hinduism explains the time calculation in relative terms to the life time of ‘Lord Brahma’ – the birth God!
What is the ‘Life time’ of Brahma?
His ‘Life time’ is defined as – 100 ‘Brahma’ years with 360 days per year – equivalent to 432 crore ‘earth’ years; His ‘night’ also constitutes of such 432 crore ‘earth’ years;
The end of a ‘DAY’ of brahma, is the universe’s end (the d-day!). Then ‘Lord Brahma’ sleeps for his ‘night’ time (another 432 crore years!). When his next DAY starts, the universe again starts a new cycle of life and evolves for the next 432 crore years!
Every ‘day’ of Brahma is split into 14 parts – each called as a ‘Manvanthra’. There is a head for every ‘Manvanthra’ called ‘The Manu’. The current time frame comes under the ‘Seventh Manu’ named ‘Vaivasvatha’.
Every Manvanthra constitutes of 71 Maha Yugas; 4 yugas constitute one Maha-yuga. The following are the yuga calculations;
Krutha yuga – 17,28,000 Years
Thretha Yuga - 12,96,000 Years
Dwapara Yuga- 8,64,000 Years
Kali Yuga - 4,32,000 Years
A above total of 43,20,000 years constitute a ‘Maha-yuga’.
Each Manvanthra has 71 Maha Yugas; and there are 14 Manvanthras; So
14 X 71 = 994 Maha-Yugas;
6 Maha-yugas are given for the transition period of every Manvanthra to the next; so:
994 Maha-Yugas + 6 Maha-yuga makes to 1000 Maha-Yugas. This is called a ‘Kalpa’ and constitutes Bhrahma’s One DAY. Currently we are in ‘Swetha varaha kalpa’.
To understand better, if we start from the lowest denomination:
1 Maha-Yuga = 43,20,000 Years;
One Manu’s period (Manvanthra) consists 71 Maha-Yugas: 71 X 43,20,000 = 30,67,20,000 Years
There are 14 Manvanthras: 14 X 30,67,20,000 = 429,40,80,000 Years;
6 Maha-Yugas for Manvanthra’s transition:6 X 43,20,000 = 2,59,20,000 Years;
Add the above for 14 Manu’s period: 429,40,80,000 + 2,59,20,000 = 432,00,00,000 (432 crore) Years; which equivalent to BRAHMA’S ONE DAY!
With the above information as a background for our understanding, going back to the Sankalpa Manthra:
“Adhya Brahmana: - During Current Brahma’s 51st year
dvithiya praarthe – in the First Day
Swetha varaaha kalpe – in Swetha Varaha Kalpam
Vaivasvatha manvanthre – In the times of ‘Vaivasvatha’ Manu
Ashtavimsathi thame; Kaliyuge prathame paathe – In the first part of Kaliyuga that comes for the 28th time;
Jambudhveepe – In a place called ‘Jambudhveepam’ that is a part of earth’s seven parts’
Bharatha varshe – In the land called ‘Bharatha Varsham’
Baratha: kande – In the Baratha kandam (continant)
Meroho: dhakshine paarshve – To the south of Mount Meru
Saalivaahana sahaapte – In the times of king ‘Saalivahana’
Asmin varthamaane vyavahaarike – With such information
Prabhavaathi sashti samvathsaaraanaam madhye – from the list of 60 years that starts with ‘Prabhava’
‘sarvajit’ naama samvathsare – in the year of ‘Sarvajit’
Dhakshinaayane; Sharad rithou; - During the time when Sun traverses facing South; in so & so weather time (Spring, summer etc)
Kaarthika maase; sukla pakshe – in so & so month; moon ascending or descending phase;
Panchamyaam Subha thithou – in so & so day ….
Vaasara: sthira vaasara yukthaayaam
… nakshathra ….”
For those who do not know about Hindu calender:Vedic lunar calendar.
In its cycle of 60 years, the names of successive years are :
1. Prabhava 2. Vibhava 3. Sukla 4. Pramoodotha
5. Pajothpatthi 6. Agnirasa 7. Srimukha 8. Bhava
9. Yuva 10. Dhata 11. Eswara 12. Bahudhanya
13. Pramadi 14. Vikrama 15. Vishu 16. Chitrabhanu
17. Swabhanu 18. Tharana 19. Parthiva 20. Vyaya
21. Sarvajittu 22. Sarvadhari 23. Virodhi 24. Vikriti
22. Khara 26. Nandana 27. Vijaya 28. Jaya
29. Manmatha 30. Durmukhi 31. Havilambi 32. Vilhambi
33. Vikari 34. Sarvari 35. Plava 36. Shubhakritu
37. Sobhakruthu 38. Krodhi 39. Vishwavasu 40. Paridhavi
41. Plavanga 42. Keelaka 43. Sowmya 44. Sadharana
45. Voridhikrutu 46. Paridhavi 47. Pramadicha 48. Ananda
49. Rakshasa 50. Nala 51. Pingala 52. Kalayukti
53. Siddharthi 54. Roudri 55. Durmati 56. Dundubhi
57 Rudhirodgari 58. Rathakshi 59. Krodhana 60. Akshaya
Months :
1. Chaitra 2. Vaishakha 3. Jyeshta 4. Aashadha 5. Shravana
6. Bhadrapada 7. Ashwin 8. Kartika 9. Margasheersha 10. Pausha
11. Maagha 12. Phalguna
Stars :
1. Ashwini 2. Bharani 3. Krutika 4. Rohini 5. Mruga
6. Ardra 7. Punarvasu 8. Pushya 9. Aslesha 10. Magha
11. Poorva 12. Uttara 13. Hastha 14. Chitra 15. Swati
16. Vishakha 17. Anuradha 18. Moola 19. Jyeshta
20. Poorvashadha
21. Uttarashadha 22. Shravana 23. Dhanishta 24. Satabhisha 25.Poorvabhadra 26. Uttarabhadra 27. Revati
Note : Time is not the same in all lokas. I will explain lokas in my next blog called "The story of Creation"
“swasthe nare samaaseene yaavathspandhathi lochanam|
Thathra thrinshathmo baaga: thathpara: parikeerthitha: |
Tathparasya shathaanshasuthu dhrutisthiyabigiiyathe|| “
The time taken for blinking the eye lids once by a man who is in ‘swasthi’ (without any ailments) state is called as ‘Nimesha’.
1/30th of a Nimesha is called a ‘Tharpara (thathpara)
1/100th of a tharpara is called a ‘dhruti’
Our ancestors have calculated ‘time’ better than anybody else in the world, without having any of the modern day computing assists and capabilities. The following is the list of time units as defined per our ‘Jyothisha’ sasthra.
60 kooshvaas – 1 tharpara (thathpara)
60 tharparas – 1 vinaadi
60 Vinaadia – 1 Naalika
60 Naalikas – 1 day
Mapping these to the modern day ‘English’ time units:
1 hour - 2-1/2 naalikas
1 naalika – 24 minutes
1 Vinaadi – 24 Seconds
1 tharpara – 6/15 of a second
1 kooshvaa – 1/150 of a second
The Hindu Dharma practices mathematics in everyday life. Another example from a simple ‘sankalpa’ mantra that is recited before any pooja or a good intended event as part of our Dharma would show us how much Hinduism is not a religion but a Dharma – to be practiced.
“Adhya Brahmana; dvithiya praarthe
Swetha varaaha kalpe
Vaivasvatha manvanthre
Ashtavimsathi thame
Kaliyuge prathame paathe
Jambuthveepe
Bharatha varshe
Baratha: kande
Meroho: dhakshine paarshve
Saalivaahana sahaapte
Asmin varthamaane vyavahaarike
Prabhavaathi sashti samvathsaaraanaam madhye
‘sarvajit’ naama samvathsare
Dhakshinaayane; Sharad rithou;
Kaarthika maase; sukla pakshe
Panchamyaam Subha thithou
Vaasara: sthira vaasara yukthaayaam
… nakshathra ….”
Before understanding this sankalpa, some brief on how Hinduism calculates ‘time’! Hinduism explains the time calculation in relative terms to the life time of ‘Lord Brahma’ – the birth God!
What is the ‘Life time’ of Brahma?
His ‘Life time’ is defined as – 100 ‘Brahma’ years with 360 days per year – equivalent to 432 crore ‘earth’ years; His ‘night’ also constitutes of such 432 crore ‘earth’ years;
The end of a ‘DAY’ of brahma, is the universe’s end (the d-day!). Then ‘Lord Brahma’ sleeps for his ‘night’ time (another 432 crore years!). When his next DAY starts, the universe again starts a new cycle of life and evolves for the next 432 crore years!
Every ‘day’ of Brahma is split into 14 parts – each called as a ‘Manvanthra’. There is a head for every ‘Manvanthra’ called ‘The Manu’. The current time frame comes under the ‘Seventh Manu’ named ‘Vaivasvatha’.
Every Manvanthra constitutes of 71 Maha Yugas; 4 yugas constitute one Maha-yuga. The following are the yuga calculations;
Krutha yuga – 17,28,000 Years
Thretha Yuga - 12,96,000 Years
Dwapara Yuga- 8,64,000 Years
Kali Yuga - 4,32,000 Years
A above total of 43,20,000 years constitute a ‘Maha-yuga’.
Each Manvanthra has 71 Maha Yugas; and there are 14 Manvanthras; So
14 X 71 = 994 Maha-Yugas;
6 Maha-yugas are given for the transition period of every Manvanthra to the next; so:
994 Maha-Yugas + 6 Maha-yuga makes to 1000 Maha-Yugas. This is called a ‘Kalpa’ and constitutes Bhrahma’s One DAY. Currently we are in ‘Swetha varaha kalpa’.
To understand better, if we start from the lowest denomination:
1 Maha-Yuga = 43,20,000 Years;
One Manu’s period (Manvanthra) consists 71 Maha-Yugas: 71 X 43,20,000 = 30,67,20,000 Years
There are 14 Manvanthras: 14 X 30,67,20,000 = 429,40,80,000 Years;
6 Maha-Yugas for Manvanthra’s transition:6 X 43,20,000 = 2,59,20,000 Years;
Add the above for 14 Manu’s period: 429,40,80,000 + 2,59,20,000 = 432,00,00,000 (432 crore) Years; which equivalent to BRAHMA’S ONE DAY!
With the above information as a background for our understanding, going back to the Sankalpa Manthra:
“Adhya Brahmana: - During Current Brahma’s 51st year
dvithiya praarthe – in the First Day
Swetha varaaha kalpe – in Swetha Varaha Kalpam
Vaivasvatha manvanthre – In the times of ‘Vaivasvatha’ Manu
Ashtavimsathi thame; Kaliyuge prathame paathe – In the first part of Kaliyuga that comes for the 28th time;
Jambudhveepe – In a place called ‘Jambudhveepam’ that is a part of earth’s seven parts’
Bharatha varshe – In the land called ‘Bharatha Varsham’
Baratha: kande – In the Baratha kandam (continant)
Meroho: dhakshine paarshve – To the south of Mount Meru
Saalivaahana sahaapte – In the times of king ‘Saalivahana’
Asmin varthamaane vyavahaarike – With such information
Prabhavaathi sashti samvathsaaraanaam madhye – from the list of 60 years that starts with ‘Prabhava’
‘sarvajit’ naama samvathsare – in the year of ‘Sarvajit’
Dhakshinaayane; Sharad rithou; - During the time when Sun traverses facing South; in so & so weather time (Spring, summer etc)
Kaarthika maase; sukla pakshe – in so & so month; moon ascending or descending phase;
Panchamyaam Subha thithou – in so & so day ….
Vaasara: sthira vaasara yukthaayaam
… nakshathra ….”
For those who do not know about Hindu calender:Vedic lunar calendar.
In its cycle of 60 years, the names of successive years are :
1. Prabhava 2. Vibhava 3. Sukla 4. Pramoodotha
5. Pajothpatthi 6. Agnirasa 7. Srimukha 8. Bhava
9. Yuva 10. Dhata 11. Eswara 12. Bahudhanya
13. Pramadi 14. Vikrama 15. Vishu 16. Chitrabhanu
17. Swabhanu 18. Tharana 19. Parthiva 20. Vyaya
21. Sarvajittu 22. Sarvadhari 23. Virodhi 24. Vikriti
22. Khara 26. Nandana 27. Vijaya 28. Jaya
29. Manmatha 30. Durmukhi 31. Havilambi 32. Vilhambi
33. Vikari 34. Sarvari 35. Plava 36. Shubhakritu
37. Sobhakruthu 38. Krodhi 39. Vishwavasu 40. Paridhavi
41. Plavanga 42. Keelaka 43. Sowmya 44. Sadharana
45. Voridhikrutu 46. Paridhavi 47. Pramadicha 48. Ananda
49. Rakshasa 50. Nala 51. Pingala 52. Kalayukti
53. Siddharthi 54. Roudri 55. Durmati 56. Dundubhi
57 Rudhirodgari 58. Rathakshi 59. Krodhana 60. Akshaya
Months :
1. Chaitra 2. Vaishakha 3. Jyeshta 4. Aashadha 5. Shravana
6. Bhadrapada 7. Ashwin 8. Kartika 9. Margasheersha 10. Pausha
11. Maagha 12. Phalguna
Stars :
1. Ashwini 2. Bharani 3. Krutika 4. Rohini 5. Mruga
6. Ardra 7. Punarvasu 8. Pushya 9. Aslesha 10. Magha
11. Poorva 12. Uttara 13. Hastha 14. Chitra 15. Swati
16. Vishakha 17. Anuradha 18. Moola 19. Jyeshta
20. Poorvashadha
21. Uttarashadha 22. Shravana 23. Dhanishta 24. Satabhisha 25.Poorvabhadra 26. Uttarabhadra 27. Revati
Note : Time is not the same in all lokas. I will explain lokas in my next blog called "The story of Creation"
Time Span of the four Yugas
Please note that 1 Earth year = 360 day nights and not 365 or 366. This is because in scriptures of Hinduism, one year equals 360 day nights.
There are 4 yugs. Their durations in Earth years are as given below:-
Satya yug(also called Krit yug) - 1,728,000
Treta yug - 1,296,000
Dwapar yug - 864,000
Kali yug - 432,000
_____________________________________
Total - 4,320,000
A total of 43,20,000 years constitute a Maha Yuga!
One revolution of the four yugs is called one Maha yug or one Divya yug. So, one Maha yug equals 4,32,000 Earth years.
One day of Brahma equals 1000 Maha yugs i.e. 4.32 billion Earth years. His one night is of the same duration.
I would also like to make a few more interesting points here :
1. Kaliyug is the scale for measurement of one yug. (dwa - twice, tri - thrice and kr- means four times of Kaliyug. In our cycle Kali yuga started the day Lord Krishna left for spiritual world from this material world. It was around 5100 years back, and it takes 4,26,900 more years for kaliyuga to complete. At the end of the kali yuga, when there is no dharma, Kalki will come and start destruction and establish dharma.
2. One interesting fact that I would like to mention here is that in each yug depending upon its duration Vishnu has taken that many avatars. Although, there are lots of avatars which are also known as Vishnu avatar but there are mainly 10.
The first FOUR Avatars happened in Kritha Yuga – Matsya, Koorma, Varaaha and Nrisimha
The next THREE Avatars happened in Treta Yuga – Vaaman, Parasuraama and Sri Rama
The next TWO Avatars happened in Dwapara Yuga – Balaraama and Krishna
The next ONE Avatar will happen in Kali Yuga – Kalki
Also, it is very important to note that the time span of 4 yugs are not cyclic. They are reverse cyclic as per many beliefs. i.e After Kaliyug again Dwapar will come and then Treta and Kritha.
3. With yugas the quality of life and perfection also increases.Another interesting aspect I learnt is on the average life span of the creatures that lived in different yugas and the average dimensions of them!
Safely assuming the average life span of human is around 50 years (across the earth) as of today. Going by the same symmetric math:
Average life span of creatures in Kali Yuga – 50-100 years;
Average life span of creatures in Dwapara Yuga – 100-200 years; (Twice)
Average life span of creatures in Tretha Yuga – 150-300 years; (Thrice)
Average life span of creatures in Krita Yuga – 200-400 years; (Four times)
Assuming the average dimension of human today is around 5.7 - 6ft / 60 – 70 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Kali Yuga – 6 ft / 60 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Dwapara Yuga – 12 ft / 120 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Tretha Yuga – 18 ft / 180 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Krita Yuga – 24 ft / 240 Kgs;
The current start of genetic engineering and other discoveries about life is just a starting point. There is long way to go.
5. Brahma, is not a human being. Brahma has been personified as a human being so that we human beings can understand.
One maha yuga comprises of 43,20,000 years. 1000 maha yugas are equivalent to the day of the Brahma. Brahma's night is also of the same time. Brahma's one day is equivalent to 864,00,00,000 years. Brahma's one second is equivalent to 1,00,000 years on earth. Brahma lives like this for 100 years, and the entire life time of Brahma is equivalent to one breath of Sri Maha Vishnu. When Sri Maha Vishnu exhilarates, the entire world is created, and when he annihilates the entire world is destroyed. This is very close to concept of Big Bang in modern science. The time span between his exhilaration and annihilation is equivalent to 100 years for Brahma.
There are 4 yugs. Their durations in Earth years are as given below:-
Satya yug(also called Krit yug) - 1,728,000
Treta yug - 1,296,000
Dwapar yug - 864,000
Kali yug - 432,000
_____________________________________
Total - 4,320,000
A total of 43,20,000 years constitute a Maha Yuga!
One revolution of the four yugs is called one Maha yug or one Divya yug. So, one Maha yug equals 4,32,000 Earth years.
One day of Brahma equals 1000 Maha yugs i.e. 4.32 billion Earth years. His one night is of the same duration.
I would also like to make a few more interesting points here :
1. Kaliyug is the scale for measurement of one yug. (dwa - twice, tri - thrice and kr- means four times of Kaliyug. In our cycle Kali yuga started the day Lord Krishna left for spiritual world from this material world. It was around 5100 years back, and it takes 4,26,900 more years for kaliyuga to complete. At the end of the kali yuga, when there is no dharma, Kalki will come and start destruction and establish dharma.
2. One interesting fact that I would like to mention here is that in each yug depending upon its duration Vishnu has taken that many avatars. Although, there are lots of avatars which are also known as Vishnu avatar but there are mainly 10.
The first FOUR Avatars happened in Kritha Yuga – Matsya, Koorma, Varaaha and Nrisimha
The next THREE Avatars happened in Treta Yuga – Vaaman, Parasuraama and Sri Rama
The next TWO Avatars happened in Dwapara Yuga – Balaraama and Krishna
The next ONE Avatar will happen in Kali Yuga – Kalki
Also, it is very important to note that the time span of 4 yugs are not cyclic. They are reverse cyclic as per many beliefs. i.e After Kaliyug again Dwapar will come and then Treta and Kritha.
3. With yugas the quality of life and perfection also increases.Another interesting aspect I learnt is on the average life span of the creatures that lived in different yugas and the average dimensions of them!
Safely assuming the average life span of human is around 50 years (across the earth) as of today. Going by the same symmetric math:
Average life span of creatures in Kali Yuga – 50-100 years;
Average life span of creatures in Dwapara Yuga – 100-200 years; (Twice)
Average life span of creatures in Tretha Yuga – 150-300 years; (Thrice)
Average life span of creatures in Krita Yuga – 200-400 years; (Four times)
Assuming the average dimension of human today is around 5.7 - 6ft / 60 – 70 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Kali Yuga – 6 ft / 60 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Dwapara Yuga – 12 ft / 120 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Tretha Yuga – 18 ft / 180 Kgs;
Average dimension of creatures in Krita Yuga – 24 ft / 240 Kgs;
The current start of genetic engineering and other discoveries about life is just a starting point. There is long way to go.
5. Brahma, is not a human being. Brahma has been personified as a human being so that we human beings can understand.
One maha yuga comprises of 43,20,000 years. 1000 maha yugas are equivalent to the day of the Brahma. Brahma's night is also of the same time. Brahma's one day is equivalent to 864,00,00,000 years. Brahma's one second is equivalent to 1,00,000 years on earth. Brahma lives like this for 100 years, and the entire life time of Brahma is equivalent to one breath of Sri Maha Vishnu. When Sri Maha Vishnu exhilarates, the entire world is created, and when he annihilates the entire world is destroyed. This is very close to concept of Big Bang in modern science. The time span between his exhilaration and annihilation is equivalent to 100 years for Brahma.
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