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"