A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 7

IV. DIVISIONS OF KaLA.

*SKANDHA III. CHAP. 11.*

The unit of Kala at the Sukshma pole is Paramanu, which is the minutest part of the created thing, not united to form a body. At the Sthula pole is the whole Sthula creation known in its entirety as Parama Mahan. The time during which the Sun crosses in his...o...b..t one paramanu is the Kala unit paramanu. The time during which he crosses the whole system in his...o...b..t, _i.e._, crosses all the twelve signs of the Zodiac, is Parama Mahan or one Samvatsara. The units of time and s.p.a.ce are thus the same.

1 Dvyanuka = 2 Parama.n.u.s.

1 Trasarenu = 3 Parama.n.u.s.

1 Truti = 3 Trasarenus.

1 Vedha = 100 Trutis.

1 Lava = 3 Vedhas.

1 Nimesha or wink = 3 Lavas.

1 Kshana = 3 Nimesha.

1 Kastha = 5 Kshanas.

1 Laghu = 15 Kasthas.

1 Nadika = 15 Laghus.

1 Muhurta = 2 Nadikas.

1 Yama or Prahara = 6 or 7 Nadikas.

1 Ahoratra (of the Mortals) = 8 Yamas.

1 Paksha (Sukla or Krishna) = 15 Ahoratras.

1 Masa (Month) = 1 Sukla + 1 Krishna Paksha.

1 Ritu = 2 Masas.

1 Ayana = 6 Masas (Uttara or Daks.h.i.+na.)

1 Vatsara = 2 Ayanas.

1 Vatsara = 12 Masas

1 Vatsara = 1 Ahoratra of Devas.

1 Samvatsara = 1 year of Solar months.

1 Parivatsara = 1 year of Jupiter months.

1 Idavatsara = 1 year of Savana months.

1 Svanuvatsara = 1 year of Lunar months.

1 Vatsara = 1 year of Stellar months.

One hundred Samvatsaras is the maximum age of men.

Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali a cycle of these 4 Yugas and their Sandhyas and Sandhyansas consist of 12 thousand divine years.

The beginning of a Yuga is its Sandhya. Tho end of a Yuga is its Sandhyansa. Sandhya and Sandhyansa are not included in a Yuga and Yuga Dharma is not to be performed while they last.

Sandhya of Satya Yuga = 400 Deva years.

Satya Yuga = 4,000 " "

Sandhyansa of Satya Yuga 400 " "

Sandhya of Treta Yuga 300 " "

Treta Yuga 3,000 " "

Sandhyansa of Treta Yuga 300 " "

Sandhya of Dvapara Yuga 200 " "

Dvapara Yuga 2,000 " "

Sandhyansa of Dvapara Yuga 200 " "

Sandhya of Kali Yuga 100 " "

Kali Yuga 1,000 " "

Sandhyansa of Kali Yuga 100 " "

------- 12,000 Deva years.

Dharma is enjoined for the period between Sandhya and Sandhyansa, which is called Yuga.

Dharma has all the 4 padas or feet in Satya, " " only 3 padas in Treta, " " only 2 padas in Dvapara, " " only 1 pada in Kali.

1,000 Yuga cycles is one Day of Brahma or one Kalpa, *i.e.*, 1 Day of Brahma = 1,000 x 12,000 Deva years, = 1,20,00,000 Deva years.

An equal period of time is also reckoned as one Night of Brahma. 14 Ma.n.u.s reign during the Day of Brahma, each Manu reigning for:

1,000 -------- = 71 3/4 14

_i.e._, a little over 71 Yuga Cycles. Converted into Deva years: -