Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Everything is a cycle. The creation and destruction of universe is also a cyclic routine. It is said that the birth and expansion of universe is a process of 311.04 trillion yrs (maha-manvantara) and its destruction and non-existence also remains for the same period of time.
I studied many articles on internet about the Hindu calendar out of my sheer interest and I was really stunned at how we have been so perfect about these scientific calculations during age old times. I got to learn so many things and finally realized that what I'm searching for is an ocean and what I got to know are just droplets.
As per Hindu calendar, the time related calculations are based on the age of Brahma.
Age of Brahma
Brahma lifespan = 100 Brahma years = 1 maha kalpa = 1 para
His half lifespan i.e. 50yrs is one Paraardha (i.e. Para ardha. Ardha means half), and second 50 yrs is another paraardha.
After 100 Brahma yrs, another 100 Brahma yrs will pass till new Brahma is born.
1 Brahma year has 12 brahma months.
1 brahma month has 30 brahma days(daytime+nighttime)
1 brahma day has 2 kalpas. (i.e. 1 kalpa=daytime, called Adhi and 1 kalpa=nighttime, called sandhi wherein earth and all lifeforms are in state of rest due to destruction by Lord Shiva. Also called Pralaya wherein the world {earth and all life forms, but not the entire universe itself} is destroyed and lies in a state of rest)
1 kalpa = 1000 Mahayugas = 14 manvantaras
1 manvantara = 71 mahayugas. (each manvantara is ruled by a Manu who is created by brahma)
1 mahayuga = 4 yugas.
But, we said 1 kalpa =14 manvantaras =1000 mahayugas. And 1 manvantara = 71 mahayugas. Whereas, 14x71 = 994 mahayuga only. what abt remaining 6? We will come to this question later.
We said 1 mahayuga= 4 yugas. They are:
1. Satya yuga
2. Treta yuga
3. Dwapar yuga
4. Kali yuga
If Kali yuga has 'X' number of years, then Dwapar yuga = 2X, Treta yuga = 3X and Satya Yuga = 4X.
This 'X' is called Karana, which is equal to 4,32,000 human years.
1,728,000 human years = 1 Satya Yuga = 4X
1,296,000 human years = 1 Tretā Yuga = 3X
8,64,000 human years = 1 Dvāpara Yuga = 2X
4,32,000 human years = 1 Kali Yuga = 1X
Coming back to the question: 14x71 = 994 mahayuga only. what abt remaining 6?
Answer: each manvantara is followed by one sandhi kaal = 4X (during this time entire earth submerged in water). This gives 14 sandhi kaal. We need to count one Sandhi kaal before the first manvantara. So it gives 14+1 = 15 sandhi kaals = 15 x 4X = 60X = 6 x 10X = 6 x (4X+3X+2X+X). This time equals 6 Mahayugas.
Hence,
1 kalpa = 14 Manvantaras = {14 x (71 mahayugas)} + {(15 x 4X)} = {14 x (71 mahayugas)} + {6 Mahayugas} = 994+ 6 mahayugas = 1000 mahayugas.
Now to understand details of mahayuga (satyayug+tretayug+dwaparyug+kaliyug), we need to understand the Age of Devas, Age of Pitru (i.e.age of our ancestors) and how they are related to Age of a Human Being.
Age of Pitru
Our Pitrus(ancestors) reside in Pitru Lok. Pitru Lok is like a different planetary system wherein 3 generations of our ancestors reside.
In Pitrulok, 1 complete Pitru day(daytime+nighttime) = 30 complete human days.
So 15 human days is daytime for Pitru and another 15 human days is nighttime for Pitru.
So, 1 Pitru day = 1 Human month
Pitru daytime = 15 human days = New Moon to Full moon
This is called Shukla Paksha. During this period moon gets brighter. This is daytime for Pitrus/ancestors.
We have named these 15 days as below:
1. New Moon/Prathama ==> 2. dwitiya ==> 3. tritiya ==> 4. chathurthi ==> 5. panchami ==> 6. shashti ==> 7. Saptami ==> 8. ashtami ==> 9. navami ==> 10. dashami ==>11. ekadashi ==> 12. dwadashi ==> 13. thrayodashi ==> 14. chathurdashi ==> 15. Pournami or Poornima or Full moon.
Pitru nighttime = 15 human days = Full moon to new moon
This is called Krishna Paksha. During this period moon gets darker. This is nighttime for Pitrus/ancestors.
[1. Full moon/Prathama ==> 2. dwitiya ==> 3. tritiya ==> 4. chathurthi ==> 5. panchami ==> 6. shashti ==> 7. Saptami ==> 8. ashtami ==> 9. navami ==> 10. dashami ==>11. ekadashi ==> 12. dwadashi ==> 13. thrayodashi ==> 14. chathurdashi ==> 15. Amavasya or new moon]
Hence,
1 human day = 24 hrs
1 complete day of Pitru = 30 human days
Lifespan of Pitru = 100 Pitru years = 100 x (12 pitru months) = 100 x (12 x {30 pitru days}) = 100 x (12 x {30 x 30 human days}) = 100 x (30 x {12 x 30 human days}) i.e. reshuffling= 100 x (30 x 1 human year) = 3000 human years
Hence, Lifespan of Pitru = 3000 human years
It is said that in Pitru Lok, ancestors will suffer from thirst and hunger. That is why we perform Tarpan and Shraadhdha to give them relief.
In Tarpan, water is offered. Tarpan is performed every ammavasya, which comes once in a human month, i.e. once in one Pitru day.
In Shraadhdha food is offered. Shraadhdha is performed once in a human year, i.e. once in 12 human months i..e once in 12 pitru days. It is said that Pitrus accept it in form of birds or through the bodies of Brahmanas who are invited and offered food.
DevaLok (where Devatas reside)
Devalok is another planetary system where devatas reside.
1 aho for Devata = 6 human months wherein sun travels south to north (Uttaraayana)
1 raatre for Devata = 6 human months wherein sun travels north to south (Dakshinaayana)
Aayana means journey/dwelling. Uttar means north and dakshin means south. It takes 6 months for Sun to move from South to North. This is called Uttaraayana. And it takes 6 months for Sun to move North to South. This is called Dakshinaayana.
Hence,
1 ahoraatram for Deva = 1 human year = 2 Aayana
1 year for Deva (called divine year) = 360 ahoraatram = 360 human years
Lifespan of Deva = 12,000 divine years = 12,000 x 360 human years = 4,320,000 human years = 1 Mahayuga.
Currently,
We are in 51st year of Brahma, i.e. second paraardha.
In that, we are in 1st day or 1st kalpa called shwetha varaha kalpa.
In that 7th Manvantara called vaivaswatha or sraadhadeva.
In that 28th mahayuga, in that Kaliyuga which began in 3102 BC.
so 3102 bc + 2015ad = 5117 years have elapsed in current kaliyuga. Still 4,26,983 yrs remain.
In kaliyuga, we are in prathama paada.
During Brahma's daytime, he appoints 14 Manus. Each Manvantara is created and ruled by a specific Manu. Manu creates the world, and all its species during that period of time, each Manvantara lasts the lifetime of a Manu, upon whose death, the next Manu continues the cycle of Creation or Shristi. Vishnu on his part takes Avatar to protect the world, and also a new Indra and Saptarishis are appointed.
After 14 manus, comes Brahma's nighttime and shiva destroys. Again when daytime arrives Brahma appoints 14 manus...goes on...
300 + 3,000 + 300 = 3,600 divine years (= 1,296,000 human years) = 1 Tretā Yuga = 3X
200 + 2,000 + 200 = 2,400 divine years (= 864,000 human years) = 1 Dvāpara Yuga = 2X
100 + 1,000 + 100 = 1,200 divine years (= 432,000 human years) = 1 Kali Yuga = 1X
1 kalpa = 14 Manvantaras = 14 x (71 mahayugas) + (15x4X) = 994 + (15x4800 divine yrs) = 994+ (72,000 divine yrs) = 994+(6x12000divine yrs) = 994+ 6 = 1000.
X is called Kaarana.
total = 4800 + 3600+ 2400 + 1200 = 12,000 divine yrs = 4,32,000 human r solar yrs = 4.32 million solar yrs
We hear so many words in sanskrit like muhurta, tithi,paksha etc. Each and everything is related to scientific time calculations.
Muhurta - 48min. (30 muhurtas = 24hrs)
Tithi - time period in which the longitudinal angle between the sun and moon increases by 12 degree.
[Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours]
Aho - period during which sun is visible on earth (daytime)
raatri - period during which sun is not visible on earth (nighttime)
Ahoraatram - one complete day (daytime+nighttime)
Paksha - 15 ahoraatram
Masa - month = 30 days = 2 pakshas (krishnapaksha+shuklapaksha)
ritu - season = 2 months
Ayana - 6 months = 3 ritu/6 months
Samvatsara - 1 yr = 2 ayana (uttar ayana + dakshin ayana)
A Hindu muhurta (moment) can be represented in five attributes of Hindu astronomy namely,
1. vara the weekday,
2. tithi,
3. nakshatra the Moon's asterism,
4. yoga the angular relationship between Sun and Moon and
5. karana half of tithi.
Now dont think that these details on Kalpa and Manvantara seem funny. Hinduism explains facts through stories and characters so that even a layman can understand. If I go and tell a layman that there is a constellation out there wherein unlike earth which rotates in 24hrs and revolves sun in 365 days, there are planetary objects which have a different Sun with different rotation/revolution time and hence has a daytime of 6 months and nighttime of 6 months, his head will start revolving. We have personified earth as Bhoomadevi, Sun as SuryaDev, Moon as Chandra Dev. Similarly by PitruLok and Devlok we refer to some planetary system. As per science we say even Sun has its own life and will die down slowly in trillions of years. And from Hinduism what i understand is all Gods and deities are nothing but some planetary or cosmic forces which control the lives not only on earth but may be also on other planets in some unknown, far-off galaxy. Brahma is the Universe..may be bing bang theory is his law of creation. Vishnu is the forces residing within which try to balance each other so that the Brahmand stays alive and Shiva the destructive force which does not mean that he ends everything..but he replenishes for a new beginning.
I studied many articles on internet about the Hindu calendar out of my sheer interest and I was really stunned at how we have been so perfect about these scientific calculations during age old times. I got to learn so many things and finally realized that what I'm searching for is an ocean and what I got to know are just droplets.
As per Hindu calendar, the time related calculations are based on the age of Brahma.
Age of Brahma
Brahma lifespan = 100 Brahma years = 1 maha kalpa = 1 para
His half lifespan i.e. 50yrs is one Paraardha (i.e. Para ardha. Ardha means half), and second 50 yrs is another paraardha.
After 100 Brahma yrs, another 100 Brahma yrs will pass till new Brahma is born.
1 Brahma year has 12 brahma months.
1 brahma month has 30 brahma days(daytime+nighttime)
1 brahma day has 2 kalpas. (i.e. 1 kalpa=daytime, called Adhi and 1 kalpa=nighttime, called sandhi wherein earth and all lifeforms are in state of rest due to destruction by Lord Shiva. Also called Pralaya wherein the world {earth and all life forms, but not the entire universe itself} is destroyed and lies in a state of rest)
1 kalpa = 1000 Mahayugas = 14 manvantaras
1 manvantara = 71 mahayugas. (each manvantara is ruled by a Manu who is created by brahma)
1 mahayuga = 4 yugas.
But, we said 1 kalpa =14 manvantaras =1000 mahayugas. And 1 manvantara = 71 mahayugas. Whereas, 14x71 = 994 mahayuga only. what abt remaining 6? We will come to this question later.
We said 1 mahayuga= 4 yugas. They are:
1. Satya yuga
2. Treta yuga
3. Dwapar yuga
4. Kali yuga
If Kali yuga has 'X' number of years, then Dwapar yuga = 2X, Treta yuga = 3X and Satya Yuga = 4X.
This 'X' is called Karana, which is equal to 4,32,000 human years.
1,728,000 human years = 1 Satya Yuga = 4X
1,296,000 human years = 1 Tretā Yuga = 3X
8,64,000 human years = 1 Dvāpara Yuga = 2X
4,32,000 human years = 1 Kali Yuga = 1X
Coming back to the question: 14x71 = 994 mahayuga only. what abt remaining 6?
Answer: each manvantara is followed by one sandhi kaal = 4X (during this time entire earth submerged in water). This gives 14 sandhi kaal. We need to count one Sandhi kaal before the first manvantara. So it gives 14+1 = 15 sandhi kaals = 15 x 4X = 60X = 6 x 10X = 6 x (4X+3X+2X+X). This time equals 6 Mahayugas.
Hence,
1 kalpa = 14 Manvantaras = {14 x (71 mahayugas)} + {(15 x 4X)} = {14 x (71 mahayugas)} + {6 Mahayugas} = 994+ 6 mahayugas = 1000 mahayugas.
Now to understand details of mahayuga (satyayug+tretayug+dwaparyug+kaliyug), we need to understand the Age of Devas, Age of Pitru (i.e.age of our ancestors) and how they are related to Age of a Human Being.
Age of Pitru
Our Pitrus(ancestors) reside in Pitru Lok. Pitru Lok is like a different planetary system wherein 3 generations of our ancestors reside.
In Pitrulok, 1 complete Pitru day(daytime+nighttime) = 30 complete human days.
So 15 human days is daytime for Pitru and another 15 human days is nighttime for Pitru.
So, 1 Pitru day = 1 Human month
Pitru daytime = 15 human days = New Moon to Full moon
This is called Shukla Paksha. During this period moon gets brighter. This is daytime for Pitrus/ancestors.
We have named these 15 days as below:
1. New Moon/Prathama ==> 2. dwitiya ==> 3. tritiya ==> 4. chathurthi ==> 5. panchami ==> 6. shashti ==> 7. Saptami ==> 8. ashtami ==> 9. navami ==> 10. dashami ==>11. ekadashi ==> 12. dwadashi ==> 13. thrayodashi ==> 14. chathurdashi ==> 15. Pournami or Poornima or Full moon.
Pitru nighttime = 15 human days = Full moon to new moon
This is called Krishna Paksha. During this period moon gets darker. This is nighttime for Pitrus/ancestors.
[1. Full moon/Prathama ==> 2. dwitiya ==> 3. tritiya ==> 4. chathurthi ==> 5. panchami ==> 6. shashti ==> 7. Saptami ==> 8. ashtami ==> 9. navami ==> 10. dashami ==>11. ekadashi ==> 12. dwadashi ==> 13. thrayodashi ==> 14. chathurdashi ==> 15. Amavasya or new moon]
Hence,
1 human day = 24 hrs
1 complete day of Pitru = 30 human days
Lifespan of Pitru = 100 Pitru years = 100 x (12 pitru months) = 100 x (12 x {30 pitru days}) = 100 x (12 x {30 x 30 human days}) = 100 x (30 x {12 x 30 human days}) i.e. reshuffling= 100 x (30 x 1 human year) = 3000 human years
Hence, Lifespan of Pitru = 3000 human years
It is said that in Pitru Lok, ancestors will suffer from thirst and hunger. That is why we perform Tarpan and Shraadhdha to give them relief.
In Tarpan, water is offered. Tarpan is performed every ammavasya, which comes once in a human month, i.e. once in one Pitru day.
In Shraadhdha food is offered. Shraadhdha is performed once in a human year, i.e. once in 12 human months i..e once in 12 pitru days. It is said that Pitrus accept it in form of birds or through the bodies of Brahmanas who are invited and offered food.
DevaLok (where Devatas reside)
Devalok is another planetary system where devatas reside.
1 aho for Devata = 6 human months wherein sun travels south to north (Uttaraayana)
1 raatre for Devata = 6 human months wherein sun travels north to south (Dakshinaayana)
Aayana means journey/dwelling. Uttar means north and dakshin means south. It takes 6 months for Sun to move from South to North. This is called Uttaraayana. And it takes 6 months for Sun to move North to South. This is called Dakshinaayana.
Hence,
1 ahoraatram for Deva = 1 human year = 2 Aayana
1 year for Deva (called divine year) = 360 ahoraatram = 360 human years
Lifespan of Deva = 12,000 divine years = 12,000 x 360 human years = 4,320,000 human years = 1 Mahayuga.
Currently,
We are in 51st year of Brahma, i.e. second paraardha.
In that, we are in 1st day or 1st kalpa called shwetha varaha kalpa.
In that 7th Manvantara called vaivaswatha or sraadhadeva.
In that 28th mahayuga, in that Kaliyuga which began in 3102 BC.
so 3102 bc + 2015ad = 5117 years have elapsed in current kaliyuga. Still 4,26,983 yrs remain.
In kaliyuga, we are in prathama paada.
During Brahma's daytime, he appoints 14 Manus. Each Manvantara is created and ruled by a specific Manu. Manu creates the world, and all its species during that period of time, each Manvantara lasts the lifetime of a Manu, upon whose death, the next Manu continues the cycle of Creation or Shristi. Vishnu on his part takes Avatar to protect the world, and also a new Indra and Saptarishis are appointed.
After 14 manus, comes Brahma's nighttime and shiva destroys. Again when daytime arrives Brahma appoints 14 manus...goes on...
1 Maha Yuga consists of 4 yugas (satya+treta+dwapar+kali yuga)
400 + 4,000 + 400 = 4,800 divine years (= 1,728,000 human years) = 1 Satya Yuga = 4X300 + 3,000 + 300 = 3,600 divine years (= 1,296,000 human years) = 1 Tretā Yuga = 3X
200 + 2,000 + 200 = 2,400 divine years (= 864,000 human years) = 1 Dvāpara Yuga = 2X
100 + 1,000 + 100 = 1,200 divine years (= 432,000 human years) = 1 Kali Yuga = 1X
1 kalpa = 14 Manvantaras = 14 x (71 mahayugas) + (15x4X) = 994 + (15x4800 divine yrs) = 994+ (72,000 divine yrs) = 994+(6x12000divine yrs) = 994+ 6 = 1000.
X is called Kaarana.
total = 4800 + 3600+ 2400 + 1200 = 12,000 divine yrs = 4,32,000 human r solar yrs = 4.32 million solar yrs
We hear so many words in sanskrit like muhurta, tithi,paksha etc. Each and everything is related to scientific time calculations.
Muhurta - 48min. (30 muhurtas = 24hrs)
Tithi - time period in which the longitudinal angle between the sun and moon increases by 12 degree.
[Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours]
Aho - period during which sun is visible on earth (daytime)
raatri - period during which sun is not visible on earth (nighttime)
Ahoraatram - one complete day (daytime+nighttime)
Paksha - 15 ahoraatram
Masa - month = 30 days = 2 pakshas (krishnapaksha+shuklapaksha)
ritu - season = 2 months
Ayana - 6 months = 3 ritu/6 months
Samvatsara - 1 yr = 2 ayana (uttar ayana + dakshin ayana)
A Hindu muhurta (moment) can be represented in five attributes of Hindu astronomy namely,
1. vara the weekday,
2. tithi,
3. nakshatra the Moon's asterism,
4. yoga the angular relationship between Sun and Moon and
5. karana half of tithi.
Now dont think that these details on Kalpa and Manvantara seem funny. Hinduism explains facts through stories and characters so that even a layman can understand. If I go and tell a layman that there is a constellation out there wherein unlike earth which rotates in 24hrs and revolves sun in 365 days, there are planetary objects which have a different Sun with different rotation/revolution time and hence has a daytime of 6 months and nighttime of 6 months, his head will start revolving. We have personified earth as Bhoomadevi, Sun as SuryaDev, Moon as Chandra Dev. Similarly by PitruLok and Devlok we refer to some planetary system. As per science we say even Sun has its own life and will die down slowly in trillions of years. And from Hinduism what i understand is all Gods and deities are nothing but some planetary or cosmic forces which control the lives not only on earth but may be also on other planets in some unknown, far-off galaxy. Brahma is the Universe..may be bing bang theory is his law of creation. Vishnu is the forces residing within which try to balance each other so that the Brahmand stays alive and Shiva the destructive force which does not mean that he ends everything..but he replenishes for a new beginning.
