Time & its All-pervasive Effect on our Universe – An In-depth Study of the Divine Text:

Bhagavad Gita
By: Parjanya Yaragani (2018A4PS0364H)

Introduction
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
लोकान्समाहर्ुुममह प्रवृत्त: |
ऋर्ेऽमि त्ाां न भमवष्यस्मि सवे
येऽवस्मथिर्ा: प्रत्यनीकेषु योधा: || 32||
- Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 11, Verse 32

Upon listening to Arjuna’s query concerning His true nature, Lord Krishna reveals that he is Time itself, the
omni-potent force of Destruction & Creation of the Universe. We can gleam upon the meaning of the
concept of Time from the verse above. Time(or Kala) is a manifestation of God or Brahman; Time is
eternal, cyclic in nature and holds control over every aspect of the Reality, however, God himself is
Timeless. This is due the fact that Time is Relative in Sanathan Dharma and cannot exist as an Absolute
which is the very nature of God. Every moment of Time co-exists within the Absolute One, and He exists in
every moment and frame of Time.

Time is also relative in another sense. Different Planes of Reality experience different flow of Time. As a
brief example which would be elaborated later, Brahma(the Creator) has a life-span of 311 trillion and 40
billion human years. This enormous amount of time, which is indistinguishable from eternity, is but the
time it takes for the Supreme Being Vishnu to exhale. This shows that the actual size of eternity that is
referenced in our Divine Texts is truly unfathomable to human minds.

Different Systems of Time

Ayanamsa System

Ayanamsa(“Ayana” meaning “movement”, and “Amsa” meaning “component”) is a Time-measuring

system which works by maintaining alignment between the different Constellations while allowing to take
the observed effects of axial precession of Earth’s axis. This is an effect where there is a gradual shift in the
Earth’s axis of rotation in a cycle of period 26,000 years approx. The units of Time, according to this
particular system, are as follows.
 Unit Definition Converted to SI Units
Truti Base unit ≈ 0.30 µs
Renu 60 Truti ≈ 18 µs
Lava 60 Renu ≈ 1,080 µs
Liksaka 60 Lava ≈ 64.8 ms
Lipta/Vipala 64.8 Liksaka ≈ 0.4 s
Pala/Vighati/Vinadi 60 Lipta ≈ 24 s
Ghati/Nadi/Danda 60 Vighati ≈ 24 min
Muhurta 2 Ghati ≈ 48 min
Nakshatra Ahoratram 60 Ghati/ 30 Muhurta ≈ 24 hours

Furthermore, Vedas have divided Time into smaller units with the help of this Ayanamsa. They are listed
below.

Unit Definition Converted to SI Units

Paramanu Base Unit ≈ 26.3 µs
Anu 2 Paramanu ≈ 52.67 µs
Trasarenu 3 Anu ≈ 158 µs
Truti 3 Trasarenu ≈ 474 µs
Vedha 100 Truti ≈ 47.4 ms
Lava 3 Vedha ≈ 0.14 s
Nimesa 3 Lava ≈ 0.43 s
Kshana 3 Nimesa ≈ 1.28 s
Kastha 5 Kshana ≈ 6.4 s
Laghu 15 Kastha ≈ 96 s (1.6 min)
Danda 15 Laghu ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min)
Muhurta 2 Danda ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min)
Ahoratram 30 Muhurta ≈ 86.4 ks (24 hours)
Masa 30 Ahoratram ≈ 30 days
Ritu 2 Masa ≈ 60 days
Ayana 3 Ritu ≈ 180 days
Samvatsara/ Deva Ahoratram 2 Ayana ≈ 360 days

Lunar System

This system of measuring Time has developed by observing the movement and phases of the Earth’s
Moon. On this basis, a Lunar Calendar was created to aid our ancestors, and is still currently in use in
some parts of our country. The units of Time according to the Lunar System are as follows.
 Unit Definition Equivalence in
Days
Tithi(Lunar Day) Time taken for 12o increase in longitudinal angle between Moon & ≈ 1 day
Sun
Paksa(Lunar 15 Tithis ≈ 15 days
Fortnight)
Masa(Lunar Month) 2 Paksas(Shukla Paksa during waxing moon & Krishna Paksa during ≈ 30 days
waning moon)
Ritu(Season) 2 Masa ≈ 60 days
Ayanam 3 Ritu ≈ 180 days
Varsha(Lunar Year) 2 Ayanam ≈ 360 days

Cosmic System

The flow of Time is different for each plane of Reality, as recorded by the Hindu Texts. These planes
include the Human plane, the Deva(or Gods) plane, the Pitru(or Ancestors) plane & the Brahma(or The
Creator) plane. Taking a year which consists of 360 days or 12 Masas as our standard unit of time, the
sdifference between the flow of time in these planes is as follows:

1 Human Year = 12 Pitru days = 1 Deva day ≈ 10 Brahma µs

The entire human history is divided into 4 Yugas or Dharmic ages – Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga &
Kali Yuga in that order. These four Yugas repeat in a cycle called as a Chatur-yuga. The main difference
between these Yugas is the steady decline of spiritualism and increasing material consciousness. This
rampant decadence takes its height in the final Yuga of the cycle, i.e., Kali Yuga, after which the slate is
wiped clean, and the cycle of Yugas start again. Other higher units of Time are listed as follows.

Unit Definition Human Units Pitru Units Deva Units Brahma

Units
Satya Yuga ¼ unit of the 17,28,000 years 57,600 years 4,800 years 17.28
Cycle sec
Treta Yuga ¼ unit of the 12,96,000 years 43,200 years 3,600 years 12.96
Cycle sec
Dvapara Yuga ¼ unit of the 8,64,000 years 28,800 years 2,400 years 8.64
Cycle sec
Kali Yuga ¼ unit of the 4,32,000 years 14,400 years 1,200 years 4.32
Cycle sec

Chatur-yuga One Cycle 43,20,000 years 1,44,000 years 12,000 years 43.20
sec
Manvantara 71 Chatur- 30,67,20,000 years 1,02,24,000 years 8,52,000 years 51.12
yuga min
 Pralaya/Kalpa 1000 Chatur- 4,32,00,00,000 years 14,40,00,000 years 1,20,00,000 years
12
yuga hours
Parardha ½ of Maha- 15,55,20,00,00,00,000 51,84,00,00,00,000 4,32,00,00,00,000 50
Kalpa years years years years
Maha- 36,000 31,10,40,00,00,00,000 1,03,68,00,00,00,000 8,64,00,00,00,000 100
kalpa/Maha- Kalpa/Pralaya years years years years
pralaya

Lord Krishna’s departure from Earth as Sri Vishnu’s avatar marks the end of the Dvapara Yuga & the
beginning of the Kali Yuga. According to the Puranic sources, this historical date can be mapped to the
midnight of 17 February, 3102 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. This give us the means to date the
beginning and the ends of each Yuga in this particular Chatur-yuga. They are as follows.

Yuga Start – End Length

Satya Yuga 38,91,102 BCE – 21,63,101 BCE 17,28,000 years
Treta Yuga 21,63,102 BCE – 8,97,101 BCE 12,96,000 years
Dvapara Yuga 8,67,102 BCE – 3,101 BCE 8,64,000 years
Kali Yuga(Current) 3,102 BCE – 4,28,899 CE 4,32,000 years

The life-cycle of Brahma(The Creator), or a Maha-kalpa, is described in great detail in our Puranas. His 24-
hour day consists of 12 hours of Kalpa or day and 12 hours of Pralaya or night. This marks a cycle of
constant creation & partial dissolution of our universe or Prakriti, where both the day and night last for
4.32 billion human years. His 100-year lifespan is followed by an equal length of Time of Destruction
known as Maha-pralaya. The entire duration of a Maha-kalpa/Maha-pralaya(311 trillion years) is how long
it takes for the Supreme Being(Brahman) to inhale in or exhale out. Lord Brahma is reborn each time the
Supreme Being exhales, and the entire cycle repeats endlessly into the Eternity. From this, we can clearly
understand that although the lives of every living/non-living being in every realm of reality is governed by
the constant and eternal Flow of Time, it itself cannot compare to the Absolute Nature of the Divine One.

Conclusion
The concept of Time is very aptly described in our Puranas & ancient texts as a Wheel that keeps on
spinning. This Wheel is also called as Kala-chakra. The spoke of this metaphorical Wheel represent the
division of Time, which is created and maintained by the God to supplement the illusion we call our
“Reality”. He Himself resides outside this illusion, looking down upon His creations. To break free from this
Wheel of Time is to achieve Immortality, which is only possible by constantly meditating upon Him & His
true Nature.
 References
1. “Srimad Bhagavadgita with Sadhana Vyakhya” – Sri S. Subba Rao, M.A.
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_units_of_time
3. https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/11/verse/32
4. https://www.krishna.com/what-time
5. https://www.learnreligions.com/the-concept-of-time-1770059