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The Concept of Kala or Time in Hinduism
Time in Hinduism
by Jayaram V

The ancient Indians were not aware of the theory of relativity. But they were
familiar with the concept of space and relative time. They believed that the
duration of time changed from world to world and that our time was not the
absolute. They distinguished between the cosmic time of the gods and the earthly
time of ours.

According to them, the gods were immortal, who lived longer and more intense lives.
They were subject to a different time frame and had their own periods of activity
and rest. These constituted their days and nights. When the highest Supreme Self
was awake, they believed, He would expand outwardly and manifest his objective
worlds, and when it was time for rest, He would withdraw into Himself and bring the
worlds and the entire creation to a temporary halt. This is similar to the
expansion and contraction of the material universe according to the modern theories
of the origin of the universe.

In Hinduism time is known as kala. Kala means both time and death. Time is
personified as the god of death, Yama, because death is a limiting factor in human
life. Kala as god of death determines how long a person should live upon earth. So
death and time are associated together. An individual's time upon earth begins with
his birth and ends with his death. However for the soul, there is no death. It has
no time because it is without a beginning and without an end.

The concept of time in Hinduism is based on our own experience of time as recurring
and predictable phenomena measurable in terms of units such as days and nights, or
months and years. Just as there is regularity to our days and nights, there is
regularity to the days and nights of gods. This regularity is perceived as the Rta
(rita) or the cosmic rhythm manifested by God. Rta is inherent in every aspect of
creation. In the human body it is the biorhythm as well as the beat of the heart
and the breath of the lungs. In the universe it is inherent in the configuration of
the planetary bodies and their fixed movements. What protects this regularity of
rhythm is Dharma, the eternal law, which is but an aspect of God Himself.

Mentioned below are some important beliefs of Hinduism associated with time as an
aspect of creation. Some of these beliefs are also common to Buddhism and Jainism.
However, in Buddhism and Jainism there is no creator. Time is an aspect of this
illusory world and it exists as long as we are subject to the process of becoming
or change.

1. Hinduism perceives time as cyclical. This is based on our own experience of time
in terms of days and nights. We see this cyclical pattern in days, weeks, months,
years, seasons and yugas or epochs. So from this perspective, time is a never-
ending cyclical process, which is both repetitive and exhaustive. In a sense it is
limited. In another it is eternal. From a spiritual perspective, time exists when
we are in a state of duality but disappears when we enter into the state of unity
or samadhi.
2. Each time-cycle has three components, srishti, sthithi and laya. Srishthi means
creation. Sthithi means continuation and laya means dissolution. Each time cycle
begins with creation, continues for certain duration of time and then dissolves
into nothingness. After a brief respite, the cycle begins all over again. These
three aspects of time are under the control of the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and
Siva. Brahma is responsible for creation, Vishnu for existence and Siva for
dissolution. We can see the same divisions in a day also. Each day is created in
the early hours, continues throughout the day and then finally dissolves into
darkness. We can see the same pattern in life also, as childhood, adulthood and old
age.

3. The Hindu calculation of time comes to us from sage Ganita who is mentioned in
the Manusmriti and the Mahabharata. He calculated the duration of each cycle of
creation in human years. He divided the cosmic time into Kalpas, which is a day and
night in the time and space of Brahma. It is considered to be equal to 8.64 billion
years (Vishnu Purana). Each Kalpa consists of two Artha Kalpas of 4.32 billion
years each. They are the day and night of Brahman. Each Kalpa is further divided
into 1000 maha yugas. Each maha yuga is again divided into four yugas, namely krita
yuga, treat yuga, dvapara yuga and kali yuga. Their duration varies. Krita yuga the
first in the series has the longest duration of 1.728 million years and kali yuga,
which is the last and the current, has a duration of only 432000 years. The
durations of other divisions are mentioned in the table at the bottom of this
article.

4. The lifespan of Brahma is considered 100 Brahma years, which is known as Maha
Kalpa or Parardha. It is equal to 311.04 trillion human years.

5. A day in the life of gods is equal to one year upon earth. It is divided into
day and night. The day is known as uttarayana and the night as dakshinayana. They
are equal to 180 days each.

6. In Hindu tradition there is another division of time called manvantara. A

manavantara is the period during which the earth is ruled by a particular Manu, the
father of man. The word 'man' comes from the Sanskrit word Manu. According to
tradition, a new Manu manifests at the beginning of each manvantara to produce a
new race of human beings. Each manvantara lasts for about 71 mahayugas or
approximately 308 million years. In each manvantara along with Manu appear seven
seers or rishis and one Indra. In all 14 Manus appear in each Kalpa over a period
of 1000 mahayugas in succession. The current Manu is 7th in the line and is known
as Vaivasvata Manu.

7. The current yuga or epoch is known as Kaliyuga. It is the last in the cycle of
the current mahayuga or great epoch. Its calculated duration is 432000 years. We
are not sure presently whether we are at the beginning, in the middle or near the
end of Kaliyuga. If we accept the theory that Kaliyuga began with the passing away
of Lord Krishna some 6000 or 7000 years ago, then probably we are in the early
phase of Kaliyuga and have a long way to go.

8. Hindu Purunas contain several narrative accounts in which celestial events span
over longer durations of time. They describe gods waging wars, or practicing
meditation or making love for hundreds and thousands of years.

Is Time Real Or Illusory?

In Hinduism time is regarded as an aspect of creation. It exists only so long as we
are bound to the things of this world through our senses. Time is a mental concept
created by the movement of our senses, the celestial objects and our perceptions.
It is part of the illusion in which we live and which we take for real. In God's
consciousness there are no divisions of time. There is only the present moment, one
continuous, indivisible and indistinguishable state of existence.

Time is also regarded as an aspect of Prakriti or Nature. It is one of the 36

tattvas or principles of creation recognized in Saivism. Prakriti subjects the
boundless individual souls of pure consciousness to the limitations of time
(kaala), space (niyathi), knowledge (vidya), passion (raga) and power (kala) and
binds them to the cycle of births and rebirths. When beings transcend these five
limitations through the grace of Siva, they regain their pure consciousness (chit)
and become free.

The Hindu view time is responsible for absence of accurate historical records of
the Indian subcontinent. The ancient Indians did not deem it necessary to record
events of a world they believed was illusory. Besides, they believed the events by
themselves were of no significance unless they had some relevance to the gods and
the percepts of Dharma.

Tables Showing Different Divisions of Time

Divisions of Cosmic Time
Name of the Division Duration in human years Remarks
Artha Kalpa 4.32 billion years A day or night of Brahma
Kalpa 8.64 billion years A complete day of Brahma
Mahayuga 4.32 million years A great epoch consisting of 4 yugas or epochs
Krita yuga 1.728 million years Golden age or age of truth of four feet
(charana) length
Treta yuga 1.296 million years The Second epoch of three feet (charana) length
Dvapara yuga 864000 years The third epoch of two feet (charana) length
Kali yuga 432000 years The current epoch, the age of darkness of one feet
length.
Manvantara 308 million years Manu is the progenitor of human race.
A year of Brahma 3.110415 trillion years 360 Kalpas
Mahakalpa 311.0415 trillion years 100 years in Brahma's time and space
Divisions of Earth Time in Hindu Calendar as per the Puranas and Epics
Name of the Division Duration in human years Remarks
Truti One twinkle of an eye
Tatpara 100 trutis
Nimesha 30 Tatparas
Kastha 30 Nimeshas
kala 30 kasthas
muhurtha 30 kalas roughly 45 - 50 minutes
ahoratra 30 muhurtas Day and Nigtht
masa 30 days One lunar month
Paksha 15 days One half of a lunar month
Ayana 6 months or half a year Uttarayana is the day of gods, and daskhinayana,
their night
Divine Year 360 years One year of gods
Charana 432,000 years The length of the feet of Time (Kala)
Hindu Months
Month Corresponding Zodiac Sign
Chaitra Mesha
Vaishakha Vrishabha
Jyeshtha Mithuna
Ashadha Karka
Sravana Simha
Bhadra Kanya
Ashvin Tula
Kartik Vrshchika
Agrahyana Dhanush
Paushta Makara
Magha Magha
Phalguna Meena
Hindu Seasons
Season Corresponding Months
Vasanta (Spring) Chaita and Vaishakha
Greeshma (Summer) Jyeshtha and Ashadha
Varsha (Rainy Season) Sravana and Bhadra
Sharad (Autumn) Ashvin and Karthik
Hemant (Winter) Magha and Phalguna
60 Year Cycles
Hindus also follow a 60 year cycle in which each year is given a specific name
which repeat after every 60 years.

1. Prabhava
2. Vibhava
3. Shukla
4. Pramoda
5. Prajapati
6. Angirasa
7. Shrimukha
8. Bhava
9. Yuvan
10. Dhatri
11. Ishvara
12. Bahudhanya
13. Pramathin
14. Vikrama
15. Vrisha
16. Chitrabhanu
17. Svabhanu
18. Tarana
19. Parthiva
20. Vyaya 21. Sarvajit AD/CE)
22. Sarvadharin
23. Virodhin
24. Vikrita 25. Khara
26. Nandana
27. Vijaya
28. Jaya
29. Manmatha
30. Durmukha
31. Hemalambin
32. Vilambin
33. Vikarin
34. Sharvari
35. Plava
36. Shubhakrit
37. Shobhana
38. Krodhin
39. Vishvavasu
40. Parabhava 41. Plavanga
42. Kilaka
43. Saumya
44. Sadharana
45. Virodhikrit
46. Paritapin
47. Pramadin
48. Ananda
49. Rakshasa
50. Anala
51. Pingala
52. Kalayukti
53. Siddharthin
54. Raudra
55. Durmati
56. Dundubhi
57. Rudhirodgarin
58. Raktaksha
59. Krodhana
60. Akshaya
Nakshatras or Daily Stars
According to Hindu mythology, there are 27 stars or nakshatras who are the
daughters of either Daksha or Kashyapa, but wives of Chandra, the moon god. The
moon god spends each night with one particular star, with whom he appears in the
sky. According to Hindu astronomy, the sky is divided into 27 divisions. During its
monthly cycle, the moon passes through each division roughly one per day. According
to another tradition the 27 nakshatras are associated with the nine planets or
navagrahas, with each planetary deity ruling over three particular stars. During
the 27 day lunar cycle, the planetary gods enter into their respective star
mansions and spend nine days with each of their three stars. The names of the 27
stars along with their controlling planets are mentioned below.

# Name Controlling Planet

1 Ashvini Ketu
2 Bharani Shukra (Venus)
3 Krittika Ravi (Sun)
4 Rohini Chandra (Moon)
5 Mrigashirsha Mangala (Mars)
6 Ardra Rahu
7 Punarvasu Guru (Jupiter)
8 Pushya Shani (Saturn)
9 Ashlesha Budh (Mercury)
10 Magha Ketu (south lunar node)
11 Purva or Purva halguni Shukra (Venus)
12 Uttara or Uttara Phalguni Surya (Sun)
13 Hasta Chandra (Moon)
14 Chitra Mangala (Mars
15 Svati Rahu
16 Vishakha Guru (Jupiter)
17 Anuradha Shani (Saturn)
18 Jyeshtha Budh (Mercury)
19 Mula Ketu
20 Purva Ashadha Shukra (Venus)
21 Uttara Ashadha Surya (Sun)
22 Shravana Chandra (Moon)
23 Dhanishta Mangala (Mars)
24 Shatabhisha Rahu
25 Purva Bhadrapada Guru (Jupiter)
26 Uttara Bhadrapada Shani (Saturn)
27 Revati Budh (Mercury)
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