Understanding Time from the Perspective of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa

 

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one of the most revered texts in Vedic literature, offers profound insights into the nature of time and its intricate calculations. Chapter 11 of Canto 3 delves into the concept of time, starting from the atomic level to the cosmic scales of the universe. Time, being a manifestation of the Supreme Lord, is described as eternal and omnipotent, influencing every aspect of the material world.

This chapter systematically explains time divisions, ranging from atomic measurements to the vast durations of planetary and cosmic lifespans. Below is a summary of the key points and their associated formulae.

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Key Highlights and Formulae

1. Atomic Time Measurements

• Time is measured by the movement and combination of atoms.
• The smallest unit, the atom, combines to form larger units of time.

Formulae:

1. 2 atoms = 1 double atom
2. 3 double atoms = 1 hexatom (visible in sunlight)
3. 3 trasareṇus = 1 truṭi
4. 100 truṭis = 1 vedha
5. 3 vedhas = 1 lava
6. 3 lavas = 1 nimeṣa
7. 3 nimeṣas = 1 kṣaṇa
8. 5 kṣaṇas = 1 kāṣṭhā
9. 15 kāṣṭhās = 1 laghu

2. Day and Night Calculations for Humans

• 15 laghus = 1 nāḍikā (or daṇḍa)
• 2 nāḍikās = 1 muhūrta
• 6–7 daṇḍas = ¼ day or night
• 4 praharas (or yāmas) = 1 day or night

Example for Humans:
1 day = 24 hours = 8 yāmas = 4 day praharas + 4 night praharas

3. Cosmic Time Scales

• 1 month = 2 fortnights (white and black)
• 2 months = 1 season
• 6 months = 1 movement of the sun (southern or northern)
• 12 months (1 year) = 1 day and night for demigods

Lifespan Examples:

• Humans: 100 years
• Demigods: 1 year of humans = 1 day of demigods.

4. Yugas (Epochs) and Their Durations

• Satya-yuga: 4,800 years of demigods
• Tretā-yuga: 3,600 years of demigods
• Dvāpara-yuga: 2,400 years of demigods
• Kali-yuga: 1,200 years of demigods

Formula for Yuga Sandhyās (Transitions): 1 Yuga = Main period + Transition periods (beginning and end).

5. Lifespan of Brahmā

• 1 day of Brahmā = 1,000 cycles of the four yugas.
• 1 night of Brahmā = 1,000 cycles of the four yugas.
• Brahmā's lifespan = 100 years (divided into two halves).

6. Creation and Dissolution

• During Brahmā's day, creation is active. During his night, dissolution occurs.
• Devastations include water overflowing, hurricanes, and universal darkness.

7. Scale of the Universe

• The material world is described as a combination of atoms and elements.
• The layers covering the universe are exponentially thicker, and universes appear as atoms in a greater cosmic whole.

Eternal Time (Kāla)

• Time controls all material entities but is itself under the Supreme Lord's control.
• It is the dimension that connects atomic particles to cosmic phenomena.

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Significance

This intricate calculation of time serves as a reminder of the vastness of creation and the eternal presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It underscores the impermanence of material existence and the importance of spiritual realization.

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Resource

For further reading, visit:

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/3/11/