The present is the future's past

 

The present is the future's past

In the Bhagvad Puran (3: 11), the elements of time are described :

Parmandu is the smallest unit of time, that which cannot be further subdivided.

2 parmandu = 1 andu

3 andu = 1 trasrendu

The amount of time it takes for the sun to cross 3 trasrendu is called a truti

100 times truti = 1 vegha

3 vegha = 1 love

3 love = 1 nimesh

3 nimesh = 1 shand

1 shand is a moment as we know it. Have always thought of a moment as so small that it comes and goes before we can blink an eyelid. To think that there are many smaller scales of measurement of time even before that is humbling to know.

5 shand = 1 kaashtha

15 kaashtha = 1 laghu

15 laghu = 1 naadika or danda

2 naadika = 1 mahurat

We know mahurat as the time pandits suggest for performing special auspicious rituals.

6-7 naadika =1 prahar = 1 yaam

1 yaam = ¼ of day or night

4 prahar = 1 day and night

15 day and night = 1 paksha that could be either Shukla paksha or Krishna paksha

2 paksha = 1 maas or month

1 month for human = 1 day and night for pitra

2 months for human = 1 ritu or season

6 months for human = 1 ayan that could be either dakshinayan or uttarayan

2 ayans = 1 day and night for Devtas, Gods

1 day and night for Devtas = 1 year in manushya lok or Earth

100 years = param aayu or ideal life span of man

There are 5 kinds of years

• Sanvatsar
• Parivatsar
• Idavatsar
• Anuvatsar
• Vatsar

These 4 yugas - Satyug, Treta, Dwapar and Kalyug last for Devta’s 12 sahastra years.

Satyuga = 4 sahastra divya years = 4800 human years

Treta = 3 sahstra divya years = 3600 human years

Dwapar = 2 sahastra divya years = 2400 human years

Kalyug = 1 sahastra divya years = 1200 human years

1 year of humans = 1 day for Devtas, so 1 year of Devtas = 360 human years. Therefore, Kalyug which is the yug in which we currently are, has 4,32,000 years. Hence, Dwapar has twice these many years, Treta has thrice these many and Satyug has four times these many human years.

Time, the element keep goes on. It is not a man-made concept. It is present in the very core of the Universe (more about how in another post). Whether we ride this time and live a beautiful meaningful life or get trapped and fritter it away is completely up to us. If we understand the significance and laws of time, we will stay connected to the planet, solar system and ourselves.

Photo and quote/title credit : Atreyam Sharma, 13 years