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Hindu units of time are described in Hindu texts ranging from microseconds to trillions of years, including cycles of cosmic time that repeat general events in Hindu cosmology.[1][2] Time (kāla) is described as eternal.[3] Various fragments of time are described in the Vedas, Manusmriti, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata, Surya Siddhanta etc.[4][5][6]
Sidereal metrics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/HinduMeasurements.svg/200px-HinduMeasurements.svg.png)
Sidereal astrology maintains the alignment between signs and constellations via corrective systems of Hindu (Vedic)-origin known as ayanamsas (Sanskrit: 'ayana' "movement" + 'aṃśa' "component"), to allow for the observed precession of equinoxes, whereas tropical astrology ignores precession.[7] This has caused the two systems, which were aligned around 2,000 years ago, to drift apart over the centuries.[7][8]
Ayanamsa systems used in Hindu astrology (also known as Vedic astrology) include the Lahiriayanamsa and the Raman ayanamsa.[9] The Fagan-Bradley ayanamsa is an example of an ayanamsa system used in Western sidereal astrology.[9] As of 2020, zodiacal signs calculated using the Sri Yukteswar ayanamsa were around 23 degrees behind tropical zodiacal signs.[7] Per these calculations, persons born between March 12 - April 12, for instance, would have the sun sign of Pisces.[7] By contrast, persons born between March 21 - April 19 would have the sun sign of Aries per tropical calculations.[10]
Sidereal Units:[11][failed verification]
Unit | Definition | Value in SI units |
---|---|---|
truti (त्रुटि) | base unit | ≈ 300 ns |
renu (रेणु) | 60 truti | ≈ 18 μs |
lava (लव) | 60 renu | ≈ 1,080 μs |
līkṣaka (लीक्षक) | 60 lava | ≈ 64.8 ms |
liptā(लिप्ता) | 6 līkṣaka | ≈ 0.3888 s |
vipala (विपल) | ||
prāṇa[12]
(प्राण) |
10 liptā | ≈ 3.888 s |
pala (पल) | 60 liptā or 6 prāṇa | ≈ 24 s |
vighaṭi (विघटि) | ||
vināḍī (विनाडी) | ||
ghaṭi (घटि) | 60 vighaṭi | ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min) |
nādī (नाडी) | ||
danda (दण्ड) | ||
muhūrta (मुहूर्त) | 2 ghaṭi | ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min) |
nakṣhatra ahorātram (sidereal day; नक्षत्र अहोरात्रम्) |
60 ghaṭī | ≈ 86.4 ks (24 h) |
30 muhūrta |
According to Sūrya Siddhānta:[13][14]
Unit | Definition | Value in SI units |
---|---|---|
truti | base unit | ≈ 29.6 μs |
tatpara | 100 truti | ≈ 2.96 ms |
nimesha | 30 tatpara | ≈ 88.9 ms |
kāṣṭhā | 18 nimesha | ≈ 1.6 s |
kalā | 30 kāṣṭhā | ≈ 48 s |
ghatika | 30 kalā | ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min) |
muhūrta (kṣaṇa) | 2 ghatika | ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min) |
ahorātram (sidereal day) |
30 muhūrta | ≈ 86.4 ks (24 h) |
Small units of time used in the Vedas:[15][16]
Unit | Definition | Value in SI units |
---|---|---|
paramāṇu | base unit | ≈ 26.3 μs |
aṇu | 2 paramāṇu | ≈ 52.67 μs |
trasareṇu | 3 aṇu | ≈ 158 μs |
truṭi | 3 trasareṇu | ≈ 474 μs |
vedha | 100 truṭi | ≈ 47.4 ms |
lava | 3 vedha | ≈ 0.14 s |
nimeṣa | 3 lava | ≈ 0.43 s |
kṣaṇa | 3 nimeṣa | ≈ 1.28 s |
kāṣṭhā | 5 kṣaṇa | ≈ 6.4 s |
laghu | 15 kāṣṭhā | ≈ 96 s (1.6 min) |
danda (nadika) | 15 laghu | ≈ 1.44 ks (24 min) |
muhūrta | 2 danda | ≈ 2.88 ks (48 min) |
ahorātram (sidereal day) |
30 muhūrta | ≈ 86.4 ks (24 h) |
masa (month) | 30 ahorātram | ≈ 2,592 ks |
ritu (season) | 2 masa | ≈ 5,184 ks |
ayana | 3 ritu | ≈ 15,552 ks (6 mth) |
samvatsara (year) | 2 ayana | ≈ 31,104 ks |
ahorātram of Deva |
Lunar metrics
The traditional lunar calendar system measures time based on the Moon's phases and its relation to the Sun. Unlike solar calendars, it uses units such as tithi (lunar day), pakṣa (lunar fortnight), māsa (lunar month), ṛitu (season), ayanam (half-year), and varsha (lunar year) to structure the year.[17] This system was integral to ancient cultures for tracking time, planning festivals, and guiding agricultural practices. The following section provides an overview of these key time units and their relationships:[18][19]
Unit | Definition | Equivalence |
---|---|---|
tithi (lunar day) | Time for 12° increase of longitudinal angle between Moon and Sun | ≈ 1 day (varies 19–26 hours) |
pakṣa (lunar fortnight) | 15 tithis | ≈ 15 days |
māsa (lunar month) | 2 pakṣas: gaura (bright) or śukla pakṣa during waxing moon; kṛṣṇa (dark) pakṣa during waning moon | ≈ 30 days (29.5 days) |
ṛitu (season) | 2 māsas | ≈ 60 days |
ayanam | 3 ṛitus | ≈ 180 days |
varsha (lunar year) | 2 ayanams | ≈ 360 days (354.36707 days) |
Tropical metrics
Tropical metrics are time units used to measure intervals based on the tropical year and related cycles. This system includes units such as ghaṭi (base unit), yāma (a period of 7.5 ghaṭis), and ahorātram (a full day comprising 8 yāmas).[20] The following section explains these units and their approximate durations, offering insight into how time is organized in relation to the tropical year:[21][a]
Unit | Definition | Equivalence |
---|---|---|
ghaṭi (घटि) | base unit | ≈ 24 minutes |
yāma (याम) | 7.5 ghaṭis | ≈ 3 hours |
ahorātram (अहोरात्रम्) | 8 yāmas | ≈ 24 hours (tropical day starting at sunrise) |
Cosmic metrics
The table below contains calculations of cosmic Hindu units of time as experienced by different entities, namely humans, Pitris (forefathers), Devas (gods), Manu (progenitor of humanity), and Brahma (creator god). Calculations use a traditional 360-day year (twelve 30-day months) and a standard 24-hour day for all entities.
Unit[b] | Definition | Human | Pitri | Deva | Manu | Brahma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mahā-kalpa | 36,000 kalpa & pralaya | 311,040,000,000,000 yr | 10,368,000,000,000 yr | 864,000,000,000 yr | ~101,408,450.70 yr | 100 yr |
mahā-pralaya | mahā-kalpa length | |||||
parārdha | 1⁄2 mahā-kalpa | 155,520,000,000,000 yr | 5,184,000,000,000 yr | 432,000,000,000 yr | ~50,704,225.35 yr | 50 yr |
kalpa | 14 m + 15 ms; 1,000 cy | 4,320,000,000 yr | 144,000,000 yr | 12,000,000 yr | ~1,408.45 yr | 12 h |
pralaya | kalpa length | |||||
manvantara | 71 catur-yuga | 306,720,000 yr | 10,224,000 yr | 852,000 yr | 100 yr | 51.12 min |
manvantara-sandhyā | Kṛta-yuga length | 1,728,000 yr | 57,600 yr | 4,800 yr | ~6.76 mo | 17.28 s |
catur-yuga | Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara & Kali-yugas | 4,320,000 yr | 144,000 yr | 12,000 yr | ~1.41 yr | 43.20 s |
Kṛta-yuga | sum total | 1,728,000 yr | 57,600 yr | 4,800 yr | ~6.76 mo | 17.28 s |
Kṛta-yuga-sandhyā | 1⁄10 Kṛta-yuga[c] length | 144,000 yr | 4,800 yr | 400 yr | ~16.90 day | 1.44 s |
Kṛta-yuga-sandhyāṃśa | ||||||
Kṛta-yuga[c] | 4 Kali-yuga[c] lengths | 1,440,000 yr | 48,000 yr | 4,000 yr | ~5.63 mo | 14.40 s |