The following article has been taken from another web site and included for readers convinience to be able to find information on Hinduism in one place. The information given here is standard. I do not consider it nessecary to re-invent the wheel. Credit is given to the author.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Indian Time measurement
Indian Calendar: A scientific measurement of time :Jatindernath Joshi
All time units in the Indian calendar, a day, a week, a paksha, a month, a year, a yuga, a mahayuga, a manvantra and a kalpa are based on the time periods of the motions of the heavenly bodies, the earth, the moon, the planets, the sun , the galaxy etc.
Arya Bhatta, the great Indian astronomer (fifth century AD), calculated that all the planets were in conjunction with Ashwani constellation some 1.97 billion years back and they came into conjunction with the same constellation after every 4,32,000 years. So this period of 4,32,000 years was taken as the span of Kali (one Kali Yuga).
The period of two such conjunctions is known as Dwapra, three conjunctions as Treta and four conjunctions as Satyuga (Ref. AryaBhattiyam, known as the oldest reference book of its kind).
Mahayuga
All the four yugas combined together form what is known as Maha -yuga (also known as Chatur Yuga) = 43,20,000 years.
Manvantra
The next higher unit of time is called Manvantra. It comprises 71 Mahayugas and one Satyuga = 30,84,48,000 years.Manvantra is also the time taken by our sun (with its family i.e. the solar system) , moving at the speed of 250 km/second, to complete its orbit around the centre of our galaxy(the Milkiway galaxy). This orbit is known as ‘Parmeshthi Mandal’The present day scientific estimates of this time fall between 25 to 27 crore years.
Kalpa
One Kalpa = 14 Manvantras + one Satyuga = 4,32,00,00,000 years.This is the time taken by the Parmeshthi-mandal (the Akash Ganga. i.e. the Milkiway galaxy, around the Swayambhoo mandal, known as the centre of the universe.
Present Kali Yuga.
As explained above, a yuga starts when all the planets are in conjunction with the same constellation. This happens after every 4,32.000 years. The present Kali Yuga started on Feb 20, 3102 BC.
Famous European astronomer Belly says: “According to the astronomical calculations of the Hindus the present period of the world, Kaliyuga, started 3102 years before Christ on the 20th February at 2 hours 27 minutes and 30 seconds, the time being thus calculated to minutes and seconds. They say that a conjunction of planets then took place. The calculation of the Brahmins is so exactly confirmed by our own astronomical tables that nothing but actual observation could have given so correspondent a result”(Theogony of Hindus, by Count Bjornstjerna, page 32)
Yugabd (kali calendar)
Yugabd calendar is not related to any personality. . It is based upon certain astronomical events and not the birth or death or migration of persons like Christ, Mohammed or Vikramaditya. Hence it is a universal calendar. It is also traditionally cited in various Indian (Hindu) prayers all over India.
For example the Sankalp Mantra recited on all the auspicious occasions like Bhoomi-Pooja, marriage, namkaran , shradh etc., is some what like this:
The Present Kali year is 5110 equivalent to 2008 AD.
Where are we today?
As per the contents of Sankalp path, a Kalpa is equivalent to 100 years of Brahma’s life. Out of which 50 years i.e. half of the present Kalp is already over. That means 155.52 trillion years of this Kalp have elapsed. Brahma is now in his 51st year. In other words out of total 14 Manvantras of this Kalp, we are in the seventh manvantra , whose name is Vaivasvat Manu. Out of 71 Mahayugas of this manvantra, 27 Mahayugas have elapsed. We are now in the 28th Mahayuga out of which Satyuga, Treta and Dwapra have also elapsed. We are passing through the present Kaliyuga, whose 5109 years have elapsed, and the present Kali year is 5110 KB. This is the first month (Chaitra) and the date is 14 called chaturdashi, Shukla Paksha. Tomorrow is Poornima. Today the equivalent Gregorian date is 19h April, 2008.
This is a living calendar.
The Hindus recite the above facts in their prayers on auspicious occasions like Bhoomi Pooja, marriage, Shradh etc, for example consider this Sankalp Mantra.“Om Asya Shri Vishnoragya pravartmanasya Brahmanam dwitiya prardhe, ( second half of the age of Brahma (the kalpa), Shwet Varah Kalpe, Vaivasvat manvantre, ashtvinshtitme kaliyuge, ptatham charne, kali samvate i.e. Yugabde 5110, ……..”
Kali-Yugabd and Christian calendars compared
Kaliyugabd (KB) Gregorian Era
1 KB 3102 BC
50 KB 3053 BC
3102 KB 1 BC
3103 KB 1 AD
5102 KB 2000 AD
5110 KB 2008 AD
Vikrami Samvat
King Viktamaditya was an ideal monarch. He had nine great men in his court, who were called “Nav-Ratnas”. Kalidas was one of them. Vikramaditya is known as “Shakari- Vikramaditya” because he eliminated foreign invaders from the land and brought peace and prosperity to the people.
Indian Calendar is most practical
(a) The British (Gregorian) calendar is based upon solar year. Therefore although the Christian festivals occur in the proper seasons of the year. The X-mas will always come in the winter. But it may be a dark night or bright full moon for X-mas.
(b) The Mohammedans, on the other hand, follow lunar calendar, Hence the ‘Eid’ will always be on the start of Shukla Paksh (the lunar fortnight). But the festival may come in winter, summer or rainy season.
(c) But the Hindu calendar year is a fine blend of the Lunar, the solar years and the position of the constellations, so that the Diwali will always come in winter and will always be on Amavasya ( the dark night). The same is true for Holi, Dussehra, Rakhi and all other Hindu festivals.
All apparently different Indian calendars follow the same pattern and are essentially the same, except for the starting year, which may be different for Vikrami samvat, Shaka samvat, Bengali etc.
Antiquity of world calendars
First round
Indian 1,97,29,59,111 years
Chinese 9,60,02,306 year
Khatai 8,88,38,388 years
Second Round
Egypt 2,76,062 years
Parsi 1,89,966 years
Third Round
Ancient Turkey 7616 years
Ancient Persia 6014 years
Jews 5770 years
Fourth Round
Greek 3573 years
Roman 2759
Christian 2008 years
Muslim 1428 years
References:
1. "Glimpses of Bhartiya History" by Dr.Rajendra Singh Khushwaha, Ocean Books Pt. Ltd, 4/19 Asaf Ali Road, ND-110002.
2. "Bharat Mein Vigyan ki Ujjval Parampara" by Suresh Soni, Archana Prakashan, 17Deendayal Parisar, E/2, Mahabir Nagar, Bhopal-462016, Phone 2466865.
3. Bhartiya Kal Ganana ka Vaigyanik aivam Vaishvik SwaroopDr Ravi Prakash Arya, Bhartiya Itihas Sankalan Yojna, Baba Sahib Apte Smriti Bhawan, Keshav Kunj Jhandewalan, ND-55.
Jatindernath Joshi
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Indian Time measurement
Indian Calendar: A scientific measurement of time :Jatindernath Joshi
All time units in the Indian calendar, a day, a week, a paksha, a month, a year, a yuga, a mahayuga, a manvantra and a kalpa are based on the time periods of the motions of the heavenly bodies, the earth, the moon, the planets, the sun , the galaxy etc.
Arya Bhatta, the great Indian astronomer (fifth century AD), calculated that all the planets were in conjunction with Ashwani constellation some 1.97 billion years back and they came into conjunction with the same constellation after every 4,32,000 years. So this period of 4,32,000 years was taken as the span of Kali (one Kali Yuga).
The period of two such conjunctions is known as Dwapra, three conjunctions as Treta and four conjunctions as Satyuga (Ref. AryaBhattiyam, known as the oldest reference book of its kind).
Mahayuga
All the four yugas combined together form what is known as Maha -yuga (also known as Chatur Yuga) = 43,20,000 years.
Manvantra
The next higher unit of time is called Manvantra. It comprises 71 Mahayugas and one Satyuga = 30,84,48,000 years.Manvantra is also the time taken by our sun (with its family i.e. the solar system) , moving at the speed of 250 km/second, to complete its orbit around the centre of our galaxy(the Milkiway galaxy). This orbit is known as ‘Parmeshthi Mandal’The present day scientific estimates of this time fall between 25 to 27 crore years.
Kalpa
One Kalpa = 14 Manvantras + one Satyuga = 4,32,00,00,000 years.This is the time taken by the Parmeshthi-mandal (the Akash Ganga. i.e. the Milkiway galaxy, around the Swayambhoo mandal, known as the centre of the universe.
Present Kali Yuga.
As explained above, a yuga starts when all the planets are in conjunction with the same constellation. This happens after every 4,32.000 years. The present Kali Yuga started on Feb 20, 3102 BC.
Famous European astronomer Belly says: “According to the astronomical calculations of the Hindus the present period of the world, Kaliyuga, started 3102 years before Christ on the 20th February at 2 hours 27 minutes and 30 seconds, the time being thus calculated to minutes and seconds. They say that a conjunction of planets then took place. The calculation of the Brahmins is so exactly confirmed by our own astronomical tables that nothing but actual observation could have given so correspondent a result”(Theogony of Hindus, by Count Bjornstjerna, page 32)
Yugabd (kali calendar)
Yugabd calendar is not related to any personality. . It is based upon certain astronomical events and not the birth or death or migration of persons like Christ, Mohammed or Vikramaditya. Hence it is a universal calendar. It is also traditionally cited in various Indian (Hindu) prayers all over India.
For example the Sankalp Mantra recited on all the auspicious occasions like Bhoomi-Pooja, marriage, namkaran , shradh etc., is some what like this:
The Present Kali year is 5110 equivalent to 2008 AD.
Where are we today?
As per the contents of Sankalp path, a Kalpa is equivalent to 100 years of Brahma’s life. Out of which 50 years i.e. half of the present Kalp is already over. That means 155.52 trillion years of this Kalp have elapsed. Brahma is now in his 51st year. In other words out of total 14 Manvantras of this Kalp, we are in the seventh manvantra , whose name is Vaivasvat Manu. Out of 71 Mahayugas of this manvantra, 27 Mahayugas have elapsed. We are now in the 28th Mahayuga out of which Satyuga, Treta and Dwapra have also elapsed. We are passing through the present Kaliyuga, whose 5109 years have elapsed, and the present Kali year is 5110 KB. This is the first month (Chaitra) and the date is 14 called chaturdashi, Shukla Paksha. Tomorrow is Poornima. Today the equivalent Gregorian date is 19h April, 2008.
This is a living calendar.
The Hindus recite the above facts in their prayers on auspicious occasions like Bhoomi Pooja, marriage, Shradh etc, for example consider this Sankalp Mantra.“Om Asya Shri Vishnoragya pravartmanasya Brahmanam dwitiya prardhe, ( second half of the age of Brahma (the kalpa), Shwet Varah Kalpe, Vaivasvat manvantre, ashtvinshtitme kaliyuge, ptatham charne, kali samvate i.e. Yugabde 5110, ……..”
Kali-Yugabd and Christian calendars compared
Kaliyugabd (KB) Gregorian Era
1 KB 3102 BC
50 KB 3053 BC
3102 KB 1 BC
3103 KB 1 AD
5102 KB 2000 AD
5110 KB 2008 AD
Vikrami Samvat
King Viktamaditya was an ideal monarch. He had nine great men in his court, who were called “Nav-Ratnas”. Kalidas was one of them. Vikramaditya is known as “Shakari- Vikramaditya” because he eliminated foreign invaders from the land and brought peace and prosperity to the people.
Indian Calendar is most practical
(a) The British (Gregorian) calendar is based upon solar year. Therefore although the Christian festivals occur in the proper seasons of the year. The X-mas will always come in the winter. But it may be a dark night or bright full moon for X-mas.
(b) The Mohammedans, on the other hand, follow lunar calendar, Hence the ‘Eid’ will always be on the start of Shukla Paksh (the lunar fortnight). But the festival may come in winter, summer or rainy season.
(c) But the Hindu calendar year is a fine blend of the Lunar, the solar years and the position of the constellations, so that the Diwali will always come in winter and will always be on Amavasya ( the dark night). The same is true for Holi, Dussehra, Rakhi and all other Hindu festivals.
All apparently different Indian calendars follow the same pattern and are essentially the same, except for the starting year, which may be different for Vikrami samvat, Shaka samvat, Bengali etc.
Antiquity of world calendars
First round
Indian 1,97,29,59,111 years
Chinese 9,60,02,306 year
Khatai 8,88,38,388 years
Second Round
Egypt 2,76,062 years
Parsi 1,89,966 years
Third Round
Ancient Turkey 7616 years
Ancient Persia 6014 years
Jews 5770 years
Fourth Round
Greek 3573 years
Roman 2759
Christian 2008 years
Muslim 1428 years
References:
1. "Glimpses of Bhartiya History" by Dr.Rajendra Singh Khushwaha, Ocean Books Pt. Ltd, 4/19 Asaf Ali Road, ND-110002.
2. "Bharat Mein Vigyan ki Ujjval Parampara" by Suresh Soni, Archana Prakashan, 17Deendayal Parisar, E/2, Mahabir Nagar, Bhopal-462016, Phone 2466865.
3. Bhartiya Kal Ganana ka Vaigyanik aivam Vaishvik SwaroopDr Ravi Prakash Arya, Bhartiya Itihas Sankalan Yojna, Baba Sahib Apte Smriti Bhawan, Keshav Kunj Jhandewalan, ND-55.
Jatindernath Joshi
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