Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 11:12-27

Book 3: Chapter 11

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 11: Verses 12-27
Divisions of Time such as Manvantara and so on

Twomonths, taken together, go to make a Rtu (season); while an Ayana consists of six months. An Ayana is southerly and northerly by turns ( according as the sun takes a southerly or northerly course), and the two Ayanas constitute a day and night of the gods in heaven. These are known as one year or twelve months (on earth) and a hundred years have been declared as the full life-span of human beings. The ever-vigilant sun-god, who is manifestation of the Lord Himself and identical with the Time-Spirit, and stays in the midst of planets, lunar mansions and other stars, goes round the whole universe in course of time beginning from a Paramanu and extending to a whole year. The year, O Vidura, is variously termed as Samvatsara[1], Parivatsara,[2] Idavatsara 3.Idavatsara is the name of the Savanas year, each month of which has a uniform duration of 30 days. Anuvatsara [3] and Vatsaras. [4] (according as it is calculated on the basis of the revolutions of the sun, the Jupiter, the moon and so on). Bear offerings, (O men!) to the sun-god, the originator of these five kinds of years, who by his potency called Time unfolds in various forms the capacity of the seed etc., to germinate, who as (a huge ball of) fire, which is one of the five gross elements, courses through the heavens in order to dispel the delusion of men (by cutting short their span of life and thus ridding them of their attachment for the pleasures of sense) and who (for those performing sacrifices etc., with some interested motive) yields many kinds of material fruits (in the shape of heavenly and other enjoyments) through sacrificial performances. Vidura said : The full life-span of the manes, gods and human beings has thus been stated by you (as consisting of a hundred years according to the measure. [5] of time severally obtaining in the three worlds). Now kindly tell me the life-span of other (higher) enlightened beings (such as Brahma, Sanaka, Bhrgu and others), who live outside the three worlds (i.e., in the spheres beyond Indra's paradise). Your holiness surely knows the course of the all-powerful Time; for the wise can see the whole universe with their eye perfected through Yoga (union with God). Maitreya replied : The four Yugas,viz., Krtayuga (Satyayuga), Treta, Dwapara and Kali along with their Sandhya (the transitional period marking the beginning of each Yuga) and Sandhyamsa (the transitional period marking the end of each Yuga) have been declared as consisting of 12,000 celestial years (or 43,20,000 human years). The Krtayuga and the succeeding Yugas severally consist of four, three, two and one thousand celestial years plus twice as many hundred years (representing the Sandhya and Sandhyamsa of each Yuga) [6] Those who are conversant with the divisions of time call only the period intervening a Sandhya and the following Sandhyamsa, each of which comprises of a hundred celestial years, as Yuga proper; for each of these Yugas a special Dharma (code of virtue) is prescribed. In the Krtayuga, Dharma (virtue) exists, for men, complete in its four limbs (viz., austere penance, internal and external purity, compassion and truthfulness). In the other Yugas, even as unrighteousness advances, virtue diminishes by one limb successively.[7] Beyond the three worlds, (from the Maharloka) as far as the abode of Brahma, one thousand revolutions of the four Yugas constitute a day; and equal in length is the night, dear Vidura, when Brahma (the Creator of the universe) goes to sleep (withdrawing all the three worlds into his belly). At the close of night the creation of the three worlds commences (as in the preceding Kalpa) and continues for the livelong day of Brahma, which embraces the regime of the fourteen Manus. Each Manu holds power for the period allotted to him, which is a little over seventy-one (71 and 6/14) revolutions of the four Yugas. During these Manvantaras there are separate Manus and their descendants, separate groups of seven Rsis and gods, and separate Indras (the rulers of all the three worlds) and their attendants (Gandharvas and so on), all of whom (excepting, of course, the descendants of Manu) are born together. This is the day-to-day creation of Brahma, which affects the three worlds alone and in which the sub-human creatures, human beings, manes and gods are born according to their respective Karma. During these Manvantaras the Lord assumes the quality of Sattva (harmony) and protects the universe, exhibiting His strength in the form of Manus and others, who are His own manifestations. At the close of the day Brahma assumes an iota of Tamoguna (the principle of inertia) and, winding up his activity (in the shape of creation), becomes quiet (retires for the night). At that time everything else is withdrawn into him by force of time.

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References

  1. ↑ 1.Samvatsara is the name of the solar year or the period taken by the sun to pass through all the twelve signs of the zodiac (viz., 372 days).
  2. ↑ 2.Parivatsara is the name of the period taken by the Jupiter to pass from one sign of the zodiac to another. The Jupiter takes approximately twelve years to complete its circuit through all the twelve signs.
  3. ↑ 4.Arsuvatsara is the name of the lunar year, each month of which ends on the Amavasya.
  4. ↑ 5.Vatsara is the name of the year, each month of which consists of 27 days only, the period taken by the moon to pass through each Naksatra or lunar mansion.
  5. ↑ A day and night of the Pitrs (manes) consist of 30 days and nights of human beings. Hence the full life-span of Pitrs would be reckoned at 3,000 years. Even so a day and night of the gods consist of two Ayanas or 360 human days and nights. Thus the full life-span of the generality of gods would work up to 36,000 human years
  6. ↑ +Thus a Satyayuga consists of 4,800 celestial years all told (4,000 years of Satyayuga proper and 800 years representing the Sandhya and Sandhyamsa combined). Similarly a Treta consists of 3,600, Dwapara of 2,400 and Kali of 1,200 celestial years all told. In other words, a Kaliyuga consists of 4,32,000 human years, a Dwapara of twice as many, I.e., 8,64,000 years, a Treta of thrice as many or 12,96,000 years and a Satyayuga of four times as many or 17,28,000 years.
  7. ↑ *That is to say, in Treta austere penance falls into destitute; only purity, compassion and truthfulness are practised in the name of virtue. In the Dwapara, however, penance and purity both become obsolete; compassion and truth alone prevail. And in Kali truthfulness alone remains, the other three virtues become very rare.