Indian Concept of Time

        The word 'Kala' in Sanskrit language means time. It means the force which has the power to destroy all objects in the universe. It also signifies the past present and future. Hindus have peculiar division of time. The reckoning of time ranges from a 'Yuga' to 'Tatpara'. The Hindus consider 4 yugas viz. 1) Satya yuga 2) Treta yuga 3) Dwapar yuga 4) Kali yuga. The duration of kali yuga is said to be of 432000 years. The duration of Dwapar yuga, Treta yuga and Satya Yuga is twice, thrice and four times of Kali Yuga respectively. The Hindus considered the commencement of Kali Yuga in 3102 BC.

Sixty year cycle

        The Hindu’s have also considered the cycle of sixty lunar years for the purpose of reckoning time. This is usually used for predicting mundane events. Let us first understand the ‘Vedic time cycle’. There are sixty years in one cycle, which are again sub-divided into twelve parts called as 'Yugas' (Note that the term yuga used here differs from the term ‘Yuga’ used earlier. For e.g. Kali yuga.) so that every Yuga is of five years. For each such Yuga lordship is assigned to various Hindu deities. The Lords of twelve Yugas are as follows

1) Vishnu(controller of universe)
2) Jupiter
3) Indra(lord of rains)
4) Agni(fire)
5) Brahma(Creator)
6) Shiva(destroyer)
7) Pitara(ancestors)
8) Vishvedeva
9) Moon
10) Agni(fire)
11)Ashvinikumar(divine physicians )
12) Sun.

                The first year in every Yuga is called as 'Samvatsara'. Each Samvatsara is supposed to be ruled by a deity. The deities of 5 years in each yuga are as follows.

For First year called as Samvatsara the lord is Agni
For Second year called as Parivatsara the lord is Sun
For Third year called as Edavatsara the lord is Moon
For Fourth year called as Anuvatsara the lord is Brahma
For Fifth year called as Edwatsara. the lord is Shiva

Theory behind sixty year cycle

         As the time cycle consists of sixty years. The question that might have baffled to your mind is,"Why the cycle of sixty years?" The answer is as follows, Saturn generally takes thirty years to complete its transit in the twelve signs (i.e. one cycle), while Jupiter takes twelve years to complete its transit in the twelve signs. So approximately after sixty years, both of them come at the same position. The sixty years are divided into twelve parts, each part of five years. After every five years, Saturn will move two signs ahead ( two and half years per sign ) and Jupiter will move five signs ahead ( one year per sign ) so the distance between them will be in the multiples of sixty degrees which creates a specific 'Yoga' (Combination). It has its own significance in Predictive Astrology.

Ayana

The year is further divided into two Ayanas namely.

1) Uttarayana: When Sun enters tropical Capricorn he starts moving northwards till he enters tropical Cancer. This movement of Sun from Capricorn to Cancer ( Six months) is called as 'Uttarayana'.

2) Dakshinayana: When Sun enters tropical Cancer he starts moving towards southern direction till he enters tropical Capricorn. This movement of the Sun is called as 'Dakshinayana'.

Month

        The year is further subdivided into months. The months are dependent upon the relative position of Sun and Moon taken together. The year commences on a day when the conjunction of sun and moon occur in 'nirayan' pisces. For the purpose of reckoning lunar month, synodical revolution of the moon is considered. The lunar month is reckoned from the new moon to next new moon.

        On full Moon Day, the angular distance between Sun and Moon is 180 degrees while on new moon day the angular distance between them is zero. The names to the month are derived from the 'nakshatras' (constellations) in which the full Moon occurs. For instance the name of first month ‘Chaitra’ is derived from the constellation ‘Chitra’( Virginis Spica ) since during this month the full Moon occur in the constellation ‘Chitra’.

The twelve lunar months are as follows :

1) Chaitra,
2)Vaishakh
3) Jyeshtha
4) Ashadha
5) Shravan
6) bhadrapada
7) Ashvin
8) Kartika
9) Margashirsha
10) Pausha
11) Magha
12) Falguna.

         In one solar year, there are 371 lunar days. So there is a difference of 11 days every year. So as to maintain the uniformity, an 'intercalary month' called as 'Adhika Masa' is added every three years. This concept is similar to adding an intercalary day in the month of February in every leap year.

Rhutu (Season)

There are six Rhutus in all. Each Rhutu comprises of two months.

1) Vasant (Spring) - Chaitra and Vaishakha (April- May)
2) Grishma ( Summer ) - Jyeshtha and Ashadha (June- July)
3) Varsha ( Rainy ) - Shravan and Bhadrapad (August- September)
4) Sharad ( Autum) - Ashvin and Kartika (October - November)
5) Hemant ( Winter ) - Margashirsha and Pausha (December-January)
6)Shishir ( Winter)- Magha and Falguna (February - March)

Paksha

There are two 'Pakshas' (fortnight) in every lunar month.

1) Shukla Paksha or Shudha Paksha (Bright Half)
In each month, Shukla Paksha commences on the day following the new moon day of the previous month. The Shukla Paksha ends on full moon day.

2) Krishna Paksha or Vadya Paksha (Dark Half)
In each month, Krishna Paksha commences on the day following the full moon day. It ends on new moon day.

Tithi

        A lunar day is called as 'Tithi'. It is calculated by diving the angular distance between moon and sun by 12. Once a tithi and lunar month is known, you can easily ascertain the Sun sign and Moon sign. There are fifteen Tithis in each Paksha. The names of Tithis are as follows:

1)Pratipada , 2) Dwitiya, 3) Tritiya, 4) Chaturthi, 5) Panchami, 6) Shashthi, 7) Saptami, 8) Ashtami, 9) Navami, 10)Dashmi, 11) Ekadashi, 12) Dwadashi, 13) Trayodashi 14) Chaturdashi 15) Fifteenth day of Bright Half - Paurnima, Fifteenth day of Dark Half Amavasya.

Karana

Tithi is sub-divided into two parts. Every part is called as Karana. There are in all eleven Karanas as follows:

1)Bava, 2) Balava 3) Kaulava 4) Taitila, 5) Garaja, 6) Vanija, 7) Vishti, 8) Shakuni 9) Chatushpad, 10) Naga and 11) Kinstughna.

Division of Day

         The reckoning of a day as per hindu system is slightly different from the method of reckoning a day as per the western system. The Hindus reckon a day from the Sunrise to next day's Sunrise as against the reckoning from zero hours midnight to next day's zero hours midnight.

The division of the day is as follows:

1 Day(24 hours) = 60 ghatis(1 ghati =24 minutes ) 1 Ghati = 60 vighatis (1 vighati = 24 seconds) 1 vighati = 60 liptas 1 lipta = 60 vilipta 1 vilipta= 60 para 1 para = 60 tatpara