Home  |  Names  |  Dictionary  |  Locations  |  Tidbits

Back to M | Next

Time Measurement in India-1
See also      Time Measurement in India-4     

According to Hindoo astrology, there are nine ways to measure time - 

(1) Braahm (related to Brahmaa), 
(2) Daiv (related to Devtaa), 
(3) Maanav (related to human beings), 
(4) Pitrya (related to Pitar), 
(5) Saur (solar) - This measurement helps to know all kinds of speed of all planets.
(6) Saavan - This measurement helps to know the time of rains.

(7) Chaandra (lunar) - Sanskaar time (Yagyopaveet, Mundan) Tithi (day), Lord of the year, festivals, fasting days are known by this measurement. Whatever time Moon takes to go through all Nakshatra (approximately 29 days), it is called Naakshatra (related to Nakshatra or lunar) month. From Shukla Pratipadaa (1st day) its 29 days' Lords are (1) Brahmaa, (2) Agni, (3) Viranchi, (4) Vishnu, (5) Gauree, (6) Ganesh, ((7) Yam, (8) Sarp (snake), (9) Chandramaa (Moon), (10) Kaartikeya, (11) Soorya (Sun), (12) Indra, (13) Mahendra, (14) Vaasav, (15) Naag, (16) Durgaa, (17) Dand-dhar, (18) Shiv, (19) Vishnu, (20) Ravi, (21) Hari, (22) Kaam Dev, (23) Shankar, (24) Kalaadhar, (25) Yam, (26) Chandramaa, (27) Vishnu, (28) Kaam Dev, and (29) Shiv.

(8) Naakshatra (related to constellations) - Ghadee, Muhoort etc in a year are known by this measurement.
(9) Baarhaspatya (related to Brihaspati or Jupiter) - This measurement helps to know Prabhav etc years.

Every single measurement has its own different year each of 12 months.

Baarhaspatya Measurement -
By the medium speed of Jupiter, there are 60 Samvatsar (year). Their names are --

(1) Prabhav - abundance of Yagya Karm, (2) Vibhav - people are comfortable, (3) Shukla - all grains are grown in abundance, (4) Pramod - all are happy in this year, (5) Prajaapati - year of growth, (6) Angiraa - increase in pleasures, (7) Shreemukh - population increases, (8) Bhaav - good feelings increase, (9) Yuvaa - clouds make lots of rains, (10) Dhaataa - abundance of all herbs, (11) Eeshwar - people are peaceful and healthy, (12) Bahudhaanya - abundance of grains, (13) Pramaathee - this year is medium, (14) Vikram - abundance of grains, (15) Vrish - nourishes all the people, (16) Chitrabhaanu - is wonderful, (17) Subhaanu - provides welfare and good health, (18) Taaran - clouds are auspicious in this Samvatsar, (19) Paarthiv, (20) A-Vyaya - rains in abundance, (21) Sarvjit - the best rains, (22) Sarvdhaaree - abundance of grains,
(23) Virodhee - shortage of rains, (24) Vikrit - creates fear, (25) Khar - introduces bravery in men, (26) Nandan - people feel good , (27) Vijaya - kills enemies, (28) Jaya - cures all diseases, (29) Manmath - the world suffers with fever, {Dushkar - people do bad Karm} (30) Durmukh - people speak harshly.

(31) Hemlamb - people arewealthy, (32) Vilamb - abundance of food, (33) Vikaaree - enemies become angry, (34) Shaarvaree - gives everything, (35) Plav - creates flood in water bodies, (36) Shubhkrit - people do good Karm, (37) Shobhan - people do good Karm, (38) Krodhee, (39) Vishwaavasu, (40) Paraabhav, (41) Plavang, (42) Keelak, (43) Saumya, (44) Samaan, (45) Virodhkrit, (46) Paribhaavee, (47) Pramaadee, (48) Aanand, (49) Raakshas - the world becomes un-pitiable, (50) Anal - produces various grains, (51) Pingal - good rains at some places, (52) Kaalyukt - loss of wealth, (53) Siddhaarth - all actions are fruitful, (54) Raudra - people do terrible Karm, (55) Durmati - medium rains, (56) Dundubhi - auspicious and people get wealth and grains, (57) Rudhirodgaaree - it drinks blood, (58) Raktaaksh - it drinks blood, (59) Krodhan - people give victory in thisyear, and (60) Kshaya - people's wealth diminishes.
[Some of these names are given in Agni Puraan, ch 139, p 298-299 also along with their effects]

They all give fruits according to their name and form. Five years make a Yug. The Lords of the five years are - (1) Agni (Fire), (2) Soorya (Sun), (3) Chandramaa (Moon), (4) Brahmaa, and (5) Shiv.

Thus there are 12 Yug in 60 Samvatsar (years). The Lords of those 12 Yug are like this -- (1) Vishnu, (2) Brihaspati (Jupiter), (3) Indra, (4) Lohit, (5) Twashtaa, (6) Ahirbudhnya, (7) Pitar, (8) Vishwedev,
(9) Chandramaa (Moon), (10) Indraagni, (11) Ashwinee Kumaar, and (12) Bhag

Saur (Solar) Measurement
According to Soorya (Sun), in Makar (Capricorn) etc six signs, there is Uttaraayan. This is Devtaa's day, and in Kark etc six signs, there is Dakshinaayan, which is Devtaa's night. Entering the house, marriage ceremonies, Lord's Praan Pratishthaa and Yagyopaveet etc auspicious Karm should be done in Maagh etc months in Uttaraayan time as it is Devtaa's day time. In emergency some extra Poojaa may help.

From Maagh-Phaalgun, Shishir etc six seasons, are there of two months each. Thus according to Soorya, from Makar (Capricorn) sign, the three seasons - Shishir (Winter), Vasant (Spring) and Greeshm (Summer), are in Uttaraayan; and from Kark (Cancer) sign, the other three seasons of two months each are - Varshaa (Rainy season), Sharad (light Winter) and Hemant (Fall or Autumn), in Dakshinaayan.

From the 1st day of the Chandra Maas (Lunar month) to 15th day of the month is called Shukla Paksh (bright fortnight) and then from the 16th day of the Chandra Maas to Amaavasyaa (New Moon day) is called Krishn Paksh.

From Soorya's one Sankraanti to another Sankraanti is called Saur Maas (Solar month - Sun stays in one sign for one month only. The day he transits into another sign is called Sankraanti day.) Thirty days make one Saavan Maas; and whatever days Chandramaa (Moon) takes to go through all the Nakshatra, it is called Naakshatra Maas. Chandra passes one day in one Nakshatra, and Nakshatra are 27, so Chandramaa takes 27 days to pass through all Nakshatra.

Madhu, Maadhav, Shukra, Shuchi, Nabhah, Nabhasya, Ish, Urj, Sahaah, Shasya, Tap and Tapasya are the names of Chaitra, Vaishaakh etc 12 months. On whichever Poornimaa, whatever Nakshtra is there, the same name is of the same month. For example, whichever month's Poornimaa falls in Chitraa Nakshatra, the same month is called Chaitra month; and that Poornimaa is also known with the same name, such as Chaitree Poornimaa, or Vaishaakhee Poornimaa etc.

Every month consists of two fortnights - Dev Paksh and Pitra Paksh. Some other learned people call them Shukla Paksh (bright fortnight) and Krishn Paksh (dark fortnight). These two Paksh are considered while doing any auspicious or inauspicious Karm. (1) Brahmaa, (2) Agni, (3) Viranchi, (4) Vishnu, (5) Gauree, (6) Ganesh, (7) Yam, (8) Sarp (snake), (9) Chandramaa, (10) Kaartikeya, (11) Soorya, (12) Indra, (13) Mahendra, (14) Vaasav, (15) Naag (serpents), (16) Durgaa, (17) Dand-dhar, (18) Shiv (19) Vishnu, (20) Hari, (21) Ravi, (22) Kaam, (23) Shankar, (24) Kalaadhar, (25) Yam, (26) Chandramaa, (27) Vishnu, (28) Kaam, (29) Shiv - these 29 Devtaa are the Lords of 29 Tithi from the 1st Shukla Paksh to the end, the 14th day of Krishn Paksh. Amaavasyaa's Lord are Pitar.
(Naarad Puraan, p 325-326)

Measurement of Time on Prithvi
We use only 5 types of time measurements on Prithvi. How minute and how large time can one measure? See here and just imagine how long are Brahmaa's and Vishnu's days or age.

15 Nimesh = 1 Kaashthaa
30 Kaashthaa = 1 Kalaa (8 seconds)
30 Kalaa = 1 Kshan (4 minutes)
6 Kshan = 1 Ghadee (24 minutes)
2 Ghadee = 1 Muhoort = 0.8 hour = 48 minutes
30 Muhoort = 1 Day = 24 hours
30 Days = 1 Month = 2 Paksh
2 Months = 1 Season
3 Season = 1 Ayan (6 months)
2 Ayan = 1 Year or 1 Samvatsar = 1 Divine Day or Devtaa's day and night (Uttaraayan is day, Dakshinaayan is night)

1 Human Month = 1 Pitar Day (That is when Soorya meets Chandra, on Amaavasyaa - the best Pitar time)

360 Divine Days (360 Human Years) = 1 Divine Year
12,000 Div Years = 1 Div Yug
71+ Div Yug = 1 Manvantar
14 Manvantar = 1,000 Div Yug = Brahmaa's 1 Day = 1 Human Kalp
14 Manvantar = 1,000 Div yug = Brahmaa's 1 Night = 1 Human Kalp
2,000 Div Yug = 1 Human Kalp = Brahmaa's 1 Day and Night

This period, creation and Pralaya combined, is Brahmaa's 1 Day. This is one Human Kalp too.
At the time of Brahmaa's night, when he sleeps, all three Lok are destroyed. 
Now listen to their measurement according to human years:-

1,000 4-Yug = Brahmaa's 1 Day
1,000 4-Yug = Brahmaa's 1 Night
2,000 4-Yug = Brahmaa's 1 Complete Day
30 Brahmaa's Days = Brahmaa's 1 Month
12 Brahmaa's Month = Brahmaa's 1 Year
100 Brahmaa's Years = Brahmaa's Age = 2 Paraardh
2 Paraardh = Brahmaa's Age = Vishnu's 1 Day
2 Paraardh = Brahmaa's Age = Vishnu's Night
4 Paraardh = Brahmaa's Two Lives = Vishnu's Complete Day (Day and Night)
(Naarad Puraan, p 19)

Back to M | Next

Home  |  Names  |  Dictionary  |  Locations  |  Tidbits