DURATION OF A KALP

 

As per Surya Sidhanta and Puraans, the duration of
various cyclic periods, and there name is as follows:

Yet there are others who give the same figures as
follows:

THE FOUR YUGAS AND THE KALI YUGA

Satya Yuga       17, 28,000
years   Treta Yuga 
12, 96,000 years

Dwapar Yuga      8, 64,000 years  Kali Yuga      
4,32,000 years

Total duration of four yugs = 4,320,000 years

Every Kalp has
1000 cycles of the four Yuga.

4,320,000 x 1,000
= 4,320,000,000 years

 

The problem with these figures is that they are not based
on real time—by real time, one means, the time the modern world can understand.
We understand that one year consists of 365.25 days (approx), we understand
that one day shall have 24 hours, and so on and so forth. Unfortunately no one
could yet fully comprehend and define the time used in Surya Sidhanta, and
reconcile it with the time we use and understand.
This has deprived the usage of information in Surya Sidhanta and Puraans for
determining the age of earth and generally for all other research in astronomy.

 

It is extremely important that the oldest culture of the
world must contribute in modern day research in astronomy. It is true that we
have contributed a lot in various astronomical researches, but because of the
problem of real time and time used for computation, our astronomy is not
contributing much in determining age of the earth and other related issues.

 

It is also relevant that we work on real time, and
redefine the kalp, so that the figures can be used by modern day researchers.
This article is an attempt in that direction. The information provided herein
under has been culled from various sources, and as such, it will not be
possible to acknowledge any specific source.

 

If you look at all the figures provided above, the LCM in
each case is 72. And 72 years is the modern day figure of Precession of Equinoxes
to cross one degree. So for 360 deg., or one circle to be complete, the no. of
years is 72x360= 25920 years. Precession of the Equinoxes refers
to the precession of Earth's axis of rotation with respect to inertial space. The modern science has discovered
this phenomenon about 150 years back, but the Hindus are using this from time
immemorial. Even Cheiro, the famous Numerologist, Palmist and Astrologer have
acknowledged this science having its origin in ancient India.

 

Then we have Samvatsar, or 60
years cycle. Here 60 cyclic rotation of earth around sun
constitutes one complete cycle, with accepted and VERIFIABLE Hindu belief that
even in human life things tend to repeat itself. The famous treatise on
astronomy ‘Vedanta Jyotish’ could throw more light on this. It is worth
mentioning here is that Vedanta Jyotish is NOT a course on astrology, as most
people believe, it is a subject which brings forth principles of astronomy, in
such a manner that a person, without having knowledge of astronomy, could
actually use it to enlighten his/her life, and make it more harmonious with
nature.

 

Thus, using the figure of 60 for multiplication in this case too, the
duration of a kalp is 60x 25920 = 1,555,200 years (Note: the earlier definition
of Kalp is being ignored for which I seek your forbearance).

 

Going back to Vedanta Jyotish, we know that 360 degree cycle is to be
divided into 12 house, or divisions of 30 degrees each; as such 60 cycles of
precession of equinoxes, when placed in 12 divisions, shall provide 5 cycles in
each house/ division.

THUS:

First four div/house, or Satya yug  =
25920x5x4= 518400 years

Next three div/hse. or Treta yug = 25920x5x3= 388800 years

Next two div/hse. or Dwaper Yug=25920x5x2= 259200 years

Next one div/hs. or  KALYUG       =25920x5x1= 129600 years

Next two div/hse or Sandhi         
=25920x5x2=259200 years

                                                       
 TOTAL      1,555,200 years

As such one Kalp is 1.56 million years.

 

There are 72 kalps in a Maha-kalp, which is actually 60 cycles plus 20%
extra for sandhi or vacant period, when earth recharges itself and prepares for
an altogether new human life. We are in the fourth Maha-kalp or Manavavtaar
(some say this is seventh, but fourth is more likely), and in the fourth
Maha-kalp, we are living in the 28^th Kalp. As such the total
duration of human life on earth is:

 

Human life= 1.56x (72x3+28) =380.64 million years

 

We can now write the duration of Maha-Kalp, Kalp, and
Yugs , as per new definition:

 

One Maha-Kalp = 72 Kalps= 1,555,200x72 =
111,974,400 years

One 
Kalp           = 1,555,200 years
or say 1.56 million years______      

Satya 
Yug  = 518,400 years

Treta Yug   =  388,800 years

Dwaper Yug=259,200 years

KALYUG       =129,600 years

Sandhi         = 259,200 years

 

Let us corroborate some interesting facts using Vedanta
Jyotish. When Manu left the earlier kalp on a ship and finally found land to
live on, he and his trope had entered the first house of the zodiac, which
would describe the new Kalp. The first house indicates birth and in this case
start of a new kalp. The second house indicates Kutumbh, or family, the third valour
and younger brothers or sisters, and the fourth indicates home.

 

Thus the first four houses which constitute Satya Yug
indicate birth of a new civilization, which slowly expands, uses valour, and
help of likeminded families to establish settlements (home) or kingdoms.

 

The fifth house constitutes children, the sixth, enemies,
diseases, and the seventh is the first external house, indicating relationship.
Treta Yug extends from fifth house to seventh house. The civilization in the
kingdom were witnessing expansion, the new civilization (children) in jungles
known as VAANARS WAS ALSO GROWING, when lord Vishnu in the form of Shri Ram
took avatar, fought with Rakshas, forced kingdom to accept Vaanars as human
being and then established RamRajya- the Dharm followed by the just rule of law
which made everyone happy and is still the dream of every human being.

 

The eighth house is the house of mysteries and life. Life
in itself is a mystery. And the ninth house, the house of Dharm and fortune. Dwaper
Yug extends from eighth house to ninth house. Lord Krishna came on this earth towards
the very end of ninth house and established Dharm after Mahabharat war. What
happened in the interim period of eighth house is still a mystery. It seems
that almost the entire life was destroyed in the Indian sub continent by
massive floods as ancient history mentions that a new Manu once again took
charge of taking the leftover people to safety. Sage Vishvamitra had to
undertake a very serious ‘TAP’, towards the end of which an Apsara from heavens
joined him and they had a daughter from this relationship.

 

It is important to understand that why Vishvamitra, who
is a friend of the world (as the name suggests), had a daughter and not a son.
A female gives us thoughts of nourishment, caring and fertility, whereas male
gives us idea of brute force. With dwindling population, the world required
nourishment, care and fertility. Shakuntala, the daughter of Maneka and
Vishvamitra begot a son whose name was Bharat. Our country is still known as
Bharat.

 

Another important information that we get from this part of ancient
history is that all these development took place in South India, and later on
the decedents of Bharat moved to Hastinapur, in North India. So our ancient
history actually rubbishes the north south division theory. People who are
settled in North India have actually migrated from South India.

 

Going back to Vedanta Jyotish and Yugs, after Dwaper Yug,
we have Kalyug, and kalyug falls in the tenth house, which is the house of Karma,
or action. The house of Karma is relatively easy to handle, as Karma is
completely and absolutely in our hand. All actions get rewarded, and inaction
does not bear any fruits. AS SUCH WE CAN NOT IGNORE AND BEING A MUTE SPECTATOR TO WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY. We have to contribute by our action.

 

After Kalyug we have Sandhi, or in-between period which
covers eleventh and twelfth house. 11^th house denotes gains from
Karma, and 12^th, losses. So, actually, people of Kalyug
have the option to extend their Yug by another 129,600 years. All we have to do
is to be positive, and avoid INACTION on issues surrounding us.

 

And now some reconciliation of the details provided above
with some known facts. As per the information provided by the modern science,
the Himalayas are approx. 70 million years old. The development started about
70 M years back; some hills started appearing 60 M yeas back and gigantic
mountain range was there about 50 M years back.

 

As per the Hindu history,
during the last Maha-kalp or Manavavtaar, there was a serious division between
Devtaas (gods) regarding the type of human race that should be developed. Daksh,
the Prajapati (or in charge), wanted a human race which could not be destroyed.
While Lord Shiv did not say anything, her wife Sati, strongly opposed it and
sacrificed her life on the fire at the place where these efforts (yagna) were
taking place. Lord Shiv destroyed everything pertaining to that YAGNA and killed
Daksh. The destruction was extremely severe. Earth witnessed turmoil and
massive changes after that. When exactly all this could have happened? Since we
know that there are 72 Kalps in a Maha-Kalp, out of which 60 kalps fill the
zodiac as discussed above and remaining 12 kalps are night (sandhi) or darkness
where there is no life, the possibility of this experiment taking place is only
towards the end of house of karma i.e. at the end of 50th kalp. So the last 22
kalps plus the existing 28 kalps added together constitutes the period during
which the process of formation of Himalayas took place.

 

Thus time in years 50x1.56= 78 million years.

 

The modern science says it is at least 70 million years. WHAT MORE
DO YOU WANT FROM ANCIENT HINDU HISTORY?

 

 

 

---------------- Note: Content of this blog post is writer's personal opinion and may not be SanghParivar.org or Sangh's view.