few addendums to the kaala info

[Guest guest]

Thanks to Sri Sadagopan on a very informative account of the

kala. The following is some additional information on division

of time and year in each yuga.

 

For those who may be familiar with this, pelase bear with me.

 

 

15 Nimeshas = 1 kaashthaa (nimesha refers to the twinkling

of the eye)

30 kaashthaa = 1 kaala

30 kaalas = 1 kshana

12 kshanas = 1 muhoortta

30 muhoorttas = 1 day and 1 night of the mortals.

 

 

The various yugas are devided into the following number of years.

Each yuga is preceeded (sandhyaa) and followed (sandhyaansa) by

the same number of devine years.

 

Krita: 400 + 4000 + 400 = 4800 devine years

Tretaa: 300 + 3000 + 300 = 3600 devine years

Dwaapara: 200 + 2000 + 200 = 2400 devine years

Kali: 100 + 1000 + 100 = 1200 devine years.

 

 

Question: I am not very clear as to why there is distinction

in the period before and after each yuga. Why not just call

the entire period itself as a yuga. What happens or supposed

to happen during the the sandhyaa and sandhyaansa periods,

that requires to be accounted seperately.

 

 

Also this time line does not appear to be golden. i.e. not

every one follows this. It is said that all the Puranaas

basically agree on the division of kaala (with minor differences

in the part that defines the day and night of mortals).

However, it is also said that the astronomers use a complete

different scheme in computing the dhasaas. Is this correct or

am I missing some thing?

 

 

Thanks

 

 

-Venkatesh Elayavalli