time in Hindu tradition
Time in Hinduism is a cyclical concept. The uni-
verse arises and disappears in an infinite series of
cycles.
In this time scheme, every “Great Age” (MAHA-
YUGA) encompasses four successive Ages (YUGAS),
beginning with an Age of Truth (KRITA, or Satya,
YUGA) and progressively declining until an Age of
Corruption (Kali Yuga, which has no relation to
the goddess Kali, spelled differently in SANSKRIT).
A long series of such oscillating Great Ages even-
tually plays out, until the universe dissolves and
remains absent for a time equal to its previous
presence. Then, it once again emerges into a new
round of Great Ages. The Jain tradition shares this
notion of cycles, defined somewhat differently.
Buddhism has its own version of endless time,
stretching in both directions, past and future.
Different traditions or puranas describe the
story of time in varying ways. In one version, after
the long night of BRAHMA, equal to 4,320,000,000
years, when the universe is in dissolution, the
Supreme Being, VISHNU, stimulates the ever-present
nature, or PRAKRITI (who exists in potential form
while the universe is gone), to reemerge as the
universe. The universe then begins a new Krita,
or Satya, Yuga, now seen as a Golden Age, fol-
lowed by a Treta (Silver) Age, a Dvapara (Bronze)
Age, and finally a Kali (Iron) Age, the final Age
of Corruption. We are currently in one such final
age. Each Mahayuga, or Great Age, equals 12,000
god-years, each of which lasts 360 human years,
for a total of 4,320,000,000 human years.
The Yugas decrease in duration: a Satya Yuga is
1,728,000 years, Treta is 1,296,000 years, Dvapara
is 864,000 years, and Kali is 432,000 years. Dur-
ing this decline human stature, longevity, and
morality also progressively decline.
One thousand Mahayugas, or cycles of four
Yugas, make up a kalpa (eon), a day in the life of
Lord BRAHMA, 4,320,000,000 years. Each kalpa is
followed by a time of calamity and disaster, on the
Earth and in all the worlds. All beings perish. Fire
overtakes all of the worlds, followed by a massive
flood. Finally all the elements return to the seed
of primordial nature, or prakriti, and time itself
ends, only to reemerge when the cosmic night
has ended.
Within these cycles is another classification
of time called the MANVANTARA, each of which is
ruled by a MANU, or “first man,” the progenitor
of the human race in that period. Because the
universe dissolves and reappears again and again,
there are an infinite number of such figures. Each
kalpa sees 14 Manus reign in succession. This
means that a manvantara takes up approximately
71 Yugas. One manvantara thus lasts 367,020,000
years. Each manvantara has seven RISHIS (VEDIC
seers), certain deities, an INDRA, and a Manu. The
Manu of our era is known as Vaivasvata. He is the
seventh Manu of our kalpa, or eon.
We are currently in the Kali Yuga, but there is
no agreement among the sources as to precisely
where we are in this 432,000-year cycle and when
this age will end.Further reading: Cornelia Dimmitt and J. A. B. van
Buitenen, Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the
Sanskrit Puranas (Philadelphia: Temple University
Press, 1978); F. B. J. Kuiper, “Cosmogony and Concep-
tion: A Query,” History of Religions 10 (1970): 91–138;
W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic, 2d
ed. (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).Tingley, Katherine (Augusta Westcott)
(1847–1929) American Theosophical leader
Katherine Augusta Westcott served as the head of
the American Theosophical Society after it broke
with Annie Wood BESANT (1847–1933).
Westcott was born in Newburyport, Massa-
chusetts. Privately educated, she became inter-
ested in social work and founded the Society of
Mercy, a relief organization on New York City’s
impoverished East Side.
Through her social work, she met William Q.
Judge (1851–96), cofounder of the Theosophi-
cal Society. In 1891, another cofounder, HelenaTingley, Katherine 447 J