76 Spiritual Astrology
72 of the 72 minutes is also very significant. For the
precession of the equinoxes to cover up one degree in the
zodiac, it takes 72 years (approximately). The apparent
rotation of Jupiter around this earth zodiac is twelve solar
years. Six such rotations would extend over 72 years. Six
sets of 72 years give the duration of time for Jupiter to go
round the apparent zodiac 36 times and for the precession
of the equinoxes by 3 degrees. This period is 432 years
which forms the base number for the computation of the
great cycles of Yuga-s and Maha- Yuga-s.
The wise men of the past had two different divisions
of the duration of the solar day. These divisions are made
by them according to the law of correspondences. They
are :
- The day is divided according to the formula 1x24x60x.
One day divided into 24 hours on the pattern of the
lunar year having 24 lunations. Each hour is divided
into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds and
so on. - The second type of division is made according to the
formula : 1 x 60x. The one solar day is divided into 60
ghati
-
s. Each ghati is divided into 60 vighati-
s and so
on.
The first of the above two divisions is based on the
Jupiterian and the Saturnine cycles of this earth. In
fact, the number of months in a year and the number
of signs in the zodiac are based on the Jupiterian cycle
of 12 years. Twice this number denotes the hours in
the day and the lunations in the year (approximately).
The second method of division is based entirely on
the Saturnine cycle (30 years). Twice this number is- Hence the day is divided into 60 ghati
-
s as also as