The most elementary particle that is at the base of creation is the atom,
almost invisible even after the dissolution of the bodies. The calculation of
time is therefore based as a fundamental measure by reference to atomic
time - the time in which an atom covers a particular space. An aggregate of
six atoms is large enough to be seen in the sunlight that penetrates through
a screen.
The time required for the integration of three of these aggregates of six
atoms (called trasarenus) is called truti, and is the shortest unit of time. One
vedha is composed by 100 trutis, while one lava consists of three vedhas, one
nimesa corresponds to three lavas, one kshana to three nimesas, one kastha to
five kshanas, one laghu to fifteen kasthas, one nadika or danda to fifteen laghus,
one muhurta to two dandas, and six or seven dandas form a quarter of the day
or night, according to the season. The instrument to measure one danda is
prepared with a copper container of six palas in weight: we make a hole with
a gold lancet weighing four masas and four angulas long. When the container
is put over water, it sinks in exactly one danda.
In each day and night of the human beings there are four praharas; fifteen
days and nights form one paksha, and a month is composed by two pakshas
- a white one and a black one. One human month equals to one day and
night on the Pitri planets. Two months of Earth's time constitute a season,
while six months are a complete movement of the sun from south to north
and vice versa. Two of these complete movements, that constitute one
complete cycle of the sun, correspond to one day and night of the heavenly
beings, but an entire year of the earth calendar. The human beings have a
duration of life of 100 of these years.
There are five different definitions for the orbits of the sun, the moon, the
stars and other celestial bodies, and all have specific cycles. A cycle of four
earth ages - Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali - constitutes 12,000 years of the
heavenly beings. Satya yuga lasts 4,800 heavenly years, Treta 3,600, Dvapara
2,400 years, and Kali 1,200. In the age of Satya the human beings follow the
principles of religion perfectly, but in each of the three subsequent ages,
one fourth of these principles become lost.
One thousand cycles of four ages constitute one day and one night for
Brahma; when his day is over there is a partial destruction of the universe,
in which the sun and the moon loose their radiance and the inhabitants of
the highest planets move to Janaloka because the rest of universe is
devastated by fire. When Brahma gets up in the morning, a new cycle of
creation begins. Within one day of Brahma there is a series of fourteen
Manus, each living a little more than 71 cycles of four ages. At each new
Manu there is a renovation of the seven Rishis, Indra and other celestial
beings and the residents of the higher planets. Brahma lives for 100 of his
years, 50 of which have already passed; the first cycle of ages in the second
half of Brahma's life was characterized by the appearance of the Lord in the
form of Varaha, the boar avatara.
At the beginning of creation Brahma generated the four great sages called
Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat Kumara. Brahma expected them to
generate descendants in turn, but the Kumaras were not interested in
procreation and chose to remain small boys forever, to avoid being
involved in the complications due to the fact of being older than others.
Brahma was not happy about this disobedience, and from his anger,
concentrated between his brows, Rudra appeared manifesting in eleven
forms that have the purpose to destroy the universe at the time of
dissolution.
Later Brahma generated, from various parts of his body, the Rishis named
Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasistha, Kardama,
Daksa and Narada. In the same way he generated the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur,
Sama and Atharva), the secondary Vedas (Ayur, Dhanur, Gandharva, and so
on) and the fifth Veda (Puranas and Itihasas), together with the other forms
of knowledge and ritual ceremonies. Finally, he generated the first couple of
human beings - Svayambhuva Manu and Satarupa - who started to produce
a descendence through sexual union. Manu had two sons (Priyavrata and
Uttanapada) and three daughters (Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti). He gave
Akuti in marriage to Ruci Rishi, Devahuti to Kardama Rishi, and Prasuti to
Daksha Prajapati.
