THE COSMOLOGY OF YUGADI (युगादि).
– By Basudeba Mishra
The first day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, which happens this year to be on the 25th of March, 2020, is celebrated as Yugadi (युगादि), which literally means, the anniversary (आदि) of the Cosmological Cycle of time (युग). For understanding its cosmological implications, let us discuss the Yuga System, which is the cosmic time-scale.
The term Yuga is derived from the root Yuj (युज्), which literally means to reproach (यु जुगु॒प्साया॑म्), to mix (यु मिश्रे॒णेऽभि॑श्रणे च) or to confine (यु॒ञ् बन्ध॑ने). Time (कालः) arises from our concept of sequence and interval (परत्वापरत्व). The intervals between ordered sequence of events is called time. The events are transformations or transmutations involving six consecutive steps: 1) from being as cause (जायते) to 2) becoming as effect (अस्ति) to 3) growth due to accumulation of similars (बर्द्धते) to 4) transformation due to addition of harmonious other elements (विपरिणमते) to 5) transmutation due to the opposite effect (अपक्षीयते) to 6) change of form through dissemination and further assimilation with others (विनश्यति). Since intervals have no markers to describe them, time is described through alternative symbolism (विकल्पन) of the two boundary events. In cosmic scales, when events leading to qualitative change in a system separate the antecedent from the succeeding state, the separate span of both are termed as different Yuga. There is normally a transition period (सन्धि) between the two states, which mixes or binds them. Also the interval confines the extent of each state. For this purpose also it is called Yuga.
The cyclic nature of time is well known. Every second repeats itself. Every 60 seconds is a minute, which repeats itself. Every 60 minutes is an hour, which repeats itself. Every 24 hours or so is a day, which repeats itself. Every 30 days or so is a month, which repeats itself. Every 12 months are a year, which repeats itself. But what is beyond that? Light year or parsec is a measure of distance – not time. However, in ancient India, it goes up to the creation cycle.
The Vedas speak about infinite steady state universes that have confined boundaries, but unconnected to each other. Since the process of physics is the same everywhere, they must evolve similarly with minor variations. Yet, each must be distinguished by some characteristic evolutionary difference. The evolution of the universe (महाप्रलय) takes a period of 311.04 trillion years. The galactic evolutionary period (कल्प) is said to be 4.32 billion years, after which, the opposite process of dissolution (प्रलय) starts, which takes an equivalent period. Again the same process repeats. During this period, the Solar system evolves (मन्न्तर) 14 times in a similar process. The planetary system evolve (चतुर्युगी) 71 times during one Solar evolution period.
As we have seen, time evolution has two parts. From birth (becoming) to transformation, it is the period of accumulation. The other period is associated with dissociation. Hence the former is called the evolving period (उत्सर्पिणी) and the latter is called the devolving period (अवसर्पिणी). The first of this sequence is the formative state (आदियुग). The others except the last is the evolutionary state (सर्ग). Hence, ignoring these, the other periods are divided into four categories called SATYA (सत्य or KRITA – कृत, which literally means operational), TRETA (त्रेता, which literally means formation of three-fold structures), DWAPARA (द्वापर – द्वौ सत्यत्रेतायुगौ परौ श्रेष्ठौ यस्मात् – because it is inferior to the other two), and KALI (कलि, because it tends to terminate the cycle – कलयति). The extent of these four are 4.32 million years, which is distributed in a ratio of 4:3:2:1. Thus, the extent of Satya Yuga is 1,728,000 years, the extent of Treta Yuga is 1,296,000 years, the extent of Dwapara Yuga is 864,000 years and the extent of Kali Yuga is 432,000 years. Presently, it is the 5120 years of Kali Yuga of the 28th cycles of planetary evolution in 7th cycle of Solar evolution.
GRAHA is often confused with planet, though they are totally different concepts. A planet is a Graha, but a Graha is not a planet alone. Graha refers to the material constituent (ग्रहँ॑ उपादा॒ने) of something that affects the motion of others (गृह्णाति गतिविशेषान्) through amalgamation (गृह्यते – स्वीकार्यते). Thus, anything that affects the motion of others through its mass is called Graha. According to the Vedas, everything is created by the galactic or solar materials. The planets are formed from the same material used in parts. Thus, they acquire different properties. For example, the Moon is not created out of collision of another planet, but it is created out of the magnetic field region of the Sun called solar spots (सुषुम्ना – सुषु इति अव्यक्तशब्दं म्नायतीति, म्ना – अभ्यासे, पारम्पर्येण वृत्तिः। क्षणं वामे क्षणं दक्षे यदा वहति मारुतः). Hence, the Moon blacks out intelligence that affects mentally disturbed persons the most, which has been established in many experiments. Mars (भूमिपुत्र) has many characteristics of Earth. Mercury (सोमसूत) is like heated Moon matter. The surface of Mercury resembles the earth of Moon when heated.
We know that gravitational force is related to masses and distances between objects. Mass appears differently due to distance variation. Though the masses of the Sun and the Moon are greatly different, they are at different distances, which makes them appear similar in size. Thus, the effect due to diminished mass of Moon is counterbalanced by its nearness. For this reason, Vedas treat these two as Graha and most vital for the Earth. The other planets and satellites also affect Earth (इयं पृथिवी सर्वेषां भूतानां मधु अस्यै पृथिवै सर्वाणि भूतानि मधु), their masses and distances make their effect different. Hence, only those planets that are visible from Earth, are considered as Graha. Even the Nodes (राहु and केतु) are considered Graha, because when looked from Earth, the Moon appears always to move upwards at one node and downward at the other node. For this persistence motion, they are qualified to be called Graha. However, since they are not physical, but only apparent points, they are called Shadowy Graha (छायाग्रह).
The distant stars, because of their huge mass, also affected the Earth. But because of their distance, it was very small. Hence, important star clusters only were considered. Since they formed a fixed background structure (भचक्र), they were called Nakshatra (नक्षत्र). There are 27 such Nakshatra. The point between Zeta Piscium (रेवती) and head of Aries, including the stars β and γ Arietis (अश्विनी) is treated as the fixed starting point (मेषादि). The declination of the Equinoxes (अयनांश) are considered with reference to this point.
The time division in India refers to nine different time denominations:
1. Braahma (ब्राह्म).
2. Daiva (दैव).
3. Paitrya (पैत्र्य).
4. Prajapatya (प्राजापत्य).
5. Baharspatya (बाहर्स्पत्य).
6. Soura (सौर).
7. Chandra (चान्द्र).
8. Nakshatrya (नाक्षत्र्य), and
9. Savana (सावन).
Of these only two are relevant for the present purpose. The angular difference between the Sun and the Moon is called Tithi. From Full Moon to New Moon, there are 16 Tithis of 15 degree each. As has been explained above, at the moment of creation of the solar system, everything separated from the Sun. At that time, the Sun and the Moon were together, which is called Amavasya (अमावास्या – अमँ गत्या॑दिषु – गतौ॒ शब्दे॑ सम्भ॑क्तौ॑ च, अमा साहित्येन वसतश्चन्द्राकौ यस्याम्), because after this, they appear to separate from each other. That separation time is called the first Tithi of the Full Moon fortnight.
The lunar months are named based on the position of the Moon against the backdrop of the star cluster on the Full Moon day. For example, when the Moon on the Full Moon day is found in the backdrop of Librae Vishakha Nakshatra (विशाखा नक्षत्र), which ranges from 20 degrees in Libra to 3 degree 20 minutes in the Scorpio sign (वृश्चिक राशि), the month is named Vaishakha (वैशाख). If it is in the backdrop of Jyeshtha Nakshatra (ज्येष्ठा नक्षत्र) covering stars ε, ζ1 Sco, η, θ, ι1 Sco, κ, λ, μ and ν Scorpionis, the month is named Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठ), etc. When the Full Moon is in the backdrop of Spica or Chitra Nakshatra (चित्रा नक्षत्र), the month is named Chaitra (चैत्र). During New Moon, it will be 180 degrees from Spica – or approaching Aries (मेषराशि). When the creation started, the Sun and the Moon must have separated from Pisces Rashi (मीन राशि). Since, this is the beginning of the Yuga system, the first day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is treated as anniversary of Yugadi.
Some may say, it is a nice story to hear. But what is its relevance to modern science? Where is the proof that it is true? The answer is, it can solve a major problem of modern science, which has far reaching implications. It relates to the value of the gravitational constant G. The importance of G is well known, which is widely used in mathematical physics. However, what is not so well known is the fact that its value is not a constant. Measurements between 1962 and 2015 show that it varies cyclically over a period of 5.9 years. It has also been observed that the Length Of Day (LOD – defined as a frequency measurement such that a positive increase in LOD values means slower Earth rotation rates and therefore longer days) also varies with a similar cycle of 5.9 years. The 5.9 year periodic signal in LOD has previously been interpreted as due to fluid core motions and inner-core coupling. But its correlation to the periodicity of G has raised new issues. The correlation G/LOD yields a result, whose statistical significance is 0.99764 assuming no difference in phase. Scientists are still in the dark as to what causes this. But Vedas not only explain this, but also explain the difference in the G/LOD value.
Though there is no marked boundary in space, the orbits of planets and satellites are well defined. Generally, due to the huge mass of the Sun, the planets are pulled towards it. The gravitational effects between the planets become negligible here. However, the effect of the outer planets are felt on the inner planets, however small. It is also well known that planetary rotation periods vary. Hence, in the Vedic method, an average value of the number of rotations around the Sun is taken over a period of 4.32 million years. During this period, the planets from Mercury to Jupiter move closer to the Sun, so that the Earth comes up to 62902953 km from the Sun and Jupiter comes to 746089634 km from the Sun. On the contrary, Moon moves away to 4705196 km from Earth and Saturn move away to 1854025209 km from the Sun. It is now known that the Moon is moving away from Earth at the rate of 3.78 cm per year. The other results also will come true.
Jupiter being a huge planet, revolves around the Sun 364220 times and Saturn revolves around the Sun 146568 times during a span of 4.32 million years. From this average calculation, the actual revolution period of any given epoch is calculated by applying some corrections. The present revolution period of Jupiter is 11.86 Earth years. That for Saturn is 29.5 Earth years. The planets move around the Sun in circular orbits. However, since the Sun is moving, the center of the circular path is shifting continuously making it elliptical (actually spiral, since it never comes back to the same position). During these 11.86 Earth years, Jupiter comes nearer the Earth to move away again. Both sides of the spiral being symmetrical, the same effect repeats after 5.93 Earth years. This pull of Jupiter influences gravity on Earth in a periodic manner to make the value of G cyclically periodic.
The Saturn being the second largest planet in the Solar system, and it being outside Jupiter, also influences the gravitational constant. They also affect the length of the day by their combined pull. On an average, Jupiter takes nearly 12 years to complete one revolution, whereas Saturn takes about 30 years. Hence after nearly 60 years, they come back to the same position. The cycle then repeats itself. This is called the Jupiterian cycle (बाहर्स्पत्य वर्ष) discussed earlier.
The 60 Samvatsaras are:
1. Prabhava 13. Pramāthin 25. Khara 37. Shobhana 49. Rākshasa
2. Vibhava 14. Vikrama 26. Nandana 38. Krodhin 50. Anala
3. Shukla 15. Vrisha 27. Vijaya 39. Vishvāvasu 51. Pingala
4. Pramoda 16. Chitrabhānu 28. Jaya 40. Parābhava 52. Kālayukti
5. Prajāpati 17. Svabhānu 29. Manmatha 41. Plavanga 53. Siddhārthin
6. Āngirasa 18. Tārana 30. Durmukha 42. Kīlaka 54. Raudra
7. Shrīmukha 19. Pārthiva 31. Hemalambin 43. Saumya 55. Durmati
8. Bhāva 20. Vyaya 32. Vilambin 44. Sādhārana 56. Dundubhi
9. Yuvan 21. Sarvajit 33. Vikārin 45. Virodhikrit 57. Rudhirodgārin
10. Dhātri 22. Sarvadhārin 34. Shārvari 46. Paritāpin 58. Raktāksha
11. Īshvara 23. Virodhin 35. Plava 47. Pramādin 59. Krodhana
12. Bahudhānya 24. Vikrita 36. Shubhakrit 48. Ānanda 60. Kshaya
Once the 60 names are finished, the next year starts with the first name again. This goes on in a cyclic manner.
१. प्रभव, २. विभव, ३ शुक्ल, ४. प्रमोद, ५. प्रजापति, ६. अङ्गिरा, ७. श्रीमुख, ८. भाव, ९. युवा, १०. धाता, ११. ईश्वर, १२. बहुधान्य, १३. प्रमाथी, १४. विक्रम, १५. वृष, १६. चित्रभानु, १७. सुभानु, १८. तारण, १९. पार्थिव, २०. व्यय, २१. सर्वजित्, २२. सर्वधारी, २३. विरोही, २४. विकृत, २५. खर, २६. नन्दन, २७. विजय, २८. जय, २९. मन्मथ, ३०. दुर्मुख, ३१. हेमलम्ब, ३२. विलम्ब, ३३. विकारी, ३४. शर्वरी, ३५. प्लव, ३६. शुभकृत्, ३७. शोभन, ३८. क्रोधी, ३९. विश्वावसु, ४०. पराभव, ४१. प्लवङ्ग, ४२. कीलक, ४३. सौम्य, ४४. साधारण, ४५. विरोधकृत्, ४६. परिधावी, ४७. प्रमादी, ४८. आनन्द, ४९. राक्षस, ५०. नल, ५१. पिङ्गल, ५२. कालयुक्त, ५३. सिद्धार्थ, ५४. रौद्र, ५५. दुर्मति, ५६. दुन्दुभि, ५७. रुधिरोद्गारी, ५८. रक्ताक्ष, ५९. क्रोधन, ६०. क्षय।
The present year is called Pramadi (प्रमादी). This implies carelessness. Hence, many people are dying due to carelessness – avoiding the call for social distancing.