Parāśara Jyotiṣa Course

Year 1
Preparatory
Lesson #2

Yuga Divisions
Sanjay Rath

Devaguru Bṛhaspati Center

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Yuga Divisions
1 Brahma Vidyā ................................................ 3 2.5 The Zodiacs ............................................. 11
1.1 Yuga .......................................................... 3 2.6 Rāśi & Bhāva ........................................... 12
1.2 Kalpa, the day of Brahma .......................... 4 3 Yuga Divisions ............................................. 12
1.3 Experience of Time .................................... 5 3.1 Advent of the Avatāra .............................. 13
2 Brahma's Day ................................................ 5 3.2 Yuga as a Year in higher Loka ................ 13
2.1 Division of the day ..................................... 5 3.3 Yuga Rāśi ................................................ 15
2.2 Manvantara ................................................ 6 3.4 Sub divisions of Yuga .............................. 17
2.3 Four headed Brahma................................. 6 3.5 Yuga Division summary ........................... 18
2.4 Present Age ............................................... 7 4 To-Do List .................................................... 19
2.4.1 Pūrva Āsāḍha nakṣatra ............................ 8 5 Precession of Equinoxes ............................. 20
2.4.2 Saturn Ātmakāraka .................................. 8
2.4.3 Nabhas Yoga - the Sky Map .................... 9
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ॐ गुरवे नमः
om gurave namaḥ

1 Brahma Vidyā
As the creator, Brahma is identified with sunrise and the
knowledge of time (kāla) where the knowledge of action (karma) is
that of Viṣṇu, associated with the blazing mid-day sun. Kāla is
composed of three sounds -

• ka (क) the creator Brahma Prajāpati,

• ā (आ) the sustainer Vāsudeva and
• la (ल) from laya (लय) meaning dissolution, Rudra

Figure 1: Brahma Brahma vidyā is a study of the Vedic calendar and the quality of
Four headed - each facing a
cardinal direction showing the four time. The quality at any point of time is immediately known from
Yuga with Satya in East, Dvāpara
in North, Treta in West and Kali in the pañcāṅga, the five limbs of time measuring each of the five
South
tattva -

1. agni tattva is examined from vāra, the weekday

2. jala tattva is known from tithi, the sun-moon angle
3. pṛthvi tattva is a finer half division of the tithi called karaṇa
4. vāyu tattva is seen from the lunar house called nakṣatra, and
5. ākāśa tattva is examined from a sum of the longitudes of the sun and moon called Yoga

1.1 Yuga
We have seen how the kali yuga is a period of 432,000 years with dvāpara (2) being twice
that at 864,000 years; treta (3) yuga being thrice kali at 1,296,000 years and kṛta (4) yuga
being quadruple the kali yuga period at 1,728,000 years. Together they constitute the
mahāyuga period of 4,320,000 years.

Parāśara and Manu have taught that one daiva vāra (year of gods or year of the sun god) is
a sidereal year in human life (earth time). The simplistic rudimentary equation, 1° Sun
progression = 1 year of human life, is used widely in western astrology. Extending this
equation, a year of bhuva loka (solar year) = 360 years of bhū loka (earth years). Therefore,
when human beings experience the kali yuga period of 432,000 years, the Sun god (deva)
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experiences just 1200 years. [Equation 432,000 human years = 1200 daiva varśa (deva
years)]. Parāśara gives the detailed explanation in the Viṣṇu purāṇa [Book 1, Chapter 3]
starting with two ayana (six month periods) = 1 human year or 1 day of the deva

Table 1: Yuga, Viṣṇu Purāṇa

Saṅdhi Madhya Saṅdhi Period Yuga
Start junction Yuga effects in full (80%) End junction In deva varśa
10% 10%
400 + 4,000 + 400= 4,800 = 1 Kṛta Yuga
300 + 3,000 + 300= 3,600 = 1 Treta Yuga
200 + 2,000 + 200= 2,400 = 1 Dvāpara Yuga
100 + 1,000 + 100= 1,200 = 1 Kali Yuga
12,000 = 4 Yugas
(called caturyuga)
= 1 Mahāyuga
(also called deva yuga)

1.2 Kalpa, the day of Brahma

1000 Mahāyuga = 1 kalpa = 1 day (or one night) of Brahma. The kalpa does not include both
day and night and a full day of Brahma called Brahma ahorātra, is composed of one day and
one night of Brahma of equal duration of 1 kalpa each = 2000 Mahāyuga. In human years
this is an astronomical figure of 4.32 billion years which is, surprisingly close to the estimated
age of the Sun at 4.59 billion years. When the Sun has been around for the same time as
the present day of Brahma, it would be rather arrogant for man to profess that nothing was
happening in this planet before the recent 2000 year history. The huge figures do not end
here and Brahma also has his own month, year with seasons and a life span of a hundred
Brahma years.

• Two kalpa constitute a day and night of Brahma = Brahma ahorātra

• 30 days of Brahma = 1 month of Brahma (259.2 billion human years)
• 12 months of Brahma = 1 year of Brahma (3.1104 trillion human years)
• 50 years of Brahma = 1 parārdha [para + ardha = half of paraloka period]
• 2 parārdha = 100 years of Brahma = 1 Para = 1 Mahākalpa
• This is the lifespan of Brahma = 311.04 trillion human years

Lesson: We have learnt that Brahma is associated with sunrise and this phenomena seems
to give every Brahma a life span of 100 Brahma years. This concept is extended to human
life through a system of cyclic periods called daśā, and the satābdikā daśā (lit. 100 year
daśā) is used when someone is born close to sunrise just like Brahma.
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1.3 Experience of Time

In bhū loka when human beings and creatures experience a full sidereal year, the beings
existing in bhuva loka experience one day. To understand this better, if man were to colonise
Mars having a revolution period of 686 days or 1.88 years, then the experience of repeating
seasons would be at a speed of 1.88 times that of people on earth. Time would seem to
move slowly relative to earth. Beings on bhuva loka plane of consciousness will have life
moving at a speed which is seemingly 360 times slower than that of earth in terms of
experience of time. In a similar vein, those existing in svarga loka which is higher than bhuva
loka would be many times higher and this is the Yuga experience. Now think of Brahma who
exists in Satya loka which is the seventh plane of consciousness above (1) bhū loka (earth
plane), (2) bhuva loka, (3) svarga loka, (4) mahar loka, (5) janar loka, (6) tapar loka and then
finally (7) satya loka. Based on the teachings of Parāśara, we can say that time is extremely
slowly experienced with 1 year of Brahma being 3.1104 trillion human years.

2 Brahma's Day
What is Brahma doing during his 100 year life? What karma is he doing that causes Him to
die after a hundred years of his life? Brahma is the creator and is constantly creating the
universe because of which, this universe is expanding during the day of Brahma and
contracts during the Brahma night when He rests. During the daytime (diva-kalpa) Brahma
creates the world many times but every time his work is destroyed due to imperfection.

2.1 Division of the day

One day of Brahma is divided into 10,000 parts called caraṇa (or pada, feet).

Kṛta yuga = 4 caraṇa = 1,728,000 years

Treta yuga = 3 caraṇa = 1,296,000 years
Dvāpara yuga = 2 caraṇa = 864,000 years
Kali yuga = 1 caraṇa = 432,000 years
Mahāyuga = 10 caraṇa = 4,320,000 years

Therefore in one diva-kalpa 10,000 caraṇa = 1000 mahāyuga of 10 caraṇa each

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2.2 Manvantara
Now, 1 manvantara = 71 mahāyuga = 710 caraṇa. Each Manvantara is ruled by a Manu1,
hence the name manv+antara.

The period between successive manvantara are called Saṅdhi kāla or junction periods
having the same duration as the kṛta yuga = 4 caraṇa. During a Saṅdhi kāla, the entire earth
is submerged in water (and ice called as ice age in modern scientific parlance).

A kalpa starts with one saṇdhi kāla or junction period which is called start junction (adi
saṇdhi). Like the other saṇdhi, the adi saṇdhi also has a duration of 4 caraṇa = 1 kṛta yuga
period. Thereafter there are 14 manvantara each followed by a saṇdhi (junction) of 4 caraṇa.
Summing up, there are 14 manvantara and 15 saṇdhi in one diva-kalpa during which
Brahma plays with creating the universe as each time they are dissolved at the saṇdhi kāla
and recreated at the end of the saṇdhi. This Brahma karma seems like building castles in the
air - consider making 14 projects everyday and dissolving them before finally retiring for the
night. At the end of each manvantara, the physical universe is not destroyed but due to lack
of Brahma tejas, the Sun loses its creative fire and the world enters the age of ice where it is
submerged in water. Saṇdhi kāla can be treated as the 15 breaks that Brahma takes during
the day and these breaks cause the creative fire to extinguish. The saṇdhi replenishes the
creative fire (Brahma tejas) due to rest.

2.3 Four headed Brahma

Brahma has only four heads to create with which hold the complete
knowledge of the four elements - fire, earth, air and water but lacks the
complete knowledge (truth force) of the fifth head - the ethereal head
which was cut off by Bhairava who emanated from the angry eyebrows of
Lord Śiva2 when Brahma was caught lying to try and defeat Viṣṇu in a

1 hence the name manu + antara.

(Williams) mfn. thinking , wise , intelligent; The name Manu is especially applied to 14 successive mythical
progenitors and sovereigns of the earth, described Mn.I.63 and in later works as creating and supporting this
world through successive Antara or long periods of time. The first Manu is called Svāyambhuva, the Self-existent,
who produced 10 Prajāpati or Maharṣi (Marīci - lit. Light) and wrote the Manu saṁhitā. The next 5 Manu are
called Svārociśa , Auttami, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākshusha. The present 7th Manu is called Vaivasvata Manu.

2 Śiva Purāṇa
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duel. It is the lack of this ākāśa tattva that causes his creations to get destroyed.

Lesson: Every material object created shall face destruction as they are created by human
beings, the sons of Manu in the lineage of Brahma due to lack of this truth force. Conversely,
when any object, idea or even a name, lives beyond expected limits, it has a truth force
emanating from the ākāśa tattva that causes it to survive way beyond physical death. This is
the essence of the mantra ॐ तत् सत् (om tat sat) which causes the creation to have sparks
from the fifth head, like that of Śiva, the five headed lord of perfect knowledge.

1 Kalpa = A daytime of Brahma = 14 manvantara + 15 saṇdhi

= [14 x (71 mahāyuga3)] + [15 x (4 caraṇa4)
= 994 mahāyuga + 60 caraṇa
= 994 mahāyuga + 6 x 10 caraṇa
= 994 mahāyuga + 6 mahāyuga5
= 1000 mahāyuga
In this manner not only have we established that a diva-kalpa of Brahma is a thousand
mahāyuga, but we also have the manvantara and the saṇdhi (junction periods between
them) clearly calculated.

2.4 Present Age

The present manvantara was created with the 7th Manu called Vaivasvata6 Manu and the
date 3102 BC is traditionally accepted as the start of the Kali Yuga. At least mathematically
after Surya Siddhānta (and others) Kali Yuga began at midnight (00:00) on 18 February

3 substitute 1 manvantara = 71 mahāyuga

4 substitute 1 saṇdhi = 4 caraṇa
5 substitute 10 caraṇa = 1 mahāyuga
6 The present manvantara has the 7th Manu called Vaivasvata, Sun-born, or from his piety or Satya-vrata, is
regarded as the progenitor of the present race of living beings. Like the Noah of the Old Testament he and the
Veda was preserved from a great flood by Viṣṇu in the form of a fish.
Vaivasvata is also described as one of the 12 Āditya related to the sixth sign Virgo and among the 8 Āditya, He
guards the southern direction of death. This makes him (RV. viii , 27-31) the brother of Yama, who as a son of
the Sun is also called Vaivasvata, and also as the founder and first king of Ayodhyā, the kings of the solar
dynasty. He is also said to be the father of Ilā who married Budha, son of the Moon, the two great solar and lunar
races being thus nearly related to each other.
It is predicted that the 8th Manu or first of the future Manus [Viṣṇu Purāṇa III.2, will be Sāvarṇi. He is to be
followed by the 9th Dakṣa-sāvarṇi etc.
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3102 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar, or 23 January 3102 BC in the proleptic Gregorian
calendar.

2.4.1 Pūrva Āsāḍha nakṣatra

Rashi (D-1) General Rashi (D-1) General Rashi (D-1) General
pp MeMa VL Me
Mo Jp a4 a10
gl GL
a6 Su
Ve Ke VL a3 Jp Mo Ma
a5 11
10
As
8
7 a9
a2 Ke Ve Su a5
Sa Ra Sa gl a11 Sa gl
Me 9
UL a5 mn
Ma 12
3
6 a7
Su AL
Mo HL
HL AL
Ve 1 5 AL HL As
Jp 2 4 a9
Ke GL a9 a7 Ra GL
As UL
a8 Ra UL
VL a7 pp
Panchanga & Yogi Kali Yuga
Pla Dg Mn AK Nak Co W AV 6Bal Vim Day Lord, Mth Jupiter Chaitra 2/18/-3102 Friday
Asc 16° 28' PAs 42 Tithi 1 (96%) Bright Half 0:00:00 IshtKal 42g53p27v
Sun 22° 7' Am Rev D 27 82 11.1 Karana 2 Bava Ujjain, INDIA
Moo 3° 39' DK Ash D 25 134 13.2 Yoga 27 (68%) Vaidhriti- 75°46' 0"E 23°11' 0"N
Mar 18° 34' BK Rev 4 D 27 137 13.8 Nakshatra 1 Ashwini Time Zone 5: 3: 4 E
Mer 7° 22' MK U.b S 27 119 10.8 Pada 2 (9%) Hora Ven No daylight saving
Jup 5° 1' PK Ash D 25 81 9.7 Sound che(ch) Ayanamsa -47°25' 6" Lahiri 2000
Ven 4° 52' GK Ash D 25 189 16.9 Devata Ashwins Muh: Roh MC 16° 59' Virg, Sid time 8: 7:27
Sat 24° 4' AK P.b W 40 157 16.9 Overall Auspicious Sun Rise 6:50, Set 17:44
Rah 14° 43' Swt D 31 Gandanta: None Balance of Ket Dasha 5Y 0M 30D
Ket 14° 43' Bhr D 25 DagdhRashis Libr Cap (Underlined planets in charts are retrograde)
Yogi Point: 29° 6' Gem
Yogi: Jup AvaYogi: Sun Duplicate: Mer

This is what the chart for the beginning of Kali Yuga looks like with the It is possible that some
of you may not fully
Ascendant in Pūrva Āsāḍha nakṣatra in Dhanus rāśi. A nakṣatra is a understand what is
written here but never-
lunar house. The Moon traverses the 360° zodiac in about 27 days and
the-less, read along
each day is said to be one lunar house. This is the fixed sidereal zodiac and become familiar
with the words and
with the stars of the sky residing in them and each lunar house called terminology used for
nakṣatra is 13°20' [360° ÷ 27 = 13°20']. We learn about these nakṣatra better understanding.
You may revisit these
in another lesson but suffice is to say that the Pūrva Āsāḍha nakṣatra is lessons again on a later
date when you have
closely linked to Kali Yuga7.
better understanding of
the subject.
2.4.2 Saturn Ātmakāraka
All charts (forced definition for horoscopes, sky maps in Vedic Astrology) can be broadly
classified into two groups based on the teachings of the Bhagavat Gītā - (1) living beings and
(2) non-living, inanimate objects etc. The primary difference is that the living beings have the
ability of procreation while the non-living cannot procreate.

Vedic Astrology uses the seven planets from the Sun to Saturn, in the order of the weekdays
and two nodes called Rāhu (dragons head) and Ketu (dragons tail). These are called the

7 Refer (Rath, Bṛhat Nakṣatra)

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navagraha and the standard order of writing them is - Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter,
Venus, Saturn, Rāhu, Ketu. Since the nodes do not have physical bodies, they are not
considered in the first definition of the self - the physical body which identifies one being from
another. These are the seven planets from Sun to Saturn classified as Sthira (fixed) kāraka
or fixed body significators.

For the non-living world and mundane charts of nations, and specific events like Kali Yuga,
we use these seven as the second definition of the self - the soul significations called
charakāraka. However, we need to add the procreation power for the living world and for this
we use eight graha instead of seven bringing Rāhu into the picture.

Saturn, the slowest (hence oldest) of the planets is the ātmakāraka for Kali Yuga. What this
means we shall learn at a later date, but we do know that this planet is cold as it is most
distant from the Sun. In the age of kali we can experience a coldness in people as they are
without energy and become weak and behave like old incapable, sick people. If Sunlight is
life, Saturn will indicate absence of light being at such a great distance and this can translate
to incomplete knowledge, more material and less spiritual. It can also imply living a very dark
life. Saturn has great storms constantly raging on its surface and this can indicate a stormy
life full of trials and tribulations for the planet during the Kali yuga. In this manner we learn to
map attributes of the planet into symbols and signs of life on earth.

What is this ātmakāraka? How did I find Saturn to be ātmakāraka?

Look at this list of planets and their longitudes. You will notice that
Saturn has the highest degrees. When considering Rāhu (for the
living), reduce its degrees from 30° - let us leave this for a later date.

2.4.3 Nabhas Yoga - the Sky Map

As children we remember the times when we would look at the sky and marvel at the
formations of the clouds trying to identify them as the face of a man, a deer or a creature or
objects. When planets form such arrays in the sky maps, they are called ākṛti yoga where
ākṛti means form, figure, shape or appearance. Parāśara has taught Nabhas Yoga which is
a study of formations in the sky. Nabhas literally means sky. This is an important lesson for a
later year, but for now we study one such sky formation which is related to the Yuga and is
called Yuga Yoga. The word yoga simply means the coming together of two or more
elements to form a combination which can have a good or evil ramification or some
meaning. It implies joining, working together and influencing each other. The word Yuga
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means two - the number 2. A Yuga yoga is formed when the seven bodily planets from Sun
to Saturn are in two houses (others translate this as sign). Now look at a modified chart
called Bhāva chakra where the Ascendant called Lagna marks a vital starting point and there
is no turning back or back links that carry forward something. In such charts a house is
defined as 30° reckoned from the Ascendant degree. Therefore, the first house will be
Sagittarius 16° to Capricorn 16°. The second house will be from Capricorn 16° to Aquarius
16° and so on. There are many ways to draw bhāva charts, and all of them are correct so
long as we know where to use which one of them.
Kali Yuga Yoga - Hs start from Asc Kali Yuga Yoga: Hs start Asc Kali Yuga Yoga: Hs = Asc+30
Ke Ve Mo Mo Ke
Ma Jp
Ve Ma
Su
10 8 Jp Su
Sa 11 7 Me
As Sa
Me Me
Mo Ke 9
Sa
Ve Ma 12
3
6 Ra 0
Jp Su

1 5 As
2 4

As Ra
Ra

In this chart, all graha (excluding the nodes Rāhu and Ketu) are in two houses - the 3rd
house coinciding with the sign Aquarius and the 4th house coinciding with the sign Pisces.
This placement of seven graha in two houses is called Yuga Yoga.

These charts speak volumes about the nature of

the present Kali yuga and teachings of the
classical spiritual literature can be verified with
these charts, which we leave for a later date
when we are more ready to revisit this topic.
Suffice is to say that the classical authors of the
traditions in every corner of India did not make
any mistake when they stated that the Kali Yuga
started on the midnight of Chaitra śukla pratipada in 3102 BC. The place for the drawing
these charts is the seat of Śrī Mahākāla Śiva at Ujjain, India.

We do know that there are two factors to the unfolding of experience of life - kāla and karma.
This chart gives the kāla or time factor which has been correctly mathematically computed. It
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does not give the karma factor. The energy of Kali yuga can enter this planet in some
strength only on the departure of the yuga avatāra Śrī Kṛṣṇa, which happened at a later
date. It is interesting to study the reasons due to which Kṛṣṇa decided to leave this planet
and dwell on the nature of the prevailing energy that was about to enter. Read the Viṣṇu
purāṇa or other sources to know about the manner in which Kṛṣṇa left this world - about the
arrow of the hunter. Who was this hunter? Śiva? And what is the name of Śiva as hunter?
Read about what happened to Arjuna and dwell on the nature of the energy of Kali where
the righteous and chivalrous will fall to the sticks and clubs of the thugs or commoners. What
will happen to the real kings symbolised by the Sun and Moon when Saturn, the shadow
shall reign as the king of this period (chara ātmakāraka is king).

2.5 The Zodiacs

A sign or zodiac sign is one of the twelve fixed signs of the
sidereal zodiac reckoned from Aries (as first or head) to
Pisces ( as twelfth or feet). These signs are copied into the
tropical zodiac where they either lag behind the sidereal
signs of similar name or seem to be ahead of them due to
an astronomical phenomena called precession of the
equinoxes which causes ayanāṁśa - an angular
displacement of the starting point of the tropical zodiac from
its true sidereal counterpart. The moving tropical zodiac is
like a shadow cast by the fixed sidereal zodiac. Just as shadows changes in length with the
sun and becomes long at sunset, so also this angular distance called ayanāṁśa, which is
the length of the shadow of the sidereal zodiac cast as the tropical zodiac, is zero when the
zodiacs coincide. Then it gradually increases to a separation of 180° in about 1300 years
and starts to reduce becoming zero again in about 2600 years. Refer Appendix-1 for more
information.

What is the difference between a house and a sign? A sign is a zodiac sign which is fixed
relative to the zodiac. The signs of the zodiac are of fixed angular longitude starting at 0° of
zodiac. This zero degree point is opposite (pakṣa, half where there are two pakṣa) the
midpoint of the nakṣatra (lunar house) Chitrā and is termed Chitrā pakṣa. Each zodiac sign
has an angular measure of 30° reckoned from this starting point and these signs have
various names. They are called Rāśi.
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2.6 Rāśi & Bhāva

On the other hand, a house is constructed from a viewpoint, and there can be differing
viewpoints. If a man were to stand on the exact longitude of the lagna and were to look
forward (zodiacal direction - a view considered similar to that of Brahma), then from his
point, the first 30° would be the first house, and we could map the twelve houses in this
manner drawing a House chart called bhāva chakra, where houses are called bhāva.

Another person would prefer to face upwards instead of forward and would be able to see
the entire sign on which he is standing. He has two options - (1) in which he accepts the sign
divisions as houses which makes rāśi = bhāva or (2) considers 15° on either side of his point
(lagna) to be half the bhāva. There are many other methods and we shall learn about them
in this course. Realise that a house (bhāva) emulates a sign (rāśi) using the intelligence of
the being and its viewpoint, and need not be the same as the rāśi.

Table 2: Rāśi: Zodiac signs

No Sanskrit Name Western/Greek Name Tattva Quality Ruling
(Element) Planet
1 Meṣa "ram" Aries (Κριός "ram") Tejas (Fire) Cara (Movable) Mars
2 Vṛṣabha "bull" Taurus (Ταύρος "bull") Pṛthvi (Earth) Sthira (Fixed) Venus
3 Mithuna "twins" Gemini (Δίδυμοι "twins") Vāyu (Air) Dvisvabhāva Mercury
(Dual)
4 Karka "crab" Cancer (Καρκίνος "crab") Jala (Water) Cara (Movable) Moon
5 Siṃha "lion" Leo (Λέων "lion") Tejas (Fire) Sthira (Fixed) Sun
6 Kanyā "girl" Virgo (Παρθένος "virgin") Pṛthvi (Earth) Dvisvabhāva Mercury
(Dual)
7 Tula "balance" Libra (Ζυγός "balance") Vāyu (Air) Cara (Movable) Venus
8 Vṛścika "scorpion" Scorpio (Σκoρπιός "scorpion") Jala (Water) Sthira (Fixed) Mars
9 Dhanus "bow" Sagittarius (Τοξότης "archer") Tejas (Fire) Dvisvabhāva Jupiter
(Dual)
10 Makara "sea- Capricorn (Αἰγόκερως "goat- Pṛthvi (Earth) Cara (Movable) Saturn
monster" horned")
11 Kumbha "pitcher" Aquarius (Ὑδροχόος "water- Vāyu (Air) Sthira (Fixed) Saturn
pourer")
12 Mīna "fish" Pisces (Ἰχθείς "fish") Jala (Water) Dvisvabhāva Jupiter
(Dual)

3 Yuga Divisions
Of greater relevance to life on earth is the division of the yuga into smaller time frames. One
of the finer methods of doing this is using the nakṣatra movement of the saptarṣi who pass
through the constellations in the reverse starting from Magha at the beginning of Kali Yuga
and ending in Pūrva Āsāḍha at the end of the Yuga [by definition]. Pūrva Āsāḍha becomes
the Kali Yuga nakṣatra and is also the lagna nakṣatra at the start of the Yuga. The periods
have been specified to the nearest decade. For example, the period from 1999-2009 was
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ruled by Bharaṇī nakṣatra having Yama, the god of the dead as its deity and the butchers
knife as its symbol. This was a decade where the world saw the war against terror following
the 9/11 attack on the United States. With the advent of Aśvinī nakṣatra this year, we
announced this Parāśara Jyotiṣa course as Aśvinī is very beneficial for learning astrology
and the arts of healing. Details of this system must be learnt from Bṛhat Nakṣatra.

3.1 Advent of the Avatāra

Before going into dividing the Yuga, we need to understand the advent of the ten yuga
avatāra forms of Viṣṇu, the sustainer of the universe.

Table 3: Avatāra - Graha

Period Yuga First Division Number Avatāra Graha
In deva varśa of Avatāra
4,800 = 1 Kṛta Yuga 4 X 1200 4 Matsya Ketu
Kūrma Saturn
Varāha Rāhu
Nṛsiṁha Mars
3,600 = 1 Treta Yuga 3 X 1200 3 Vāmana Jupiter
Paraśurāma Venus
Rāma Sun
2,400 = 1 Dvāpara Yuga 2 X 1200 2 Balarāma Mercury
Kṛṣṇa Moon
1,200 = 1 Kali Yuga 1 X 1200 1 Kalki Lagna
12,000 = 4 Yugas = 1 Mahāyuga 10 X 1200 10
(called caturyuga) (Dasavatāra)
The Yuga avatāra come at the end of the Yuga cycle.

• Kṛta Yuga has 4 X1200 daiva varśa and has the advent of four yuga avatāra;
• Treta Yuga has 3 X 1200 daiva varśa and has three yuga avatāra;
• Dvāpara yuga has 2 X 1200 daiva varśa and has two yuga avatāra while
• Kali Yuga has 1 X 1200 daiva varśa and one yuga avatāra has been predicted at the end
of the period.

3.2 Yuga as a Year in higher Loka

The 1200 daiva varśa defines a year in a higher plane of consciousness, perhaps that of the
seers (ṛṣi). Divide the 1200 daiva varśa into 12 rāśi (signs). These are the 12 sun signs
called dvādasa Āditya8 with each Āditya ruling a period of 100 daiva varśa9. The order of
the12 Āditya is fixed with Dhātā as the first and Viṣṇu as the last.

8 Sathapatha Brahmana 14.16: katame āditya iti. dvādasamasah samvatsarasya

Aeta Adityah aete hidam sarvamadadaanayanti taddwididam sarvamadadaana yanti tasmaditya iti.
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Table 4: Dvādasa āditya and Rāśi

No Āditya Other Sanskrit Western Period

names Daiva years
1 Dhātṛ Savitṛ, Meṣa Aries 0 100 A new world order starts

Dakṣa
2 Aryaman Vṛṣabha Taurus 100 200 The gray colour in the first and
last Āditya show the Yuga saṇdhi
3 Mitra Mithuna Gemini 200 300
of 100 daiva varśa.
4 Varuṇa Aruṇa Karka Cancer 300 400 The junction between the signs
5 Indra Śakra Siṃha Leo 400 500 Meṣa (Aries) and Mīna (Pisces) is

6 Vivasvat Kanyā Virgo 500 600 called gaṇḍānta and symbolises

an end or destruction for the
7 Pūṣan Tula Libra 600 700
purpose of rebirth or new world
8 Parjanya Vṛścika Scorpio 700 800
9 Aṁśa Aṅśa Dhanus Sagittarius 800 900
10 Bhaga Makara Capricorn 900 1000
11 Tvaṣṭṛ Kumbha Aquarius 1000 1100
12 Viṣṇu Mīna Pisces 1100 1200 Advent of Viṣṇu avatāra is just
before the end of this period
Tṛ - root of tāraṅa for avatāra

Dvādasa means twelve and māsa means the month – thus the Dvādasa (twelve) Āditya are the twelve months
represented by the twelve signs in the zodiac. The month is variously defined in Jyotiṣa and this specific
reference indicates the motion of the during the period between two consecutive conjunctions with the Moon.
This is the synodic month and is about 29.5 days, which for convenience is taken as 30 days. Since the average
geo-centric motion of the Sun during 30 days is 30 degrees, this defines the Saura māsa (solar month) which is
the third principle of Jyotiṣa. Twelve such ’30 degree motions’ result in the Sun returning to its original position
and this defines the saṁvatsara or ‘solar year’. Thus, the third principle of Jyotiṣa is that of time & space which is
defined by the dvādasa āditya (twelve signs of the zodiac with the Sun as their overlord). The solar month and
solar year are the foundation of Vedic astrology and that further sub-divisions of time are to be determined based
on solar motion. The word saṁvatsara means ‘year’ and specifically ‘solar year’ as this is based on the Dvādasa
Āditya. This knowledge is of vital importance in determining the period of influence of the planets called ‘daśā’.
Often astrologers are bogged down with misconceptions about using the solar or lunar year or even other
variously defined time periods. This indicates the lack of appreciation of this principle of time & space relationship
as defined by the Dvādasa Āditya.
They are called Āditya as they are the distributors of food and all materials required for creation and sustenance
(Dana) as well as inspiration, exhilaration, intoxication, sexual vitality and vigour. The Āditya are the givers and
everything comes from them. Thus, the twelve signs represent all the material forms of creation.
9 and once again we have a definition of 100 year cycle called satābdikā daśā. Sata means 100, abda means
year, daśā is state and time i.e. both kāla and karma.
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It is evident that the Viṣṇu avatāra (Yuga saṅtāraṅa purpose = Yuga avatāra) comes at the
end of this Yuga cycle of 1200 daiva varśa during the 100 daiva varśa of Pisces which is
lorded by Viṣṇu Āditya. This sign symbolises the dissolution by water (pralaya) as well as
other forms of ending of things.

Notes: The names of Āditya used for the daily Sūrya namaskāra performed at sunrise and having ten yogic
postures in successive flowing movements are in the mantra. These names seem different form the twelve āditya
names used above. There are various lists and what is important is to understand that there can be different
names for the same form. The 12 mantras for Sūrya namaskāra:
ॐ िमतर्ाय नमः aum mitrāya namah
ॐ रवये नमः aum ravaye namah
ॐ सूयार्य नमः aum sūryāya namaḥ
ॐ भानवे नमः aum bhānave namaḥ
ॐ खगय नमः aum khagāya namaḥ
ॐ पुष्णे नमः aum puṣṇe namah
ॐ िहरण्यगभार्य नमः aum hiraṇyagarbhāya namaḥ
ॐ मािरचये नमः aum mārichaye namaḥ
ॐ आिदत्याय नमः aum ādityāya namaḥ
ॐ सािवतर्े नमः aum sāvitré namaḥ
ॐ अकार्य नमः aum ārkāya namaḥ
ॐ भास्कराय नमः aum bhāskarāya namaḥ

3.3 Yuga Rāśi

A hundred daiva years is 36,000 earthly or human years. What exactly happens in this
36,000 years? Now, if the ayanāṁśa precession is said to have an average of 24000 years,
then this can mean that there is a flip of the tropical and sidereal zodiac after 12,000 years
(precession 180°) where the Aries of the sidereal zodiac is coinciding with Libra of the
tropical zodiac.

Figure 2: Understanding Precession and Yuga

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The sidereal zodiac is symbolic of the interaction between bhū loka and svarga loka i.e. the
earth plane and the universe beyond the solar system where the stellar maps are drawn
from. The tropical zodiac is symbolic of the interaction between bhū loka and bhuva loka i.e.
earth plane of consciousness and the solar system. This is what is experienced in the world
although the truth is in the heavens beyond.

When the tropical zodiac (symbolising the shadow which manifests the seasons and
experiences in our world) coincides with the sidereal zodiac, we find that the signs overlap
and the impulses of the sidereal zodiac are correctly transported into the tropical zodiac.
This is Kṛta Yuga and the impulses are true in that the overlap is a correct portrayal of the
truth in the heavens. Aries becomes the kṛta yuga rāśi and is also called satya yuga because
of this correct portrayal. Reckoned from Tropical Aries to Sidereal Pisces (pralaya rāśi), all
12 signs are covered and 100% pure knowledge prevails.

Time passes and in about 600 years the tropical zodiac has moved away from the sidereal
zodiac where tropical Aries is not at 90° inclination and maps into sidereal Cancer. This
tends to distort the truth by 25% and only 75% perfect spiritual knowledge is still possible.
Cancer becomes the Treta Yuga rāśi where the bull stands in 3 legs (75% dharma power).
Knowledge of the signs Aries, Taurus and Gemini is missing as reckoned from tropical
Cancer to sidereal Pisces (pralaya-end sign), only 9 signs are covered instead of 12 signs.

In this manner when the tropical zodiac is 180° opposite the sidereal zodiac, the truth force
power is just 50% - tropical Aries to sidereal Pisces is just six signs out of twelve. Libra is the
dvāpara yuga rāśi. Finally in Kali Yuga, only 25% power remains as three signs intervene
between tropical Aries (now mapping into sidereal Capricorn) and sidereal Pisces. Capricorn
becomes the Kali Yuga rāśi.

Table 5: Yuga Rāśi

Yuga Sign Rāśi Daytime ~ Veda

Kṛta Aries Meṣa Sunrise Ṛk
Treta Cancer Karkaṭa Midday Yajur
Dvāpara Libra Tula Sunset Sāma
Kali Capricorn Makara Midnight Atharva
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3.4 Sub divisions of Yuga

It is evident therefore that we can continue to divide the Āditya periods of 100 daiva varśa
(36000 years) into smaller divisions so long as we are considering the energy of the signs as
mapping into the Yuga. For this we need to work back using the human experience period
where the pūrṇa āyus (complete human longevity) is 120 years in Kali Yuga.

Table 6: Kali Yuga Āyus (Chakra)

Kali Āyus 1 x 120 = 120 years [Chakra]

Dvāpara Āyus 2 x 120 = 240 years
Treta Āyus 3 X 120 = 360 years
Kṛta Āyus 4 X 120 = 480 years
Yoga Āyus 10 X 120 = 1200 years [Mahā Chakra]
This period of a thousand years (or say 1200 years more precisely) is the longevity of sages
and advanced souls during Kali Yuga. In the negative, snakes also have longevity of 1000
years showing that much suffering.

Chakra is a period of 120 years which is equal to 12 saṅdhyā daśā10 of 10 years each.

Mahā Chakra is a period of 1200 years which is equal to 10 Chakra periods of 120 years
each following the pattern of the Yugas. This defines the memory of the human being, as
sages sit on the head and the memory or well recorded history is fairly accurate for this
period. Beyond this everything becomes distorted and seems like a myth, belonging to
another reality or a dream world. All concepts and dreams of reincarnation are limited to this
period for individuals, they cannot think beyond this about their own existence.

Daiva Chakra (Svarga) is a period of 12000 years which is equal to 10 Mahā Chakra of 1200
years each. They follow the pattern of the Yugas in that the Svarga Chakra11 (12000 years)
= 1 (Kali) Mahā Chakra + 2 (Dvāpara) Mahā Chakra + 3 (Treta) Mahā Chakra + 4 (Kṛta)
Mahā Chakra. This marks a major shift in the ayana of the solar system itself.

Beyond Svarga are the Guṇa - Rajas (hrīṁ śaktī), Sattva (śrīṁ śaktī) and Tamas (klīṁ śaktī)
and the Svarga Chakra has three cycles of each of these guṇa in one major Guṇa cycle of

10 Saṅdhyā literally means evening and refers to the energy of Kali Yuga. Parāśara teaches this daśā system.
Each period of one of the 12 signs is equal to 10 years giving a full longevity of 120 years.
11 We have used this name Svarga Chakra as the name Daiva Chakra tends to confuse with Daiva Varśa.
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36,000 years. This is equal to one Āditya period of 1000 daiva varśa or 36000 years. Learn
more about guṇa to understand the impact of these periods.

3.5 Yuga Division summary

• 1 Saṁvatsara Yuga = 5 years
• 2 Saṁvatsara Yuga = 10 years = 1 Saṅdhyā daśā
• 12 Saṅdhyā Daśā = 120 years = 1 Chakra (Manuśya Pūrṇa Āyus)
• 10 Chakra = 4+3+2+1 Chakra = 1200 years = 1 Mahā Chakra
• 10 Mahā Chakra = 4+3+2+1 Mahā Chakra = 12,000 years = 1 Svarga Chakra
• 3 Svarga Chakra = Rajas + Sattva + Tamas cycles = 36,000 years = 1 Āditya
• 12 Āditya = 12 X 36,000 = 432,000 years = 1 Yuga

Therefore, if Kali Yuga started in 3102 BC, then the first Āditya (Dhātṛ) is for 36,000 years
from 3102 BC to 32,898 AD. In this period or the first Āditya the sign Aries shall dominate in
energy.

This first sub-period (Āditya) is divided into three parts which shall see an intensity of Rajas,
Sattva and Tamas guṇa prevailing, in that order. The Rajas dominance is from 3102 BC to
8898 AD, Sattva dominates till 20,898 AD and then Tamas dominates till 32,898 AD. In the
year 2009 AD, we continue to feel the intense impulse of the Rajas guṇa.

The first sub-sub period (Guṇa - Rajas) is divided into ten parts of Mahā Chakra each having
1200 years. The first four Mahā Chakra have Kṛta energy, the next three have Treta energy,
the next two have Dvāpara energy and the last one has Kali Mahā Chakra energy. These
periods, reckoned from the start of Kali Yuga at 3102 BC are

• Kṛta Mahā Chakra 4800 Years 3102 BC - 1698 AD

• Treta Mahā Chakra 3600 Years 1698 - 5298 AD
• Dvāpara Mahā Chakra 2400 Years 5298 - 7698 AD
• Kali Mahā Chakra 1200 Years 7698 - 8898 AD

In the recent history of man, the year 1698 was a turning point as the Industrial revolution of
the 18th and 19th centuries, following this year, completely transformed the world. The
saṇdhi period of this Treta Mahā Chakra would be for 300 years from 1698 - 1998 AD. Broad
three part division of Mahā Chakra (1) 1698 AD + Saṇdhi 300 = 1998 AD (2) 1998 AD +
Madhya 3000 = 4998 AD (3) 4998 AD + Saṇdhi 300 = 5298 AD. By another calculation we
had arrived at 1999 AD as a turning point (using nakṣatra).
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Of course the natural question would be, why not carry this forward into the Chakra and
determine the centuries and even fine tune it to years within the centuries. But that is beyond
our introductory purview of Yuga division.

4 To-Do List
The Appendix-1 to this Lesson is incomplete. The students of this Note: There are no
marks for these
course are epected to work together and finalise this. Each group shall questions and to-do
lists. It just tells us how
submit its version to their mentor and the mentors shall finalise the
you are shaping up
document to be appended. besides getting your
mind to learn to think in
abstract terms.
There are a number of words in this lesson which are new to you and
which need further clarifications. For every word that you do not know, create a new page in
the WiKi12, look up the meaning in websites and dictionaries, and add it to the Wiki page.
After you have completed 12 pages, report to your work (links) to the Parāśara Horā Yahoo
group13. If another page is already existing, you can change it or add to it. This does count
as your contribution provided it is substantial.

What are 60 year cycles or Jovian years? How do they match up to the Chakra of 120 years
and Saṅdhyā daśā of 10 years? Any ideas - share them with your group or upload them to
the files area of Yahoo Group.

12 http://jaiminisutra.com/sutra or click on the Wiki Link on top of the WebPage at http://parasarahora.com

13 not a member yet!? Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/parasarahora
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Appendix-1

5 Precession of Equinoxes
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