The breakdown of time as a component is very fascinating in the vedic sphere. The division of time from a higher level to the minutest level is indeed hair raising and you'll get alarmed at how atomically intricate the sages went with the lowest metric of time recorded to a depth underneath of up to a staggering 1/60750th of a second.
Let's say for instance that someone were born on the 4th of June 1986 at 10:05 PM in Chennai, India. Just by classifying on a broad scale of time we can perhaps say that the person was born in:
Akshaya Varsha (60th of 60 years)
Uttara Ayana (1st of 2 Ayanas)
Vasantha Rutu (1st of 6 seasons)
Vaisakha Masa (2nd of 12 months)
Krishna Paksha (2nd of 2 fortnights)
Buddha Vara (4th of 7 days)
Ratri Samay (2nd of 2 times of a day)
Roga Gowri Panchang (3rd of 8 parts during night time of a day)
Shani Hora (17th of 24 hours of a day)
If someone were to ask you the time in which you were born you can always flummox anyone by stating in detail the time period in which you took birth on this earth. You can even add the details of the Nakshatra, Tithi, Karana, Yoga and various other measures as an extra fillip.
These are just various layers and from Paksha onwards it could even take another off shoot route by going in another direction such as the Ahoratra, Muhurtha, Ghati et al. But on a broad classification, at least to within an hours time the classification listed draws down to a pretty finite level. I shall now explain some important components of time by first listing down a summary on a high level followed by explanation on the components.
A time cycle consists of 60 years and can also translate to 5 cycles of Jupiter. It is based on a rough estimate of the time taken by the 2 biggies Jupiter and Saturn to come together which happens approximately once in 60 years. Jupiter takes roughly 1 year or 12 months in a sign and hence takes 12 years to complete the zodiac. Saturn on the other hand takes 2.5 years or 30 months and hence it takes 30 years to go around the zodiac. The lowest common multiple of 12 and 30 happens to be 60 and hence once every 60 years you would see Jupiter and Saturn crossing each other's path.
The first year of the cycle is called 'Prabhava' and the last year of the cycle is termed 'Akshaya'. The current 60 year cycle runs from 1987-88 to 2046-47. Now these 60 years by themselves are divided into 3 parts ruled by the trinity with the first 20 years ruled by Brahma, the next 20 years by Vishnu and the last 20 years by Shiva.
A Samvatsara is said to begin immediately after Ammavasya in the Tithi of Shukla Paksha Pratipada in the lunar month of Chaitra. This is followed mostly in the Northern part of India but however sections of South India believe that a year starts when Sun enters Mesha in the month of Chithirai. This difference of opinion could lead to a minor difference in the start of a new year based on whether lunar or solar calendars have been adopted.
Ayana (Northern/Southern movement of Sun):
An Ayana is basically 2 half years within a year known as the solar half and lunar half. It depends on the Sun's course of movement. The 2 Ayana's are termed Uttara Ayana (solar half) ruled by Sun and Dakshina Ayana (lunar half) ruled by Moon.
Uttara Ayana - This is the solar half of the year which takes place with Sun's Northward course from winter solstice to summer solstice where the days are said to be lengthier. In simple parlance, it is the time of the year when Sun enters Capricorn zodiac as per the sidereal year which would roughly be around the mid of January.
Dakshina Ayana - This is the lunar half of the year which takes place with Sun's Southward course from summer solstice to winter solstice where the nights are said to be lengthier. In simple parlance, it is the time of the year when Sun enters into Cancer zodiac as per the sidereal year which would roughly be around the mid of July.
Rutu (Seasons):
There are 6 types of seasons in the calendar denoting different meanings as mentioned below:
Vasantha - Spring (Ruled by Venus)
Grishma - Summer (Ruled by Sun, Mars)
Varsha - Monsoon/Rainy Season (Ruled by Moon)
Sharad - Autumn (Ruled by Mercury)
Hemanta - Winter (Ruled by Jupiter)
Sisira - Prevernal/Cold Season (Ruled by Saturn)
Vasantha Ruthu is said to correlate with the beginning of the year whereas Sisira Ruthu takes place during the end of the year. Each Rutu is said to last for 2 lunar months. In down south however due to change in climatic conditions, there tends to be a small shift with regard to the hot and cold portion of the year. Since Grishma is said to be the summer season and tends to begin in and around April, the solar months Chithirai and Vaikasi (Mid April to mid June) are associated with it and likewise Varsha is tagged along with the solar months of Aani and Aadi (Mid June to mid August).
Masa (Months):
There are 12 months in a year and the lunar calendar is the one which is followed in vogue. There are 2 types of traditions followed with regard to the following of the Lunar months viz
Let's say for instance that someone were born on the 4th of June 1986 at 10:05 PM in Chennai, India. Just by classifying on a broad scale of time we can perhaps say that the person was born in:
Akshaya Varsha (60th of 60 years)
Uttara Ayana (1st of 2 Ayanas)
Vasantha Rutu (1st of 6 seasons)
Vaisakha Masa (2nd of 12 months)
Krishna Paksha (2nd of 2 fortnights)
Buddha Vara (4th of 7 days)
Ratri Samay (2nd of 2 times of a day)
Roga Gowri Panchang (3rd of 8 parts during night time of a day)
Shani Hora (17th of 24 hours of a day)
If someone were to ask you the time in which you were born you can always flummox anyone by stating in detail the time period in which you took birth on this earth. You can even add the details of the Nakshatra, Tithi, Karana, Yoga and various other measures as an extra fillip.
These are just various layers and from Paksha onwards it could even take another off shoot route by going in another direction such as the Ahoratra, Muhurtha, Ghati et al. But on a broad classification, at least to within an hours time the classification listed draws down to a pretty finite level. I shall now explain some important components of time by first listing down a summary on a high level followed by explanation on the components.
- Varsha (Samvatsara - 60 year cycle)
- Ayana (Sun's Northern and Southern movement)
- Ruthu (6 types of seasons)
- Masa (12 months of Lunar calendar/Solar Calendar)
- Paksha (Bright half/Darker half of moon)
- Vara (7 days from Sunday to Saturday)
- Samay (Day divided into day time sunrise and night time sunset)
- Gowri Panchanga (Portion of sunrise and sunset divided into 8 equal parts each)
- Hora (Day classified into 24 hours beginning from lord of the day in decreasing distance)
A time cycle consists of 60 years and can also translate to 5 cycles of Jupiter. It is based on a rough estimate of the time taken by the 2 biggies Jupiter and Saturn to come together which happens approximately once in 60 years. Jupiter takes roughly 1 year or 12 months in a sign and hence takes 12 years to complete the zodiac. Saturn on the other hand takes 2.5 years or 30 months and hence it takes 30 years to go around the zodiac. The lowest common multiple of 12 and 30 happens to be 60 and hence once every 60 years you would see Jupiter and Saturn crossing each other's path.
The first year of the cycle is called 'Prabhava' and the last year of the cycle is termed 'Akshaya'. The current 60 year cycle runs from 1987-88 to 2046-47. Now these 60 years by themselves are divided into 3 parts ruled by the trinity with the first 20 years ruled by Brahma, the next 20 years by Vishnu and the last 20 years by Shiva.
A Samvatsara is said to begin immediately after Ammavasya in the Tithi of Shukla Paksha Pratipada in the lunar month of Chaitra. This is followed mostly in the Northern part of India but however sections of South India believe that a year starts when Sun enters Mesha in the month of Chithirai. This difference of opinion could lead to a minor difference in the start of a new year based on whether lunar or solar calendars have been adopted.
| Year | Samvatsara | Deity |
| 1 | Prabhava | Brahma |
| 2 | Vibhava | Brahma |
| 3 | Sukla | Brahma |
| 4 | Pramoduta | Brahma |
| 5 | Prajapati | Brahma |
| 6 | Angirasa | Brahma |
| 7 | Srimukha | Brahma |
| 8 | Bhava | Brahma |
| 9 | Yuva | Brahma |
| 10 | Dhattu | Brahma |
| 11 | Isvara | Brahma |
| 12 | Bahudhanya | Brahma |
| 13 | Pramathi | Brahma |
| 14 | Vikrama | Brahma |
| 15 | Vrushapraja | Brahma |
| 16 | Chitrabhanu | Brahma |
| 17 | Svabhanu | Brahma |
| 18 | Tarana | Brahma |
| 19 | Parthiva | Brahma |
| 20 | Vyaya | Brahma |
| 21 | Sarvajit | Vishnu |
| 22 | Sarvadhari | Vishnu |
| 23 | Virodhi | Vishnu |
| 24 | Vikrti | Vishnu |
| 25 | Khara | Vishnu |
| 26 | Nandana | Vishnu |
| 27 | Vijaya | Vishnu |
| 28 | Jaya | Vishnu |
| 29 | Manmatha | Vishnu |
| 30 | Durmukhi | Vishnu |
| 31 | Hevilambi | Vishnu |
| 32 | Vilambi | Vishnu |
| 33 | Vikari | Vishnu |
| 34 | Sarvari | Vishnu |
| 35 | Plava | Vishnu |
| 36 | Subhakruth | Vishnu |
| 37 | Shobhakruth | Vishnu |
| 38 | Krodhi | Vishnu |
| 39 | Visvavasu | Vishnu |
| 40 | Parabhava | Vishnu |
| 41 | Plavanga | Shiva |
| 42 | Kilaka | Shiva |
| 43 | Saumya | Shiva |
| 44 | Sadharana | Shiva |
| 45 | Virodhikrta | Shiva |
| 46 | Paridhavi | Shiva |
| 47 | Pramadicha | Shiva |
| 48 | Ananda | Shiva |
| 49 | Raksasa | Shiva |
| 50 | Nala | Shiva |
| 51 | Pingala | Shiva |
| 52 | Kalayukti | Shiva |
| 53 | Siddharthi | Shiva |
| 54 | Raudri | Shiva |
| 55 | Durmati | Shiva |
| 56 | Dundubhi | Shiva |
| 57 | Rudhirodgari | Shiva |
| 58 | Raktakshi | Shiva |
| 59 | Krodhana | Shiva |
| 60 | Akshaya | Shiva |
Ayana (Northern/Southern movement of Sun):
An Ayana is basically 2 half years within a year known as the solar half and lunar half. It depends on the Sun's course of movement. The 2 Ayana's are termed Uttara Ayana (solar half) ruled by Sun and Dakshina Ayana (lunar half) ruled by Moon.
Uttara Ayana - This is the solar half of the year which takes place with Sun's Northward course from winter solstice to summer solstice where the days are said to be lengthier. In simple parlance, it is the time of the year when Sun enters Capricorn zodiac as per the sidereal year which would roughly be around the mid of January.
Dakshina Ayana - This is the lunar half of the year which takes place with Sun's Southward course from summer solstice to winter solstice where the nights are said to be lengthier. In simple parlance, it is the time of the year when Sun enters into Cancer zodiac as per the sidereal year which would roughly be around the mid of July.
Rutu (Seasons):
There are 6 types of seasons in the calendar denoting different meanings as mentioned below:
Vasantha - Spring (Ruled by Venus)
Grishma - Summer (Ruled by Sun, Mars)
Varsha - Monsoon/Rainy Season (Ruled by Moon)
Sharad - Autumn (Ruled by Mercury)
Hemanta - Winter (Ruled by Jupiter)
Sisira - Prevernal/Cold Season (Ruled by Saturn)
Vasantha Ruthu is said to correlate with the beginning of the year whereas Sisira Ruthu takes place during the end of the year. Each Rutu is said to last for 2 lunar months. In down south however due to change in climatic conditions, there tends to be a small shift with regard to the hot and cold portion of the year. Since Grishma is said to be the summer season and tends to begin in and around April, the solar months Chithirai and Vaikasi (Mid April to mid June) are associated with it and likewise Varsha is tagged along with the solar months of Aani and Aadi (Mid June to mid August).
Masa (Months):
There are 12 months in a year and the lunar calendar is the one which is followed in vogue. There are 2 types of traditions followed with regard to the following of the Lunar months viz
Amanta - Month starts on Shukla Pratipada and ends on Ammavasya (Most popular)
Pournimanta - Month starts on Krishna Paksha Pratipada and ends on Pournima
A lunar month is roughly about 29 and half days and hence a lunar year completes it's revolution in about 354 odd days whereas a solar year comprises about 365 and a quarter days. This difference accumulates over time and hence an extra month titled Adhik Maasa is inserted to keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned. The Adhik Maasa takes place once in about 2 years and 8 1/2 months with the extra month taking place in the month where the sun remains in the same zodiac sign throughout an entire lunar month cycle.
The 12 Lunar months are as follows and tend to occur during the months mentioned:
Chaithra - Mar-Apr
Vaishaka - Apr-May
Jyeshta - May-Jun
Ashada - Jun-Jul
Shravana - Jul-Aug
Bhadrapada - Aug-Sep
Ashwija - Sep-Oct
Karthik - Oct-Nov
Margashira - Nov-Dec
Pushya - Dec-Jan
Magha - Jan-Feb
Phalguna - Feb-Mar
However in some parts of South India, the solar calendar reigns supreme which by and large depends on the ingress of the Sun in different rasis beginning from Aries onwards. Listed below are the solar months which tend to occur roughly around the mid of every month beginning from mid April onwards with the year starting from Chithirai and ending with Panguni.
Chithirai - Apr-May
Vaikasi - May-Jun
Aani - Jun-Jul
Aadi - Jul-Aug
Avani - Aug-Sep
Purattasi - Sep-Oct
Aipasi - Oct-Nov
Karthikai - Nov-Dec
Margazhi - Dec-Jan
Thai - Jan-Feb
Maasi - Feb-Mar
Panguni - Mar-Apr
Paksha (Brigher/Darker Half of Moon):
A Paksha is basically a split of a lunar month into two halves viz brighter half or Shukla Paksha (waxing period of moon) and darker half or Krishna Paksha (waning period of Moon). Every 12 degrees of angular distance is termed a tithi and as and when the Moon moves away from the Sun to a point of 180 degrees (15 tithis - 180/12) it constitutes the brighter half and from there on in the Moon returns back towards the sun from 181st to 360 degrees which is said to be the darker half. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month with the first 15 waxing and the next 15 waning. The list of Tithi classification into Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha are listed below:
Pratipada - 1st (Shukla Paksha), 16th (Krishna Paksha)
Dwitiya - 2nd (Shukla Paksha), 17th (Krishna Paksha)
Tritiya - 3rd (Shukla Paksha), 18th (Krishna Paksha)
Chaturthi - 4th (Shukla Paksha), 19th (Krishna Paksha)
Panchami - 5th (Shukla Paksha), 20th (Krishna Paksha)
Sashti - 6th (Shukla Paksha), 21st (Krishna Paksha)
Sapthami - 7th (Shukla Paksha), 22th (Krishna Paksha)
Ashtami - 8th (Shukla Paksha), 23th (Krishna Paksha)
Navami - 9th (Shukla Paksha), 24th (Krishna Paksha)
Dasami - 10th (Shukla Paksha), 25th (Krishna Paksha)
Ekadashi - 11th (Shukla Paksha), 26th (Krishna Paksha)
Dwadashi - 12th (Shukla Paksha), 27th (Krishna Paksha)
Triyodashi - 13th (Shukla Paksha), 28th (Krishna Paksha)
Chaturdashi - 14th (Shukla Paksha), 29th (Krishna Paksha)
Pournami/Amma Vasya - 15th (Shukla Paksha), 30th (Krishna Paksha)
Vara (Days of the week):
These are basically the 7 days in a week from Sunday to Saturday. A day consists of both sun rise and sunset and said to last for a period of 24 hours beginning from sunrise of one day till the beginning of the sun rise of the next day. Each of the days are lorded by a ruling planet as seen below:
Ravi Vaar (Sunday) - Sun
Som Vaar (Monday) - Moon
Mangal Vaar (Tuesday) - Mars
Buddha Vaar (Wednesday) - Mercury
Guru Vaar (Thursday) - Jupiter
Shukra Vaar (Friday) - Venus
Shani Vaar (Saturday) - Saturn
Samay (Time of the day):
A day is again broken into 2 parts comprising of sunrise ruling the day portion and sunset ruling the night portion. Both these segments work out to roughly about 12 hours in a day.
Din Samay (Sunrise) - Day time portion
Ratri Samay (Sunset) - Night time portion
Gowri Panchanga (8 portions each of day time sun rise and night time sun set)
Gowri Panchang is a portion of approximately one and half hours time period used to check auspicious time to start a new activity and to avoid inauspicious time. From a religious perspective it is mainly used to decipher the right time for the purpose of a Muhurat.
The sunrise time as well as sunset times are further split into 8 equal parts each and assigned to 8 planets - Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Rahu. The order of the sunrise period always begins from the order of the weekday and the sunset period begins from the 5th day of the weekday and follows the sequential order. The presence of Rahu alone yields breaks to this order which needs to be factored accordingly.
The different Gowri Panchangas in a day comprise of the following North Indian or South Indian names and is said to be ruled by a particular planet
Udyoga/Uthi - Sun
Amrit/Amrita - Moon
Roga/Rogam - Mars
Laabha/Laabam - Mercury
Shubha/Dhanam - Jupiter
Chala/Sugam - Venus
Kaala/Soram - Saturn
Vish/Visham - Rahu
Hora (24 hours in a day based on decreasing distance of planets):
Hora happens to be a unit of time comprising usually one hour time frame which is suitable for performing specific actions. Hora is computed based on the distance of planets or in essence the order of decreasing speed of planets with respect to the earth. The first Hora in a day however is always the ruling planet of the day, for instance Sunday's first Hora will always be Sun whereas Monday's first Hora will always be Moon and so on and so forth. The Hora order from slowest planet (also farthest) to the fastest planet (also closest) is as below;
Shani (Saturn)
Guru (Jupiter)
Kuja (Mars)
Suriya (Sun)
Shukra (Venus)
Buddha (Mercury)
Chandra (Moon)
Thus, we see that time can be pretty synchronous going about in a uniform manner and can also be extremely extensive. Providing below an easy tabular format to look at what extreme awe inspiring depths time really goes into:
Time Division
| 1 Time Cycle (60 years) | 60 Samvatsara (year) |
| 1 Samvatsara (year) | 2 Ayana (half a year) |
| 1 Ayana (half a year) | 3 Rutus (Season) |
| 1 Rutu (season) | 2 Masa (Months) |
| 1 Masa (Month) | 2 Paksha (Shukla and Krishna) |
| 1 Paksha (Shukla and Krishna) | 15 Ahoratram (24 Hours) |
| 1 Ahoratram (24 Hours) | 30 Muhurtha (48 Minutes) |
| 1 Muhurtha (48 Minutes) | 2 Ghati (24 Minutes) |
| 1 Ghati (24 Minutes) | 30 Kalas (48 seconds) |
| 1 Kalas (48 seconds) | 2 Vighati (24 seconds) |
| 1 Vighati (24 seconds) | 6 Pranas (4 seconds) |
| 1 Pranas (4 seconds) | 6 Nimeshas (88.889 milisecond) |
| 1 Nimeshas (88.889 milisecond) | 30 Tatpara (2.96296 milisecond) |
| 1 Tatpara (2.96296 milisecond) | 100 Truti (29.6296 microsecond) |
| 1 Truti (29.6296 microsecond) | 1.8 Paramanu (60750th part of a second) |
| 1 Paramanu | 60750th part of a second |
