pamho, hare krishna,
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According to Hindu Calendar:
Kalparambha, 7th Vivaswan Manvantar, 28 yugas, 5120 Kaliyugas.
Christians have completed 2018 years.
Muslims have completed 1438 years.
Hindus have completed 196,853,148 years.
On Gudhi Padwa that happened yesterday, 18th March 2018, it is said that Lord Brahma began the creation on that day as per Vedic studies.
Based on above, what is the difference between linear and cyclic times ?
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Also, Lord Rama's coronation ceremony was held on Gudhi Padwa.
Are there any references to time and calendars in Prabhupada's books ?
Replies
Hare Krsna
What is the difference between linear and cyclic times ?
Linear calendar has beginning and end. Like there was one mayan calendar which ended in 2013 I think.
Christian calendar is also linear although it uses BC to refer to times earlier to years of jesus's birth.
Vedic calendar is cyclic. To be more specific it is not a cycle or circular per se, it is more like a helix (or spring shaped with next cycle being the consecutive or next loop)
In Vedic calendar Brahma's day is divided into 14 manus, each manu has 71 divya yuga. Each divya yuga has Satya, treta, dvapara and kali. So these yugas occur one after the other in a cyclical pattern. The characterstics of yuga are same meaning in every kali yuga ther will be deterioration of dharma etc. The specific incarnations also appear on each planets one after other as per the time. Then there is brahma's night and so on.
There is not much elaboration given in SP books, but Srila Bhakti siddhanta Saraswati Thakur being an expert astrologer had written Surya siddhanta for astrology. In fact our vaishnava calendar was originally made by Srila Bhakti siddhanta saraswati thakur when he was 11 years old upon request of Jagannath das babaji maharaj.
Hare Krsna