Difference between revisions of "Kalpa"
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Latest revision as of 05:58, 14 March 2012
A Sanskrit term with a wide range of meanings, but often used to indicate “a day of BRAHMĀ,” i.e., a period of 4,320,000,000 human years or 1,000 Yugas. Brahmā’s months are said to be 30 of his days long and his year is 12 of his months; his lifetime is said to be 100 of his years, in other words an extraordinarily long period of time, indicating that ancient Hindus had a much vaster concept of time than that found in Europe until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term kalpa derives from the Sanksrit root klṛp, meaning “order,” “ceremonial rule,” “what is proper,” etc. The kalpa is divided into a number of smaller periods called manvantaras, i.e., periods presided over by a Manu.
See also CYCLES; ROUNDS; MANVANTARA; YUGA; MANUS.
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