25:8 In the last book the Parárddha occurs as a very different measure of time, but it is employed here in its ordinary acceptation.

25:9 In theory the Kalpas are infinite; as the Bhavishya: 'Excellent sages, thousands of millions of Kalpas have passed, and as many are to come.' In the Linga Puráńa, and others of the Saiva division, above thirty Kalpas are named, and some account given of several, but they are evidently sectarial embellishments. The only Kalpas usually specified are those which follow in the text: the one which was the last, or the Pádma, and the present p. 26 or Váráha. The first is also commonly called the Bráhma; but the Bhágavata distinguishes the Bráhma, considering it to be the first of Brahmá's life, whilst the Pádma was the last of the first Parárddha. The terms Maná, or great Kalpa, applied to the Padma, is attached to it only in a general sense; or, according to the commentator, because it comprises, as a minor Kalpa, that in which Brahmá was born from a lotus. Properly, a great Kalpa is not a day, but a life of Brahmá; as in the Brahma Vaivartta: 'Chronologers compute a Kalpa by the life of Brahmá. Minor Kalpas, as Samvartta and the rest, are numerous.' Minor Kalpas here denote every period of destruction, or those in which the Samvartta wind, or other destructive agents, operate. Several other computations of time are found in different Puráńas, but it will be sufficient to notice one which occurs in the Hari Vanśa, as it is peculiar, and because it is not quite correctly given in M. Langlois' translation. It is the calculation of the Mánava time, or time of a Menu.

10

divine years

= a day and night of a Menu.

10

Mánava days

= his fortnight.

10

Mánava fortn.

= his month.

12

Mánava months

= his season.

6

Mánava seasons

= his year.

Accordingly the commentator says 72000 divine years make up his year. The French translation has, "dix années des dieux font un jour de Menu; dix jours des dieux font un pakcha de Menu," &c. The error lies in the expression "jours des dieux," and is evidently a mere inadvertence; for if ten years make a day, ten days can scarcely make a fortnight.

Next: Chapter IV

Hinduism

« Previous: The Vishnu Purana: Book I: Chapter II

Next: The Vishnu Purana: Book I: Chapter IV »