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WORLD March 21, 1999 VNN3375 Hindu Era Enters 52nd Century FROM THE TIMES OF INDIA NEWS SERVICE USA, Mar 21 (VNN) — Submitted to VNN by Soumitra Dasis LUCKNOW, Saturday 20 March 1999 : As the world awaits the 21st century, the Hindu era entered the 52nd century on Thursday. The Hindu era is the said to be the oldest era in the world. According to astronomical calculations, the era is 1972949100 years old. These calculations are based on Kalaganana, says Ravi Prakash Arya, of the Bharatiya Itihas Samkalam Yojana. According to one calculation, the Hindu era completed the 5,100 kali era on March 17 and on Thursday started the 52nd century. The calculations of the beginning of Indian era were made by Aryabhatta-II and Brahmagupta. According to them, all the planets were in conjuction with Asvini constellation, alongwith their apsides and nodes, around 197 crore years ago or in the beginning of this kalpa. These planets come in conjuction with the same constellation after 4,32,000 years. So, this period of 4,32,000 years was calculated as one yuga, says Dr Arya. Similalrly, the period of two conjuctions was known as dwapra, three as treta and four as satyuga. The present Kalyuga started 3,102 years before the birth of Christ on February 20 at 2.27.30 p.m. At that time, said Dr Arya, all the planets were housed in one Zodiac sign. According to an estimate, 5,101 years of kalyuga had passed. This had also been accepted by famous astronomer of Europe, Prof Belly, he said. The Christian era, astronomic experts say, is the shortest era of the world. Dr Arya said there were many eras which were older that the Christian era. These included the Greek era (3,569 years), Roman (2,746 years), Chinese (4,353 years) and Turkish (4,287 years). There were more olders eras like Egyptian, which is said to be 28,660 years old, Parsi 1,89,964 years old and Hittitte 8,83,83,567 years old. The era which came closest to the Hindu era was the Chinese era which is said to be 9,60,02,294 years old, said Dr Arya in his book, Stepping into 52nd century. The basis of the calculation of the Hindu era was Kalaganana, which was based purely on astronomical calculations. Kaal or time was calculated on the basis of the movement of heavenly bodies like stars and planets, he said. The Hindu Kalaganana starts with the smallest unit of time, truti, which is 33,750th part of a second, and ends up with the longest possible unit, Brahmayu or Mahakalpa, which comprises 31,10,40,00,00,000 solar years. Truti is defined as a period taken in passing a needle through the lotus leaf. From here, the Bharatiya system of time computation consists of the larger unit spreading from day to yuga. N. B : To view the original article published in the Times of India, please surf this web-site : http://www.timesofindia.com/200399/20indi27.htm Comment on this Story This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/world/WD9903/WD21-3375.html
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