Kalpa — largest time unit in Hindu cosmology. 1 day of Brahma = 1 kalpa = 4.32 billion years. We are currently in Shweta-Varaha kalpa.
1 kalpa = 14 manvantaras = 1000 chatur-yugas.
✦ Time Units
1 nimesha (blink) = 0.2 sec.
15 nimesha = 1 kashtha.
30 kashtha = 1 kala. 30 kala = 1 kshana.
12 kshana = 1 muhurta (48 min).
30 muhurta = 1 day-night.
12 months = 1 year = 1 divine day.
360 divine days = 1 divine year.
✦ 4 Yugas
1. Satya Yuga (1,728,000 years): 100% dharma.
2. Treta Yuga (1,296,000): 75% dharma.
3. Dwapar Yuga (864,000): 50% dharma.
4. Kali Yuga (432,000): 25% dharma.
Total: 4,320,000 years = 1 chatur-yuga.
✦ Manvantara & Kalpa
1 chatur-yuga × 71 = 1 manvantara (~306.7 million years).
14 manvantaras + sandhi = 1 kalpa (~4.32 billion years).
1 kalpa = Brahma's 1 day.
Day+night = Brahma's ahoratra = 8.64 billion years.
Brahma's lifespan: 100 Brahma years = ~311 trillion years.
✦ Current Position
Current kalpa: Shweta-Varaha.
Current manvantara: 7th — Vaivasvata.
Current chatur-yuga: 28th.
Current yuga: Kali.
Kali Yuga start: 18 Feb 3102 BCE (Krishna nirvana).
We are in Kali Yuga: 5128 years.
Kali Yuga remaining: 426,872 years.
📚Sources & References
Content in this article is verified against the following classical and modern authoritative sources. Readers may independently verify against the original sources.
- ▪Surya Siddhanta — classical Sanskrit astronomical text (~5th century CE)
- ▪Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra — foundational text on Vedic astrology by Maharishi Parashara
- ▪Muhurta Chintamani by Ram Daivajna (16th century) — standard reference for muhurat selection
- ▪Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell, 1998) — basis for all astronomical computations on this site
- ▪Lahiri Ayanamsa — standard sidereal reference adopted by the Indian Calendar Reform Committee (1955)
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
How does it match science?▼
Earth 4.5 billion years old (science). 1 kalpa 4.32 billion years (Hindu). Remarkable similarity.
When does Kali Yuga end?▼
~426,872 years remaining. After end: Kalki avatar. Then Satya Yuga begins.
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Note: This content is published for educational and cultural reference. For personal religious or astrological decisions, please consult a qualified pandit or jyotishi.