Mantralaya-2008

(The Sankalpam mantra, a treasure trove of cosmic time definitions)

Date : Sep 19, 2024

Background

Dear Devotees : Namaskara.

| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA   JAYATI NA ANRUTA

The Sankalpam mantra, a treasure trove of cosmic time definitions, is described in detail in Mantralaya (2008).

Meaning

Today, we delve into the profound essence of the Sankalpam mantra, a gateway to the divine purpose in every Vedic ritual. In the sacred traditions of the Vedas, no ritual begins without the invocation of Sankalpam. It is more than a declaration—Sankalpam is the soul’s alignment with cosmic forces, a solemn commitment where the performer crystalizes their intention with utmost clarity and devotion.

When you visit a temple and offer an Archana, you often hear the Sankalpam mantra recited before the ritual begins. This sacred chant is more than just a formality; it carries profound meaning and sets the stage for the entire pooja. Have you ever wondered what the deeper significance of this Sankalpam mantra is, a mantra that you may have heard countless times but perhaps never fully explored?

Lets try to understand the meaning of this Sankalpam mantra.

The Sankalpam mantra is a profound expression of the universe's timeless rhythm, beautifully unveiling the nature of time itself. This sacred invocation begins by establishing the precise ‘Time’ and ‘Location’ from where the ritual is performed, followed by the details of the mantra and its purpose. But what makes the Sankalpam so extraordinary is the intricate manner in which time is described.

It begins by invoking the vast expanse of Cosmic Time, starting from the Age of the current Brahma, the creator of our universe. From this immeasurable beginning, the mantra traces the unfolding of creation itself, narrowing its focus from the birth of the cosmos to the present moment. It moves from the vast cycles of creation—kalpas, manvantaras, and yugas—and gracefully descends into the time as we experience it today, measured by the human calendar.

Through this, the Sankalpam provides us with a rare glimpse into the Age of Brahma, giving us an understanding of the age of the universe in which we live. It is here that we realize we are in the 51st year of the current Brahma, a span that encompasses billions of years. With each recitation, we align ourselves with this unfathomable stretch of time, grounding our ritual in the infinite cycles of creation and dissolution.

Let’s deep dive into each word and its hidden treasure.

The Mantra goes like this…… Aadhya brhmanah  , dweethiye parardhe, shweta varaha kalpe, , Vaivaswatha manvanthare, ashta vimshathi thame, kali yuge, prathame padhe, …

Let’s see the first word Ādhya Brahma
Ādhya Brahma refers to the original life force of the cosmic universe, embodied by Brahma, the creator born from the navel of Lord Vishnu. As explained by Madhwacharyaru, Brahma is not an individual deity, but rather a divine position, a role filled by different gods over the cycles of time. The current god holding this position is called Brahma, just as the position of Shiva is occupied by Rudra. Each of these gods, while holding these positions, has a specific lifespan tied to the cosmic cycles.

Unlike humans, whose bodies are composed of the Panchabhutas (the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether), the gods have a unique form and composition, beyond what we can perceive with our mortal senses. Their bodies are made of subtle, divine matter that requires a special vision to behold. This is why we cannot see them in their true forms, just as we cannot see X-rays, radio waves, or other invisible energies without the right tools.

This concept is beautifully illustrated in the Mahabharata, when Sanjaya was granted divine vision by Lord Krishna to witness the awe-inspiring Vishvarupa—the universal form of Lord Vishnu. Sanjaya was able to see what is normally hidden from human eyes, a glimpse into the boundless, omnipresent form of the Supreme, thanks to the divine grace of Krishna. This episode underscores the idea that divine beings and their forms exist beyond the limits of human perception, accessible only through divine insight.

The next part of the mantra delves deeper into the detailed definition of time, beginning with the phrase Dweethiye Parardhe.

Dweethiye Parardhe refers to the second half of Brahma's lifespan. The term "Dweethiya" means "second," and "Parardhe" signifies "half." This phrase indicates that we are currently in the second half of the current Brahma’s life. In other words, 50 cosmic years of Brahma’s existence have already passed, and we are now in the 51st cosmic year of his grand cycle.

What is the age of Brahma ? Let’s dig into this

Let’s understand this in detail and see definitions of Kalpa, Manvantara and others

1 Day of Lord Brahma = 1 Kalpa =  = 14 Manvantara = 4,320,000,000 human years
1 night of Lord Brahma = 1 Kalpa =  = 14 Manvantara = 4,320,000,000 human years
Total one day and night of Lord Brahma = 8.64 billion human years.

1 Manvantara = 71 Chaturyugas = 307 Million human Years

One Chatur-Yugas = 4.32 Million human Years
Satya Yuga / Krita Yuga = 1.728 Million human Years
Treta Yuga = 1.296 Million human Years
Dwapara Yuga = 0.864 Million human Years
Kali Yuga = 0.432 Million human Years

Age of Brahma is 100 years. Each year of Brahma has 360 days and same number of nights. Thus, total age of Brahma is 360 * 100 * 8.64 billion = 311,040 billion human years. i.e. 311.04 trillion years. This period is called "maha kalpa".

Age of Brahma is  311.04 trillion human years. And now he is 51st year that is the meaning of Dweethiye Parardhe refers 50 cosmic years of Brahma’s existence have already passed, and we are now in the 51st cosmic year of his grand cycle.

Next in Mantra comes Shweta Varaha Kalpe, Vaivaswatha Manvanthare and Ashta Vimshathi Thame, Kali Yuge, Prathame Padhe, let’s see them here

A Kalpa represents one full day in the life of Brahma, as previously explained. There are 30 Kalpas, each with its own unique name, and they repeat cyclically throughout Brahma’s lifespan. One Kalpa is an immense span of time, equivalent to 4.3 billion human years. Currently, we are in the Shweta-Varaha Kalpa, a part of the grand cosmic cycle unfolding in the present era.

A Kalpa is composed of 14 Manvantaras, each a distinct epoch in the cosmic cycle. These 14 Manvantaras are named and repeat cyclically. So far, six Manvantaras have passed, and we are currently in the Vaivaswatha Manvantara, which is the 7th epoch in this sequence. This positioning within the Manvantaras reflects our place in the grand tapestry of time, each epoch marked by its own unique characteristics and divine governance.

Within the Vaivaswatha Manvantara, 27 ChaturYugas have elapsed. The term "Ashta-Vimshati" translates to 28, indicating that we are currently in the 28th ChaturYuga. Within this 28th ChaturYuga, the Satya, Treta, and Dvapara Yugas have all been completed, and we are now in the Kali Yuga. The phrase "Prathame Paadhe" means "First Part," signifying that we are in the initial phase of the Kali Yuga within this cycle of the 28th ChaturYuga. This positions us within a specific segment of the grand cosmic cycle, reflecting our current era and its place in the divine chronology.

It is important to understand that the age of Vedic Sanatana Dharma is measured relative to the current Brahma. We are now in the 51st year of this Brahma’s divine existence.

The fascinating aspect of this intricate system of time metrics is its precise ability to trace the evolution of the Universe, from the primordial Big Bang through the formation of the Solar System and the development of life on Earth and humanity.

The Solar System and Earth were formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago, which closely aligns with the beginning of the current Kalpa. In its early stages, Earth was enveloped in water, and life first emerged in the form of small aquatic creatures, symbolized by the Matsya Avatara. Over time, life evolved into amphibians and land animals, represented by the Varaha Avatara. This timeline beautifully captures the cosmic and evolutionary journey from the inception of our planet to the flourishing of life.

The concept of relative time, so vividly illustrated in Vedic culture, highlights the varying perceptions of time across different life forms and cosmic scales. In this framework, the lifespan of human beings, animals, and celestial objects are all viewed through different lenses of temporal measurement.
For instance, from the perspective of a cow, which typically lives around 10 years, a human being’s lifespan, which can be ten times longer, seems almost superhuman. Similarly, the time scales for Earth and other cosmic entities are vastly different from our own. What might be a mere moment in the life of a star or galaxy can span millions or even billions of years in human terms. This relative nature of time is a recurring theme in Vedic thought, reflecting the diverse ways in which time unfolds across the vast tapestry of existence.

In the enchanting pages of the Bhagavatam, we encounter a remarkable story that beautifully illustrates the concept of relative time and the notion of "traveling back to the future."

During the Satya Yuga, the first Mahayuga of the present Vaivasvata Manvantara, approximately 120 million years ago, there was a king of the Solar dynasty named Kakudmi. Accompanied by his radiant daughter, Revati, Kakudmi embarked on a journey driven by a profound belief in the ancient maxim, "Marriages are made in heaven." Unsatisfied with the predictions of the astrologers of his time, he decided to seek the divine guidance of Lord Brahma himself.

In those ancient times, it was indeed possible to visit the celestial realms, so Kakudmi and Revati traveled to Brahma-loka, the world of Brahma. Upon arriving, they discovered that Brahma was engrossed in a celestial dance performance, so they waited patiently. As they looked at Brahma's divine clock, they saw it was 11:09 hours, and they waited for about 20 minutes of Brahma's time before Brahma was available to address their query.

When Brahma finally appeared, he greeted Kakudmi with a smile and said, "Dear Kakudmi, from the moment you arrived, your earthly realm has progressed through 27 Mahayugas. The people you had in mind for your daughter, along with their descendants, have long since departed. Presently, the world is under the divine influence of Lord Krishna. Return to Earth and marry your daughter to Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother."

Thus, Kakudmi and Revati found themselves traveling forward in time from the first Mahayuga to the 28th. Revati was united in marriage with Balarama, fulfilling the divine plan.

This story vividly illustrates the Vedic understanding of time: where a single day in Brahma's realm spans a thousand earthly Mahayugas, each Mahayuga equating to just 43.2 seconds of Brahma's time, and Brahma's one second encompassing 100,000 human years. Through this tale, we grasp the majestic scale of cosmic time and the delightful paradox of traveling through its vast corridors.

From this point, the Sankalpa mantra gracefully details the geographical and temporal context of the ritual. It weaves a vivid picture of both the location and time, anchoring the sacred act in the grand cosmic order.

In the present Kali Yuga, we find ourselves in the first quarter of this epoch. The mantra then specifies the ritual’s exact location:
Jamboodvīpe: This denotes the land where the ritual is performed.

Bharata Varṣhe, Bharata Kande: Refers to the sacred land of Bharat, particularly in the southern region of the Meru mountain.

Dakṣiṇe Parśve: To the south of Mount Meru.

Asmin Vartamāne Vyavahāre: In the current epoch now reigning.

The mantra continues by placing the ritual within a specific cycle of time:
Prabhavaādi Ṣaṣṭi Saṃvatsarāṇām Madhye: Within the 60-year cycle, beginning from the year named Prabhava.

Nāma Saṃvatsare: Identifying the particular year in the 60-year Hindu calendar.

Ayane: Referring to either the Dakṣiṇāyana (from Aadi to Mārgashīrsha) or Uttarāyana (from Thai to Āshāḍha).

Rite: Denoting one of the six seasons—Vasantā, Grīṣma, Varṣā, Śārādha, Hemanta, and Śiśira.
Māse: The current month in the lunar calendar.

Pakṣe: Whether it is Shukla Pakṣa (from the day after Amāvāsyā to Pūrṇimā) or Krishna Pakṣa (from the day after Pūrṇimā to Amāvāsyā).

Subha Tithau: One of the 15 days between Pūrṇimā and Amāvāsyā—Prathamā, Dvītīyā, Tritīyā, Chaturthī, Paṅcamī, Ṣaṣṭī, Saptamī, Aṣṭamī, Navamī, Daśamī, Ekādaśī, Dvādaśī, Trayodaśī, Chaturdaśī, or Pūrṇimā/Amāvāsyā.

Vāsara Yuktāyām: The day of the week—Bhānū (Sunday), Soma (Monday), Bhowma (Tuesday), Śukra (Friday), Guru (Thursday), Śani (Saturday), and Br̥haspati (Thursday).
Nakṣatra Yuktāyām: The star or Nakṣatra governing the day.

Through this detailed description, the Sankalpa mantra anchors the ritual in a precise cosmic and temporal framework, ensuring that each sacred act is harmoniously aligned with the divine order of the universe.

The Sankalpa mantra embodies a profound synthesis of spiritual practice and cosmic understanding. It reflects the Vedic sages’ remarkable ability to measure and interpret time on an immense scale, weaving human rituals seamlessly into the eternal cycles of the universe. This ancient wisdom not only inspires reverence for the divine order but also emphasizes the timeless connection between human actions and cosmic harmony.

Since Vedic Sanatana Dharma is eternal and beyond the bounds of creation and destruction, its age is framed in the context of the present Brahma. Countless Brahmas have arisen and passed under the watchful guidance of Goloka Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The age of Vedic Sanatana Dharma, as reflected in the aforementioned calculations, underscores its timeless and Anadi (beginningless) nature. This ancient wisdom transcends the mere concept of a religion; it represents the Universal Law that persists irrespective of the cycles of the universe. Far beyond what is often termed "Hindu Religion," Vedic Sanatana Dharma embodies an eternal and universal truth that applies to all souls, regardless of their beliefs.

So, the next time you visit a temple for Archana or perform any pooja, take a moment to contemplate the Sankalpa mantra. Reflect on its intricate details and the grand cosmic framework it represents, enhancing your spiritual experience with a deeper appreciation of its profound significance.

The devotion towards Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple and effective way to reach Sri Hari  - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be disappointed.”

   || BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
   SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||