As soon as we think of time, a question arises : What is time? When the conception of time appeared in nature? The Hindu Rishis gave it a very deep thought. For achieving Nirvana, they included time as an essential ingredient among other resources. Maharishi Kannad said in Vaisheshik Darshan that the thorough knowledge of earth, water, fire, air, vacuum, time, directions, Atma and mind is necessary to achieve Nirvana.

After the legendry Hiranyagarbha golden egg's explosion, the creation started from its spillover. After the start of creation, the first thing that activated itself was time cycle. This means that time was established before the man was created. That is why time is all pervasive in the universe. It keeps a record of both living and inanimate subjects' life and at their end absorbs them in itself. As it counts the past, present and future, therefore it is called kala (time or death). Kala is the god of history because of its omnipresence. We get knowledge of kala from astronomy. Both kala and astronomy are based on speed.

The beauty of Indian astronomy is that it starts from the beginning of time. Unlike other civilizations who latch on to a particular personality, country, community or any particular happening, Indian astronomy traces its existence to 1,97,29,49,100 years ago. Chinese count it from 9,60,02,296 years ago, Christians 1999 years ago and Muslims 1416 years ago. According to Indian thought we have entered 52nd century of 28th Mahayug of Kaliyug on 1st Chaitra, i.e., 18th March, 1999. That particular day the first man was born 1,97,29,49,100 years ago and he saluted the Sun. This day the whole creation started. Therefore, it is not venerable only to Indians but to the whole mankind.

Although the scientific and universal Hindu astronomy says that we have entered 52nd century, there is a lot of talk about 21st century. Lots of predictions are being made about it. First of all the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, announced that we shall enter 21st Century with "Mera Bharat Mahan". Sometimes earlier a few scientists had pronounced that after 80 years of 21st century all the petrol will finish and the vehicular movement will come to an end. Scientists also believe that pollution will make habitation difficult on earth. Therefore, rockets are being fired to other planets to assess their inhabitability.

We must give a serious thought to the gloomy predictions about 21st century. Is there any scientific basis for that? Is 21st century part of universal time as propounded by India? Is there any theoretic basis for that? Actually 21st century is associated with Jesus. There is no theoretic or scientific basis for it. It represents the birth of Christ and Christians are celebrating 21st century of his birth. It has no link with the universal time.

But what does our astronomy say? The creation's total life on earth has been put at 4,32,00,00,000 years and more than half of that life is still there to be enjoyed. In Vishnu Purana it is written that earth's reproductive power will vanish after 4 arab and 32 crore years (and not in 21st century). At that point of time with the intense heat of sun everything will be burnt up here. All the water will evaporate and earth will be as barren as Moon and Mars. After that it is ordained that the creation will restart on Jupiter, as the planet shall acquire all the necessary capabilities like atmosphere, water, air, fertility, etc., to sustain life.

Although it was not easy, our ancestors divided the time into parts of a second to aeons. For instance a Truti represents 33750th part of a second. A Ghadi is of 24 minutes. All these divisions are based on scientific calculations and Rigved, Yajurved, Puranas and Manusmriti endorse the same method of calculation.

The aeons were divided by the movement of planets. Sun and Moon always conjoin in any of the 27 constellations after every five-years. This five-year period was taken as a unit to create or divide aeons. Jupiter takes 12 years to travel from Aries to Pieces. The five-year unit was multiplied with Jupiter's 12 to get at 60 years' time. In the Dhanishta constellation Sun, Moon and Jupiter meet after every 86 crore 50 lakh years. Five such confluences were named Kalpa by the Rishis.

When the first Kalpa started, all the seven planets—Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn—started revolving and they returned to the same spot after 4,32,000 years. This period was called Yuga. Four such Yugas—Kaliyuga, Dwaparyuga, Tretayuga and Satyuga—made a Mahayuga of 43,20,000 years. The ancients then established a unit of Manvantara of 30,84,48,000 years which brings changes in the earth's gravity and other visible changes in the world. Fifteen Manvantaras make a Kalpa. The Rishis also identified five circles in the current creation, viz., Moon Circle that revolves around the Earth, the Earth Circle that revolves around the Sun, the Sun Circle that revolves around Parmeshthi or Brahma Circle and Swayambhu (or God) Circle around which Parmeshthi Circle revolves. In other words all the Circles revolve around God Circle.

The Rishis predicted an end to all creation and stars and planets, but not in 21st century. We have to wait for it till Brahma's 100 years life is over. Naturally, his 100 years are rather longer than ours on this earth, as Brahma's one day equals our 8,64,00,00,000 years. They take aeons to finish. So cheer up. The end of the world is not at hand.