Journal of Indian Philosophy

, Volume 41, Issue 6, pp 631–653 | Cite as

Myriad Concerns: Indian Macro-Time Intervals (Yugas, Sandhyās and Kalpas) as Systems of Number

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Abstract

This article examines the structures of the epico-Purāṇic divisions of time (yugas/sandhyās/kalpas) and asks what is joined by the Purāṇic ages known as yugas or joinings. It concludes that these structures reflect a combining of three systems of number—Greek acrophonic, Babylonian sexagesimal and Hindu decimal— represented as divisions of time. Since most interpretations of these structures, particularly yugas, focus on questions of dharma and its decline over the various ages rather than on number, it asks in conclusion if there is any necessary relationship between number and dharma.

Keywords

Yuga Kalpa Acrophonic Sexagesimal Zero Apollonius of Perga Archimedes Myriad Dice Dharma 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.AnnapolisUSA

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