Concept and Significance of Samvatsara - The Time element

Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaaya!

Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaaya Namaha!

Samvatsara is a commonly used word in Hindu terminology that we come across regularly being used on a daily basis. Starting from nitya karma (sandhya vandana) all Hindu religious rituals will not begin without utterance of the word Samvatsara during sankalpa. Like numerical year in English calendar is denoted by a number, Samvatsara in Hindu calendar denoted by a unique name that keeps changing in a 60 year cycle.  Like first day of every year is referred to as New Year day, first day of every Hindu New Year is termed as Noothana Samvatsaraadi that is regarded as Ugaadi that marks the beginning of a Hindu new year.

Samvatsara is a Sanskrit word that literally means a year. Samvatsara is also referred to as Varsha, Samvat etc. Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram (sloka # 45) describes Him (Lord Vishnu) as Rutuh (seasons), Kaalah (Time) and Samvatsara (the year). Originated from the concept of Time, Samvatsara is a micro constituent of the gigantic wheel of Time (Kaalachakra) comprising of Kalpa, Manvanthara and Yuga, Sakha.  Time is reckoned as Lord Vishnu who is known as Kaalaatma the soul of Time.  

Sureshah sharanam sharma vishvaretah prajabhavah

Ahah samvatsaro vyaalah pratyayah sarvadarshanah

Rutuh sudarshanah kaalah parameshhtii parigrahah

Ugrah samvatsaro daksho vishraamo vishva-dakshinah

Svaapanah svavasho vyaapee naikaatmaa naika-karma-krut

Vatsaro vatsalo vatsee ratna-garbho dhaneshvarah

Naaraayana Upanishad describes Lord Vishnu as the Time “Kaalascha Naaraayanah”. Time is arising out of Lord Sri ManNaaraayana.  In fact Samvatsara is one of the several thousand names of Lord Vishnu as referred in sloka # 10 & 45 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram.  Lord Vishnu is also referred to as Vatsarah (sloka # 50) the one who dwells in each and every element of this universe and everything dwells in Him.  As such Lord Vishnu resides in each Samvatsara or in each year.

Samvatsara is a unit of measurement of Time that is controlled by the Kaalapurusha the presiding Deity of Kaala (Time) Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. He is the creator of Time and also the one who causes repetition of Time. All entities in the universe come under the purview of this Time without any exception including that of Lord Brahma. Only Lord Vishnu is exceptional. He is Kaalaatheetha the one who stays beyond Time and for whom there is no Time-bar. He is not bound by Time and not dependent on Kaala. Time is God and Lord Vishnu is the (God) generator (g), organizer (o) and destroyer (d) of Time.

A Samvatsara comprises of several tiny constituents of Time, broadly classified into Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana, six seasons known as Rutuhs, twelve months (Maasaas), two fortnights (Paksha), and seven week days (Vaara or Vaasara). Day is again divided into Dinamaana (from Sunrise to Sunset), Raathri-maana (from Sunset to next Sunrise). Dinamaana is again divided into Pratah, Madhyaanah, Aparaannah, Pradosha and Sayahna etc. A day is also divided into muhurtha, Ghati, Vighati and Paramaanu. A Hindu lunar day is a composition of five limbs viz, Thithi, Vaara, Nakshathra, Yoga and Karana that is in simple terminology known as Panchaanga (Almanac). In a lunar month we have 16 thithis out of which 14 repeating twice, 27 constellations, 27 yogas and 11 karanas. 

 

All the above put together is known as Samvatsara and everything including planets moves around the zodiac which is nothing but Lord Vishnu who is Kaala-Swaroopa (form of Time) and the zodiac signs starting from Aries (Mesha) to Pisces (Meena) are the representation of different limbs of Kaala Purusha who is ViraatPurusha cosmic in nature. In astrology zodiac signs represented by the Planets are the manifestation of different aspects and essence of the Supreme Lord Sri Maha Vishnu.

Om vishvam vishhnur-vashhatkaaro 

bhoota-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh

Bhootakrut bhoota-bhrud bhaavo 

bhootaatma bhoota-bhaavanah

In the very first sloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram, Lord Sri Vishnu is referred to as Bhoota-Bhavya-Bhavat-Prabhuh. That means Sri Maha Vishnu is the Lord of past, present and future.  If Lord Vishnu is the Time, Time is Lord Vishnu and Time is everything, then Samvatsara which is a component of Time can be reckoned as Lord Vishnu.

Aadityaadi Navagrahaa subhakaraa Meshaadayo raasayo

Nakshatraani sayogascha thithayastaddevataastadganaah

Maasaabda ruthuvastheiva divasaah sandhyaasthatha raatrayaah

Sarvey staavarajangamaah pratidinam kurvantunoh mangalam

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu