Wheel of time: Difference between revisions

The '''Wheel of time''' or '''wheel of history''' (also known as ''[[Kalachakra]]'') is a concept found in several religious traditions and philosophies, notably religions of Indian origin such as [[Hinduism]], [[Sikhism]], and [[Buddhism]], which regard time as [[Historic recurrence|cyclical]] and consisting of repeating ages.  Many other cultures contain belief in a similar concept: notably, the Q'ero Indians in [[Peru]], as well as the [[Hopi|Hopi Indians]] of [[Arizona]].

In [[Hindu cosmology]], ''[[Kaal|kala]]'' (time) is eternal, repeating general events in four types of cycles. The smallest cycle is a ''[[Yuga Cycle|maha-yuga]]'' (great age), containing four ''[[yuga]]s'' (''[[Dharma#Hinduism|dharmic]]'' ages): ''[[Satya Yuga]]'', ''[[Treta Yuga]]'', ''[[Dvapara Yuga]]'' and ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. A ''[[manvantara]]'' (age of [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]]) contains 71 ''maha-yugas''. A ''[[Kalpa (aeon)|kalpa]]'' (day of [[Brahma]]) contains 14 ''manvantaras'' and 15 ''sandhyas'' (connecting periods), which lasts for 1,000 ''maha-yugas'' and is followed by a ''[[pralaya]]'' (night of partial dissolution) of equal length, where a day and night make one full day. A ''maha-kalpa'' (life of Brahma) lasts for 100 of Brahma's years of 12 months of 30 full days (100 360-day years) or 72,000,000 ''maha-yugas'', which is followed by a ''maha-pralaya'' (full dissolution) of equal length.<ref>{{cite book |author1-last=Gupta |author1-first=Dr. S. V. |year=2010 |editor1-last=Hull |editor1-first=Prof. Robert |editor2-last=Osgood, Jr. |editor2-first=Prof. Richard M. |editor2-link=Richard M. Osgood Jr. |editor3-last=Parisi |editor3-first=Prof. Jurgen |editor4-last=Warlimont |editor4-first=Prof. Hans |title=Units of Measurement: Past, Present and Future. International System of Units |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pHiKycrLmEQC&pg=PA7 |series=Springer Series in Materials Science: 122 |publisher=[[Springer Publishing|Springer]] |pages=6–9 (1.2.4 Time Measurements) |isbn=9783642007378}}</ref>

The [[Kalachakra|Wheel of Time]] or Kalachakra is a [[Tantra|Tantric]] deity that is associated with [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Tantric Buddhism]], which encompasses all four main schools of [[Sakya]], [[Nyingma]], [[Kagyu]] and [[Gelug]], and is especially important within the lesser-known [[Jonang]] tradition.

Within [[Jainism]], time is thought to be a wheel which rotates for infinity without a beginning. This wheel of time holds twelve spokes that each symbolize a different phase in the universe's cosmological history. It is further divided into two equal halves having six eras in them. While in downward motion, the wheel of time falls into what is known as [[Avasarpiṇī]] and when in upward motion, enters a state called [[Utsarpini]]. During both motions of the wheel, 24 [[tirthankara]]s come forth to teach the three jewels or sacred Jain teachings of right faith, right knowledge and right practice, then create a spiritual ford across the ocean of [[Reincarnation#Jainism|rebirth]] for humanity.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bhattacharyya |first=Sibajiban |title=Buddhist Philosophy From 350 to 600 A.D. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Buddhist_Philosophy_from_350_to_600_A_D/5WHHJ6O7b-IC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Wheel+of+Time+Jainism&pg=PA3&printsec=frontcover |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |year=1970 |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Paul Dundas |author-link=Paul Dundas |title=The Jains |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X8iAAgAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2003 |edition=2 |page=20|isbn=9781134501656 }}</ref>

The philosopher and emperor [[Marcus Aurelius]] saw time as extending forwards to infinity and backwards to infinity, while admitting the possibility (without arguing the case) that "the administration of the universe is organized into a succession of finite periods".<ref>Marcus Aurelius. ''Meditations'', book 5, paragraph 13. {{ISBN|978-0-19-957320-2}}.</ref>

In an interview included with the [[audiobook]] editions of his novels, author [[Robert Jordan]] has stated that his bestselling fantasy series ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'' borrows the titular concept from Hindu mythology.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Jordan chats about his 'Wheel of Time' series|url=http://www.cnn.com/chat/transcripts/2000/12/12/jordan/|website=CNN|publisher=CNN|access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref>

Several episodes of the American TV series ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' feature a wheel which can be physically turned in order to manipulate space and time. In a series of episodes during the fifth season, the island on which the show takes place begins to skip violently back and forth through time after the wheel is pulled off its axis.

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1.) {{cite book | last = Jordan | first = Robert | title = The eye of the world | publisher = T. Doherty Associates | location = New York | year = 1990 | isbn = 0-312-85009-3 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/eyeofworld00jord }}