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[Sanskrit from ''manv'', used in compounds for ''manu'', + ''antara'' “interval,” “period of time”] In Hinduism, the period or age of a Manu; one of the fourteen intervals that constitute a ''kalpa''—the duration of time from the origination to the destruction of a world system (a cosmic cycle). | [Sanskrit from ''manv'', used in compounds for ''manu'', + ''antara'' “interval,” “period of time”] In Hinduism, the period or age of a [[Manu]]; one of the fourteen intervals that constitute a ''kalpa''—the duration of time from the origination to the destruction of a world system (a cosmic cycle). | ||
== Universal cycles == | == Universal cycles == | ||
In Hindu cosmology, the universe is continually evolving through periodic cycles of creation and dissolution. Creation is said to occur during the outbreath of the God of Creation, Brahma; dissolution occurs during his inbreath. | In Hindu cosmology, the universe is continually evolving through periodic cycles of creation and dissolution. Creation is said to occur during the outbreath of the God of Creation, [[Brahma]]; dissolution occurs during his inbreath. | ||
Every world creation evolves through the four ''yugas'', or ages, which are the smallest units in the Hindu cosmic cycle. These four ages are '''Satya''' or '''Krita''', '''Tretā''', '''Dvāpara''', and '''Kali'''. The first age begins in perfection and each succeeding one decreases in length and increases in its degradations. The combined duration of all four ages is said to be 4,320,000 years. (For a different calculation of the duration of the yugas, see ''The Holy Science'', by Swami Sri Yukteswar.)<ref>Swami Sri Yukteswar, ''The Holy Science'', 7th ed. (Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship, 1972), pp. x–xxiii.</ref> | Every world creation evolves through the four ''yugas'', or ages, which are the smallest units in the Hindu cosmic cycle. These four ages are '''Satya''' or '''Krita''', '''Tretā''', '''Dvāpara''', and '''Kali'''. The first age begins in perfection and each succeeding one decreases in length and increases in its degradations. The combined duration of all four ages is said to be 4,320,000 years. (For a different calculation of the duration of the yugas, see ''The Holy Science'', by Swami Sri Yukteswar.)<ref>Swami Sri Yukteswar, ''The Holy Science'', 7th ed. (Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship, 1972), pp. x–xxiii.</ref> | ||