Making an aggregate of 4320000 years. These numbers indicate nothing more than the subdivisions of time, or matires, equal to the two hundred and fortieth part of an Indian minute, compared to the twinkling of an eye, which the following table will more fully explain †. Matire TABLE I. 2 Matires = 1 Chiperon. 10 Chiperons = 1 Chinon. 12 Chinons = 1 Venidique, or one Indian minute. 60 Venidiques = 1 Naigue. These years being formed of 12 months consisting of 30 days each, are multiplied by 360 so * This age, when represented as the age of Virtue, is termed Crita; when as the first age, Satya. + Ten Matires are equal to one English second, an English minute containing 600 matires. as to comprehend = 36000 days. This was the great Zapos, or 100 years of the Chaldeans. 36000×6=216000, is a multiplication which they profess to be in honour of the six subdivisions of a day, from Matires to Samans; and this number 216000 may be considered as the basis of their calculations. 216000 they multiply by 2, to commemorate the period when the virtues and vices of mankind were equal: the return of the race of Atri or Cain. 216000 × 2 = 432000 the Calijug, or age of Sin, the fourth age. 216000 they multiply by 4, to commemorate the Vedas. 216000 x 4 = 864000 the Dwaparajug, or third age. 216000 they multiply by 6, to commemorate the Vedas and Sasters. 216000 they multiply by 8 to commemorate the corners of the world*. In his hands are all the corners of the earth." Ps. xcv. 4.-According to the Hindu mythology, the eight Patriarchs of the antediluvian world became benign spirits and guardians of mankind, one of them presiding over each of the eight corners of 216000 × 8 = 1728000 the Critijug, or first age. The four ages added together form a period of time called Sadrijug or Sadrijugan, amounting to 4320000 years, or a divine age. Two Sadrijugans make one day and night of Brahma, who is supposed to have created the world by the express order of the Eternal, during the first Sadrijugan or day, and to have retired to rest during the second, or night; during which period. the world will gradually decay; when Brahma, awaking, renews creation, and so on until the end of time. 8640000 years are equal to 2 Sadrijugans; and form one day of Brahma of 24 hours; 30 such days, or 60 Sadrijugans make one of his months; 12 such months one of his years; and 100 such years, his life; as follows: of the world. These are termed Elephants to distinguish them from the race of Atris; the same with the Dæmons of Plato who lived in the time of Cronus, who reigned during the Golden Age; and whom Hesiod describes as Dæmons or benign spirits, who after death resided within the verge of the earth as guardians of mankind. in 8640000 x 30 x 12 x 100 = 311040000000 = 1000 years. From these numbers a cypher is formed, in which all antediluvian records are kept: and, as in comparing the several Asiatic dates with those of the Hebrews, we shall frequently have to refer to this table, I have formed therefrom two others, the second, by multiplying the subdivisions into each other agreeably to the Hindu mode, and the third by multiplying agreeably to the mode in use amongst Europeans. 864000 × 15 = 12960000, or one Venidique, a minute. or one Saman of 12 hours or day, the Calijugan. or one day of 24 hours day and night, the Dwaparajugan. or a Year of 360 days. The latter number is seldom, if ever, introduced in the Hindu cypher. |