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Thewheel of time orwheel of history (also known asKalachakra) is a concept found in several religious traditions and philosophies, notably religions of Indian origin such asHinduism,Jainism, andBuddhism, which regard time ascyclical and consisting of repeating ages. Many other cultures contain belief in a similar concept: notably, theQ'ero people ofPeru, theHopi people ofArizona, and theBakongo people ofAngola andDemocratic Republic of the Congo.
In traditionalBakongo religion, the four elements are incorporated into the Kongo cosmogram. This sacred wheel depicts the physical world (Nseke), the spiritual world of the ancestors (Mpémba), theKalûnga line that runs between the two worlds, the sacred river (mbûngi) that began as a circular void and forms a circle around the two worlds, andthe path of the sun. Each element correlates to a period in the life cycle, which the Bakongo people also equate to the four cardinal directions and seasons. According to their cosmology, all living things go through this cycle.[1]
The philosopher and emperorMarcus 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".[2]: Book 5, Paragraph 13
TheWheel of Time or Kalachakra is aTantric deity that is associated withTibetan Tantric Buddhism, which encompasses all four main schools ofSakya,Nyingma,Kagyu andGelug, and is especially important within the lesser-knownJonang tradition.
The Kalachakra tantra prophesies a world within which (religious) conflict is prevalent. A worldwide war will be waged which will see the expansion of the mystical Kingdom ofShambhala led by a messianic king.
InHindu cosmology,kala (time) is eternal, repeating general events in four types of cycles. The smallest cycle is amaha-yuga (great age), containing fouryugas (dharmic ages):Satya Yuga,Treta Yuga,Dvapara Yuga andKali Yuga. Amanvantara (age ofManu) contains 71maha-yugas. Akalpa (day ofBrahma) contains 14manvantaras and 15sandhyas (connecting periods), which lasts for 1,000maha-yugas and is followed by apralaya (night of partial dissolution) of equal length, where a day and night make one full day. Amaha-kalpa (life of Brahma) lasts for 100 of Brahma's years of 12 months of 30 full days (100 360-day years) or 72,000,000maha-yugas, which is followed by amaha-pralaya (full dissolution) of equal length.[3]
WithinJainism, time is thought to be a wheel that 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 a downward motion, the wheel of time falls into what is known asAvasarpiṇī and when in an upward motion, enters a state calledUtsarpini. During both motions of the wheel, 24tirthankaras 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 ofrebirth for humanity.[4][5]
In an interview included with theaudiobook editions of his novels, authorRobert Jordan has stated that his bestselling fantasy seriesThe Wheel of Time borrows the titular concept from Hindu mythology.[6]
The first chapter of every book in the series begins with the lines:"The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legends fade to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again."[7]
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