Time: Kala Darsana: Building Blocks of Time (Book 1)

byAjay Chaturvedi

The first volume of the Time Trilogy examines the nature of Kāla through Vedic texts, Ayurveda, Yoga, and the Yugas.

Overview

Why is the day divided into twenty-four hours and not fifty? Did Time begin, or has it always existed? Is the arrow of time — the physicist Arthur Eddington's metaphor for its one-way flow — a feature of reality or an artefact of how modern science frames the question? Ajay Chaturvedi opens the first volume of his Time Trilogy by taking these questions seriously as philosophical and cosmological problems, then bringing Vedic thought to bear on them.

Rather than treating the Vedas as mythology, Chaturvedi reads them as a systematic framework — one that encompasses Kāla (time), Prāṇa (life-force), Āyurveda, Yoga, and the Yugas — and argues that the cyclical model of time they describe is more coherent, not less, than the linear model assumed by mainstream science. He examines the economic and cultural pressures that have kept linear time dominant, and asks whether that dominance is based on evidence or convenience.

An award-winning entrepreneur, alumnus of BITS Pilani and the Wharton School, and Adjunct Professor at IIM Rohtak, Chaturvedi brings an unusual combination of rigour and lived spiritual inquiry to a question that turns out to matter more than most people think.

ABOUT THE BOOK: What is Time, this inscrutable force that governs our existence? Is Time simply a tool to help us keep a grip on "reality" as we go through the day? Or is there more to it? Why is the day divided into twenty-four equal segments? Why not, say, fifty or a hundred? When did Time begin-or did it begin at all? Is it linear, as often assumed? Is there a "time's arrow," as Eddington described? Or is it inherently cyclical, as the Vedas suggest? Did Time emerge out of nothing, or has it always existed, like an eternal river flowing in one direction? Is it truly "real," or merely a construct of our minds? Could science itself be rooted in a belief system? Is our linear view of Time shaped by science's economic demands? Ajay Chaturvedi takes up the challenge of these questions and more. The Time Trilogy offers a unique Vedic perspective on the nature of Time (Kāla), the Vedāṅgas, and the Kāla Puruṣa, challenging conventional views that see Time as merely a metric for measuring intervals. In this first volume, Chaturvedi examines the Vedas as the ultimate authority, exploring Kāla, Prāṇa, Āyurveda, Yoga, and the Yugas. Through Vedic wisdom, he reveals insights on Time, longevity, and spiritual growth. Prepare for an exhilarating journey as Ajay Chaturvedi unravels the mysteries of Time in this three-part series! ~*~ Ajay Chaturvedi is an award-winning entrepreneur and author known for groundbreaking work in innovation and social entrepreneurship. After a life-changing encounter with his Guru in the Himalayas, he wrote the bestselling Lost Wisdom of The Swastika, exploring Vedic insights. An alumnus of BITS Pilani and The Wharton School, Ajay is an Adjunct Professor of Strategy at IIM Rohtak and IMI Delhi. He also founded HarVa XPO, the world's first all-women rural BPO, earning accolades for empowering marginalized communities. Driven by a quest for truth, Ajay is developing a Vedic village focused on sustainability. He divides his time between Uttarakhand and Gurugram, continuing to inspire one & all through his work and teachings. ~*~

Author

Ajay Chaturvedi

Entrepreneur | Philosopher | Author | Educator Ajay Chaturvedi is a distinguished entrepreneur, philosopher, and author recognised globally for his pioneering contributions to innovation, social entrepreneurship, and leadership. His career trajectory is marked by a deep commitment to creating impactful, sustainable change. Ajay's journey began in investment banking, but his quest for deeper truths led him to the Himalayas, where a transformative encounter with his Guru in Kedarnath changed the course of his life. This spiritual awakening inspired him to write his first bestseller, Lost Wisdom of The Swastika, published by Times of India Publishing. The book has been adopted by several leading business schools and is now taught as a core subject of strategy under the title "Kullhad Economy," approved by the AICTE. An alumnus of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Ajay was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He also holds a Diploma in Global Leadership & Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. His academic and professional achievements are complemented by certification as a Jyotiṣa Paṇḍita, following five years of intensive study of Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa under Paṇḍita Sanjay Rath at the Devaguru Brihaspati Centre, a subsidiary of the Jagannath Centre. Ajay currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Strategy at the Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak, and the International Management Institute, New Delhi. His academic roles allow him to share profound knowledge and insights with future leaders, while his entrepreneurial spirit continues to drive innovative ventures. As the founder of HarVa XPO, the world's first all-women rural BPO, Ajay made history by entering the Limca Book of Records in 2011. Under his leadership, HarVa has garnered numerous accolades, including the Manthan Chairman Excellence Award, SKOCH Financial Inclusion Award, and the TiE Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, among others. The company was also recognised as the third most innovative company in India by Fast Company magazine, following Tata Motors. Ajay's visionary work has earned him several prestigious honours, including the CNN IBN Youth Icon / Young Indian Leader of the Year in 2011 and the Entrepreneurship, Sustainability & Empowered Woman Award from the Rockefeller Foundation / United Nations in 2012. He was named an Amazing Global Indian by Times Now and one of Yahoo's Unsung Heroes in 2012-13. In 2014, he was honoured as an Iconic Youth by Rotary International and selected as one of the 50 most creative leaders worldwide to attend the THNK School of Creative Leadership in Amsterdam. His alma mater, BITS Pilani, celebrated him as one of the 50 most inspiring alumni during their golden jubilee celebrations. Driven by a deep-seated inclination for seeking truth and engaging in critical inquiry, Ajay's disillusionment with prevailing world narratives has led him to explore the nature of reality as described in the Vedas. Among his other endeavours, he is building a traditional Vedic village designed to address contemporary sustainability challenges. Ajay divides his time between Uttarakhand and Gurgaon, where he continues to push the boundaries of innovation, leadership, and philosophical inquiry. An avid reader, golfer, and traveler, his diverse interests complement his professional achievements. For his contributions to society, Ajay was bestowed with the 'Making the World Happening Award 'in 2017 by Allevents. He is also an ambassador for the Power of Youth initiative in Scotland and holds the unique distinction of being recognised as one of the four most innovative game changers by the Office of the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Skill Development and Employability in India. X (Twitter): @ajaychat

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