The Geography of the Puranas c13.s5.9

c13.s5.9

The Purāṇas mention three kinds of dissolution: (1) incidental (2) elemental and (3) absolute. The incidental is that which relates to Brahmā and occurs at the end of each Kalpa. A Kalpa calculated according to the Purāṇic texts is equal to 4,320 million years. The elemental is that which takes place after two Parārddha. A Parārddha is represented by 10¹⁸ years (Viṣṇu P.) or 10¹⁵ years (Vāyu P.). The absolute is final liberation from existence. We are here concerned with the incidental dissolution only.