Kala Sukta

Who is Kāla? It is but Lord Mahakāla Bhairava, the Origin, the Purusha, the first personification of the Absolute, Shiva Himself. He is Time Divine. He is the Father of Prajapati-Brahmā, the Lord of All. All conflicts and confusions that arise from stories occur within the constraints of time. It is only when we vie for timelessness that we realize the oneness in Sanātana Dharma. All paths lead to Lord Mahakāla Bhairava!

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो - I am mighty Kāla, Dissolver of the worlds.

Those who understand, understand!

Let us, today, imbibe from the twin hymns of Time Divine from the Atharvaveda.

Jai Mahakal! 

OM Namah Shivaya!

Also see: Doctrine of Time and Time Divine

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Prolific, thousand-eyed, and undecaying, a horse with seven reins Time bears us onward.

Sages inspired with holy knowledge mount him: his chariot wheels are all the worlds of creatures.

This Time hath seven rolling wheels and seven naves immorality is the chariot's axle.

This Time brings hitherward all worlds about us: as primal Deity is He entreated.

On Time is laid an overflowing beaker: this we behold in many a place appearing.

He carries from us all these worlds of creatures. They call him Kāla in the loftiest heaven.

He only made the worlds of life, He only gathered the worlds of living things together.

Their son did He become who was their Father: no other higher power than He existeth.

Kāla created yonder heaven, and Kāla made these realms of earth.

By Kāla, stirred to motion, both what is and what shall be expand.

Kāla created land; the Sun in Kāla hath his light and heat.

In Kāla rest all things that be: in Kāla doth the eye discern.

In Kāla mind, in Kāla breath, in Kāla name are fixt and joined.

These living creatures, one and all, rejoice when Kāla hath approached.

Kāla embraces Holy Fire, the Highest, Brahmā in Himself.

Yea, Kāla, who was Father of Prajāpati, is Lord of All.

From Kāla sprang the Waters, sprang the regions, Brahmā, Holy Fire.

The Sun ascends by Kāla, and in Kāla sinks again to rest.

By Kāla freshly blows the wind, mighty through Kāla is the Earth: on Kāla rests the mighty Sky.

In Kāla erst the text produced what is and what is yet to be.

From Kāla sprang the Richas, and from Kāla was the Yajus born.

They formed in Kāla sacrifice, eternal portion for the Gods.

In Kāla the Gandharvas and Apsarasas and worlds abide.

Atharvan and this Angiras in Kāla are supreme o'er heaven.

Both this world and the world that is most lofty, the pure worlds and pure intermediate spaces,

Yea, having conquered all the worlds by Brahmā, Kāla as God Supreme is supplicated.

He made, He stirred this universe to motion, and on Him it rests.

He, Kāla, having now become Brahmā, holds Parameshthin up.

Kāla created living things and, first of all, Prajāpati.

From Kāla self-made Kasyapa, from Kāla Holy Fire was born.

Holy Atharvaveda [Shaunaka Recension]: XIX:53-54