The ancient way of measuring time was as follows. The time taken by a needle to pierce a leaf was 1 alpakala. 30 alpakalas made a truti, 30 trutis a kala, 30 kalas a kashta, 30 kashtas a nimisha, 4 nimishas a ganita, 10 ganitas a sigh, 6 sighs a vinanazhika, 6 vinanazhikas a ghadika, and 60 ghadikas a day (ahoratra).

15 ahoratras make a paksha, 2 pakshas a chandramasa (ahoratra for pitrs), 2 chandramasa a rithu, six rithus a manushyavarsha (1 ahoratra for devas), 300 manushyavarshas make a devavarsha (divyavarsha), 4800 divyavarshas a Kritayuga, 3600 divyavarshas a Tretayuga, 2400 divyavarshas a Dwaparayuga, 1200 divyavarshas a Kaliyuga. 12000 divyavarshas make a Chaturyuga, 71 Chaturyugas make a Manvantara. 14 manvantaras make a Kalpa (pralaya). 1 Pralaya is a morning for Brahma, as per Bhagavata Tritiyaskanda.

7.5 nazhikas make a yama, 4 yamas a morning, and 8 yamas a day as per Devibhagavata Navamaskanda.

However the measurements given in Vishnupurana vary from this. As per Vishnupurana Ansh 1 Chapter 3, 15 nimishas make a kashta, 30 kashtas a kala, 30 kalas a muhurta, 30 muhurtas make a day for manushya. 30 days make a month (masa), 6 months an ayana, an uttarayana and a dakshinayana make a year. The dakshinayana is a night (ratri) for devas and uttarayana a morning. 12000 divyavarshas (year for devas) make up a chaturyuga made up of Kritayuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga and Kaliyuga, of 4000, 3000, 2000, and 1000 divyavarshas separated 400, 300, 200, 100 year gap before and after each respectively. The interval before the start of the cycle is called Sandhya and the period at the end is the Sandhyansh. A thousand chaturyugas is a day for Brahma. In that day are 14 manvantaras.

As per Vishnupurana Ansh 2 Chapter 8, 15 nimishas make a kashta, 30 kashtas a kala, 30 kalas a muhurta, 30 muhurtas an ahoratra, Though the length of the day and night vary with the splitting of Purvahna, Madhyahna, Aparahna, the Sandhyakala remains 1 muhurta (2 nazhikas). From Surya’s ardhodaya (the time it rises) to 3 muhurtas thenceforth is Pratahkala. This is 1/5th of the morning. The three muhurtas following this are called sangava, and then 3 muhurtas called madhyahna. The next 3 muhurtas make up aparahna followed by sayahna. The length of these vary in uttarayana and dakshinayana. On one day of the year, they are exactly equal. 15 ahoratras make a paksha and 2 pakshas a month. (masa) 2 sauramasa make a rithu and 3 rithus an ayana. 2 ayanas make a year. (varsha) There are four kinds of months – saura, savana, chandra, nakshatra and five kinds of varshas – samvatsara, parivatsara, idvatsara, anuvatsara, and vatsara. These 5 make a yuga and it contains 60 sauramasa, 61 savanamasa, 62 chandramasas, and 67 nakshatramasas.

A devotee of Shiva. Since he was afraid of an asura named Kalamarga even while he was in his mother’s womb, he was named Kalabheeti. His father Mamdi had prayed to Shiva for a thousand years for a son. His wife became pregnant, but that lasted for four years. Mamdi asked the unborn child why he remained in the womb and the child said he was afraid of the asura Kalamarga. Mamdi appealed to Shiva who asked him to educate the child on dharma and vairagya. Mamdi did so and the child came out, and soon became a devotee of Shiva. Shiva appeared before him and said he would be known as Mahakala for getting over his fear of the asura as per Skandapurana.

A brahmin who defeated Kala. (Yama) He meditated in Pushkaratheertha for two hundred years at the end of which a glow appeared over his head. The glow spread over all the worlds and blocked the path of travelers. The gods appeared before him and asked him what boon he desired. He replied that all he wanted to do was meditate. When Brahma insisted, the brahmin left to a place in the northern valley of Himavan. There too, his glow was an obstruction and Indra sent apsaras to distract him. This didn’t work and Indra sent Yama. But he was unable to separate the brahmin’s soul from his body. Later, the king Ikshvaku approached the brahmin and requested him to give the king something. The brahmin asked him what he wanted and the king asked for half of the brahmin’s tapas energy. The brahmin did so and Ikshvaku became famous as per Kathasaritasagara Suryaprabhalambaka.

An adviser to Mahishasura. Mahisha’s minister of war was Chiskshura, Tamra was his finance minister, prime minister Asiloma, Udarka was the commander of the army and advisers Kalabandhaka, Bashkala, Trinetra as per Devibhagavata Panchamaskanda.

A snake which served as reins for Shiva’s chariot during his battle at Tripura as per Mahabharata karnaparva Chapter 34.

When Krishna and Arjuna went to meet Shiva in a dream, this mountain was on the way as per Mahabharata Dronaparva Chapter 80.

A mountain near Lanka, situated in the sea as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 277.

A son of Vishwamitra as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 4.

An asura. During the battle with Ravana, Lakshmana once fell unconscious. Hanuman rushed to the Drona mountain for medicinal herbs. Ravana sent Kalanemi to block him. He appeared in front of Hanuman as a sage, but Hanuman finally killed him as per Ramayana Yudhakanda Sarga 67.

A brahmin from Malava, who was the son of Yajnasena as per Kathasaritasagara Kathamukhalambaka.