Time Travel in Sanatan Dharma—Ancient Yet Advanced

Modern science marvels at the concept of time travel, with theories like Einstein's relativity or cinematic imaginations such as Interstellar. Yet, millennia ago, Sanatan Dharma had already delved into the fluid, illusory, and transcendental nature of time. Hindu scriptures are not just symbolic; they experience time travel—philosophically, spiritually, and even narratively.

Let us explore how ancient India described time not as a ticking clock but as a relative, bendable force, deeply tied to consciousness, realms, and divinity.


One of the clearest examples of time distortion is found in the Bhagavata Purana. King Kakudmi, concerned about finding a suitable husband for his daughter Revati, travels to Brahmaloka (the abode of Brahma) to seek divine counsel.

However, what seemed like a brief visit in Brahmaloka turned out to be many Yugas (ages) on Earth. When they return, humanity has changed, cities have vanished, and generations have passed.

This narrative mimics the time dilation effect from Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, where time moves differently based on the gravitational field and speed. Brahmaloka, being at a different plane of existence (possibly with altered space-time metrics), reflects exactly that.

Scriptural Insight: "On returning, the king was shocked to see the changed world and accepted Balarama (Krishna’s brother) as Revati’s husband."
— Bhagavata Purana 9.3


The Mahabharata, often viewed as a grand epic of war and dharma, also delves into the metaphysics of time. In Vana Parva, a Brahmin named Raivata travels to celestial realms. There, time flows differently.

When he returns, centuries have passed on Earth. His reality is no longer the same—friends gone, history rewritten.

This again points to the non-linearity of time in Sanatan Dharma. Time is not absolute. It flows differently across dimensions—a concept resonant with quantum physics and multiverse theories.

Mahabharata’s Message: Time is not bound by the human clock. It is contextual, cosmic, and influenced by realms beyond human perception.


Perhaps the most esoteric yet profound understanding of time lies in the realm of Yogic Siddhis. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras describe how a yogi, through Samyama (a deep meditative focus that merges Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi), can access past and future events.

“By performing Samyama on the threefold changes of phenomena (dharma, lakshana, avastha), the yogi gains knowledge of past and future.”
— Yoga Sutras 3.16

To a yogi, time is not an external object—it is a mental construct that can be overcome by spiritual evolution. Just as one can remember the past, one can also access the future by reaching the same consciousness state that will exist in that future.

Many Hindu texts refer to astral travel—where the soul travels to other lokas (realms) beyond Earth. In these journeys, time behaves strangely. One night in Svarga may equal a year on Earth—again showing dimensional time asymmetry.

From H.G. Wells' The Time Machine to Hollywood blockbusters like Back to the Future or Tenet, time travel is depicted through mechanical devices—machines, wormholes, or cosmic portals.

However, science still struggles with causality loops, grandfather paradoxes, and temporal consistency.

In contrast, Sanatan Dharma offers non-mechanical, consciousness-based travel. The method isn’t technology—but Tapasya (penance), mantra, meditation, and divine grace.

No paradox arises. The universe is cyclical, not linear. Events repeat across Kalpas. Karma ensures balance. Memory and destiny co-exist without contradiction.

Beyond stories and symbols lies Sanatan Dharma’s highest teaching: Time itself is Maya (illusion).

“Kalaya Tasmai Namah” – Salutations to Time, the Great Devourer.
— Shiva Purana

Time is part of Prakriti (Nature)—a manifested phenomenon. The Atman (Self) is beyond time. It neither takes birth nor dies. Hence, one who realizes the Self transcends time.

Shiva is often called Mahakaal—the one who devours time. The famous Mahakaaleshwar Jyotirlinga symbolizes the victory of consciousness over temporal decay.
While modern science is still theorizing about time dilation, wormholes, and temporal dimensions, our Rishis were experiencing them thousands of years ago. Whether through tales like Kakudmi or teachings like the Yoga Sutras, Sanatan Dharma doesn’t treat time as an objective linear force, but as a relative, moldable, and ultimately transcendable entity.

Time travel in Hinduism isn’t just fantasy. It’s spirituality wrapped in cosmic wisdom.

“There never was a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.12

Krishna declares that the soul is timeless. This is not a metaphor—it’s a metaphysical truth. In this light, the highest form of time travel is self-realization—the moment you transcend the illusion of past and future.