Wheel of time

The Wheel of time or wheel of history (also known as "Kalachakra") is a concept found in several religious traditions and philosophies, notably religions of Indian origin such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, which regard time as cyclical and consisting of repeating ages. Many other cultures contain belief in a similar concept: notably, the Q'ero Indians in Peru, as well as the Hopi Indians of Arizona.
Hinduism.
In Hindu cosmology, "kala" (time) is eternal, repeating general events in four types of cycles. The smallest cycle is a "maha-yuga" (great age), containing four "yugas" ("dharmic" ages): "Satya Yuga", "Treta Yuga", "Dvapara Yuga" and "Kali Yuga". A "manvantara" (age of Manu) contains 71 "maha-yugas". A "kalpa" (day of Brahma) contains 14 "manvantaras" and 15 "sandhyas" (connecting periods), which lasts for 1,000 "maha-yugas" and is followed by a "pralaya" (night of partial dissolution) of equal length, where a day and night make one full day. A "maha-kalpa" (life of Brahma) lasts for 100 of Brahma's years of 12 months of 30 full days (100 360-day years) or 72,000,000 "maha-yugas", which is followed by a "maha-pralaya" (full dissolution) of equal length.
Buddhism.
The Wheel of Time or Kalachakra is a Tantric deity that is associated with Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, which encompasses all four main schools of Sakya, Nyingma, Kagyu and Gelug, and is especially important within the lesser-known Jonang tradition.
The Kalachakra tantra prophesies a world within which (religious) conflict is prevalent. A worldwide war will be waged which will see the expansion of the mystical Kingdom of Shambhala led by a messianic king.
Jainism.
Within Jainism, time is thought to be a wheel which rotates for infinity without a beginning. This wheel of time holds twelve spokes that each symbolize a different phase in the universe's cosmological history. It is further divided into two equal halves having six eras in them. While in downward motion, the wheel of time falls into what is known as Avasarpiṇī and when in upward motion, enters a state called Utsarpini. During both motions of the wheel, 24 tirthankaras come forth to teach the three jewels or sacred Jain teachings of right faith, right knowledge and right practice, then create a spiritual ford across the ocean of rebirth for humanity.
Ancient Rome.
The philosopher and emperor Marcus Aurelius saw time as extending forwards to infinity and backwards to infinity, while admitting the possibility (without arguing the case) that "the administration of the universe is organized into a succession of finite periods".
Modern usage.
Literature.
In an interview included with the audiobook editions of his novels, author Robert Jordan has stated that his bestselling fantasy series "The Wheel of Time" borrows the titular concept from Hindu mythology.
Television.
Several episodes of the American TV series "Lost" feature a wheel which can be physically turned in order to manipulate space and time. In a series of episodes during the fifth season, the island on which the show takes place begins to skip violently back and forth through time after the wheel is pulled off its axis.
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