Measurement of time in ancient India – Part 1
Measurement of time in ancient India – Part 1
Introduction
Time is one of the finest things to probe. Techniques of time measurement used in the ancient period are astonishing to understand. Indian`s know the art of measurement of time up to sub-microsecond accurately.
Understanding time and its measurement were known to Indians. The time is measured according to Veda’s. Even the measurement of a microsecond (flicking of eyes) has been demonstrated by Indians.
Time
Since human evolution, time is a factor which governed the Universe. The period between the two incidents is calculated by ancient Indians. The magnitude varied from microsecond to thousands of years.
Sūrya Siddhānta
Units in the measurement of time according to Sūrya Siddhānta comprises of 9 various units.
1) Truti: It is the base unit and equals 0.30 µs
2) Renu: It is 60 Truti and magnitude is 18 µs
3) Lava: It is 60 Renu and magnitude is 1080 µs
4) Līkṣaka: It is 60 Lava and magnitude is 64.8 ms
5) Lipta/Vipala: It is 64.8 Līkṣaka and magnitude is 4.2 sec
6) Pala/Vighati/ Vinādī: It is 60 Lipta and magnitude is 30sec
7) Ghaṭi/ Nādī/ Danda: It is 31 Vighati and magnitude is 1.86 ks
8) Muhūrta: It is 2 ghati and magnitude is 3.72 ks
9) Nakṣhatra Ahorātram: It is 62 Ghati and magnitude is 86.4ks which is a sidereal time
Time units used in Vedas
17 types of time units were used in different Vedas which are detailed below
1) Paramāṇu: It is the base unit and equals 25 µs
2) Āṇu: It is 2 Paramāṇu and magnitude is 50 µs
3) Trasareṇu: It is approximately 3 Āṇu and magnitude is 151 µs
4) Truṭi: It is 4 Trasareṇu and magnitude is 454 µs
5) Media: It is 100 Truti and magnitude is 45 ms
6) Lava: It is 3 Vedha and magnitude is 0.14 s
7) Nimeṣa: It is 3 Lava and magnitude is 0.4 s
8) Kṣaṇa: It is 3 Nimeṣa and magnitude is 1.22 s
9) Kāṣṭhā: It is 3 Kṣaṇa and magnitude is 6 s
10) Laghu: It is 15 Kāṣṭhā and magnitude is 92 s
11) Danda: It is 15 Laghu and magnitude is 1.38 ks
12) Muhūrta: It is 2 Danda and magnitude is 2.76 ks
13) Ahorātram: It is 31 Muhūrta and magnitude is 86.4 ks
14) Masa: It is 30 Ahorātram and magnitude is 2592 ks
15) Ritu: It is 2 Masa and magnitude is 5184 ks
16) Ayana: It is 3 Ritu and magnitude is 15552 ks
17) Samvatsara: It is 2 Ayana and magnitude is 31104 ks
Basing on these measurements days, months, and years are calculated accurately.
Ancient Indian`s also know to measure the duration and predict the exact dates of lunar and solar eclipses which are due to occur in coming thousands of years.
Time dilation in various yugas is also calculated, a Kalpa has 4,320,000,000 years, Maha Kalpa is 36,000 times of Kalpa while Parārdha is half of Maha Kalpa duration.
Conclusion
The measurement of time and its units used by ancient Indians are described.
image source
- kala chakra: https://in.pinterest.com/thangka_mandala/kalachakra-mandala/