- Ancient India Measured Time
- From Truti to Cosmos
- Mathematics Met Cosmic Vision
- Measuring the Immeasurable
Time moves relentlessly, yet ancient Indian scholars attempted to understand and measure it with remarkable precision. Their approach went far beyond seconds and minutes. They conceptualized time from the smallest conceivable instant to spans that stretch across cosmic creation.
The Meaning of Truti
In classical Indian timekeeping, a truti represents one-thousandth of a second. It is an interval so brief that it escapes ordinary perception. However, ancient scholars treated it as a measurable unit. One hundred trutis formed a veda, and three vedas made a lava, showing a structured attempt to break time into micro units.
Not all Moments Alike
Modern usage often confuses a minute with a nimesha, but the two are distinct. Three lavas equal one nimesha, roughly the time taken for a blink of the eye. In addition, three nimeshas form a kshana. Five kshanas make a kashta, while fifteen kashtas become a laghu, reflecting a finely graded system of progression.
Mathematics Behind Daily Time
The system extends seamlessly into daily life. Two dandas together form a muhurta, which is close to 48 minutes by present standards. Meanwhile, seven nalikas make a yama or prahara. Four praharas define the day and four the night, together completing a full cycle of twenty-four hours.
From Days to Decades
Time was also organised into larger social and natural rhythms. Fifteen days formed a paksha, while two pakshas completed a month. In addition, two months made a season, and six seasons formed a year. Decades, centuries, and millennia followed in orderly progression, revealing a comprehensive temporal framework.
The Cycle of Yugas
Ancient texts describe time as a vast rotating wheel. Kali Yuga spans 432,000 years, while Dwapara Yuga lasts 864,000 years. Treta Yuga extends for 1.296 million years, and Krita Yuga runs for 1.728 million years. Together, these four ages form a chaturyuga, representing a complete cycle.
Time Beyond Human Scale
The scale expands further into cosmic time. Seventy-one chaturyugas make one manvantara. Moreover, fourteen manvantaras form a kalpa, which is considered a single day in the life of Brahma. A Brahma year consists of 365 such days, and a full lifespan extends to one hundred Brahma years.
A Humbling Perspective
Seen against this vast temporal canvas, human life appears fleeting. Ancient Indian timekeeping was not merely about calculation. Instead, it offered a philosophical reminder that individual existence is a small moment within an immeasurable ocean of time.
