{"id":5200,"date":"2015-06-16T05:59:06","date_gmt":"2015-06-16T05:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vina.cc\/?p=5200"},"modified":"2015-06-13T14:06:03","modified_gmt":"2015-06-13T14:06:03","slug":"speed-of-light-in-the-vedas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vina.cc\/2015\/06\/16\/speed-of-light-in-the-vedas\/","title":{"rendered":"Speed of Light in the Vedas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"stars\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cNimisharda\u201d is a phrase used in Indian languages of Sanskrit origin while referring to something that happens\/moves instantly, similar to the \u2018blink of an eye\u2019. Nimisharda means half of a nimesa. (Ardha is half)
\nIn Sanskrit \u2018Nimisha\u2019 means \u2018blink of an eye\u2019 and Nimisharda implies within the blink of an eye. This phrase is commonly used to refer to instantaneous events.<\/p>\n

Below is the mathematical calculations of a research done by S S De and P V Vartak on the speed of light calculated using the Rigvedic hymns and commentaries on them.<\/p>\n

The fourth verse of the Rigvedic hymn 1:50 (50th hymn in book 1 of rigveda) is as follows:<\/p>\n

\u0924\u0930\u0923\u093f\u0930\u094d\u0935\u093f\u0936\u094d\u0935\u0926\u0930\u094d\u0936\u0924\u094b \u091c\u092f\u094b\u0924\u093f\u0937\u094d\u0915\u094d\u0930\u094d\u0926\u0938\u093f \u0938\u0942\u0930\u094d\u092f |
\n\u0935\u093f\u0936\u094d\u0935\u092e\u093e \u092d\u093e\u0938\u093f\u0930\u094b\u091a\u0928\u092e |<\/p>\n

taranir vishvadarshato jyotishkrdasi surya |
\nvishvamaa bhaasirochanam ||<\/p>\n

which means<\/p>\n

\u201cSwift and all beautiful art thou, O Surya (Surya=Sun), maker of the light, Illuming all the radiant realm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Commenting on this verse in his Rigvedic commentary, Sayana who was a minister in the court of Bukka of the great Vijayanagar Empire of Karnataka in South India (in early 14th century) says:<\/p>\n

tatha ca smaryate yojananam. sahasre dve dve sate dve ca yojane
\nekena nimishardhena kramaman.<\/p>\n

which means \u201cIt is remembered here that Sun (light) traverses 2,202 yojanas in half a nimisha\u201d<\/p>\n

NOTE: Nimisharda= half of a nimisha<\/p>\n

In the vedas Yojana is a unit of distance and Nimisha is a unit of time.<\/p>\n

Unit of Time: Nimesa<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Moksha dharma parva of Shanti Parva in Mahabharata describes Nimisha as follows:<\/p>\n

15 Nimisha = 1 Kastha<\/p>\n

30 Kashta = 1 Kala<\/p>\n

30.3 Kala = 1 Muhurta<\/p>\n

30 Muhurtas = 1 Diva-Ratri (Day-Night)<\/p>\n

We know Day-Night is 24 hours<\/p>\n

So we get 24 hours = 30 x 30.3 x 30 x 15 nimisha<\/p>\n

in other words 409050 nimisha<\/p>\n

We know 1 hour = 60 x 60 = 3600 seconds<\/p>\n

So 24 hours = 24 x 3600 seconds = 409050 nimisha<\/p>\n

409050 nimesa = 86,400 seconds<\/p>\n

1 nimesa = 0.2112 seconds (This is a recursive decimal! Wink of an eye=.2112 seconds!)<\/p>\n

1\/2 nimesa = 0.1056 seconds<\/p>\n

Unit of Distance: Yojana<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yojana is defined in Chapter 6 of Book 1 of the ancient vedic text \u201cVishnu Purana\u201d as follows<\/p>\n

10 ParamAnus = 1 Paras\u00fakshma<\/p>\n

10 Paras\u00fakshmas = 1 Trasarenu<\/p>\n

10 Trasarenus = 1 Mah\u00edrajas (particle of dust)<\/p>\n

10 Mah\u00edrajas= 1 B\u00e1l\u00e1gra (hair\u2019s point)<\/p>\n

10 B\u00e1l\u00e1gra = 1 Likhsha<\/p>\n

10 Likhsha= 1 Yuka<\/p>\n

1o Yukas = 1 Yavodara (heart of barley)<\/p>\n

10 Yavodaras = 1 Yava (barley grain of middle size)<\/p>\n

10 Yava = 1 Angula (1.89 cm or approx 3\/4 inch)<\/p>\n

6 fingers = 1 Pada (the breadth of it)<\/p>\n

2 Padas = 1 Vitasti (span)<\/p>\n

2 Vitasti = 1 Hasta (cubit)<\/p>\n

4 Hastas = a Dhanu, a Danda, or pauruSa (a man\u2019s height), or 2 N\u00e1rik\u00e1s = 6 feet<\/p>\n

2000 Dhanus = 1 Gavyuti (distance to which a cow\u2019s call or lowing can be heard) = 12000 feet<\/p>\n

4 Gavyutis = 1 Yojana = 9.09 miles<\/p>\n

Calculation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

So now we can calculate what is the value of the speed of light in modern units based on the value given as 2202 yojanas in 1\/2 nimesa<\/p>\n

= 2202 x 9.09 miles per 0.1056 seconds<\/p>\n

= 20016.18 miles per 0.1056 seconds<\/p>\n

= 189547 miles per second !!<\/p>\n

As per the modern science speed of light is 186000 miles per second !<\/p>\n

And so I without the slightest doubt attribute the slight difference between the two values to our error in accurately translating from vedic units to SI\/CGS units. Note that we have approximated 1 angula as exactly 3\/4 inch. While the approximation is true, the angula is not exactly 3\/4 inch. –<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cNimisharda\u201d is a phrase used in Indian languages of Sanskrit origin while referring to something that happens\/moves instantly, similar to the \u2018blink of an eye\u2019. Nimisharda means half of a nimesa. (Ardha is half) In Sanskrit \u2018Nimisha\u2019 means \u2018blink of an eye\u2019 and Nimisharda implies within the blink of an eye. This phrase is commonly <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1160,"featured_media":5201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vina.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stars.jpg","yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n