Measurement of TIME

If the TIME was not defined and quantified, nothing could have orderly done by Us on Earth. Length and Duration of Time differ from place to place. So, it's almost impossible to measure time.

All the celestial objects are ‘energy units’ in the universe (which itself is energy in the form of Akash) and are in “motion” always. They “rotate” (Atma Pradakshina or Bhramana) and also “revolve” (Pradakshina or Paribhramana) around a higher energy unit as its ‘centre’.

Earth, where we ALL live on also is an energy unit in Universe. It rotates (spins) and revolves around the SUN. All other grahas in Solar System also do the same. (Moon revolves TIME concept through observation of MOTION around the Earth).

The spinning or rotation of Earth ‘generates’ the feeling of something progressively happening to those who are on it. We, therefore, witness the “change” in what we see around us from morning through next morning. This has caused the concept of TIME in human minds in ancient times only.

Thus, the time between two sun rises in sequence, is taken as ‘one day’. As this period consists ‘sun appearing period’ (aha) and ‘sun not appearing period’ (ratra), the DAY is also came to be known as “ahoratra”.

“Time” must be measured/quantified to understand and experience it.

Therefore, “Sun Rise to Sun Rise”, which is called “Ahoratra” is taken as primary unit of TIME MEASUREMENT for general usage.

THE LENGTH OF THE DAY (AHORATRA) is computed with smaller (micro) units on one side and larger (macro) units on the other.

Approximate duration of the day is measured (quantified) in various types of time measuring units – e.g. Hours, Ghatis, Muhurthas, Vaara. In modern days, it is measured as – 24 hours

In olden days, it used to be measured as:

- 60 ghatis (derivatives – thithi, karana, Yoga, Yaama) or

- 30 muhurthas (15 day time, 15 night time) or

- 8 Yaama (Jhaamu/Prahara) (4 day time, 4 night time) or

- 12 lagnas (rising of 12 rashis on eastern horizon) or

- Length of the day was also found to be almost equal to Moon’s moving time with the backdrop of one nakshatra in the sky when seen from Earth, i.e. Moon transit time in one nakshatra.

Macros measure of time (Gods period):

A solar year is that of humans (earth years),

30 times that (30 years) is that of Pitrus (Forefathers),

12 times the Pitru year (360 years) is said to be the Divya (Divine Year*).

12,000 times the Divya Year (43,20,000 solar years) is a general planetary Yuga,

1008 of these general planetary Yuga (4,35,45,60,000 years) make up a ‘day’ of Brahmā.

‘Day on Earth’ is generally considered to be 24 hours by common man in these days. The ‘hour’ is a micro unit of time measurement made up of 60 seconds in modern times.

The Surya Siddhanta (1.10–21) describes units of time from a respiration

(prana) up to the 100-year lifespan of Brahma (maha-kalpa).

Saavana Dina (Solar day): The time taken for the Earth to rotate about its axis so that the Sun appears in the same position in the sky.

Naakshatra Dina (Sidereal day): The time taken for the Earth to rotate about its axis so that the distant stars appear in the same position in the sky.

Sidereal day is measured by noting the time at which a particular star passes the celestial meridian (i.e. directly overhead) on two successive nights.

On Earth, a sidereal day lasts for 23 hours 56 minutes 4.091 seconds. The sidereal day is ~4 minutes shorter than the solar day.

Chaandra Maana tithi (Lunar Day): The people on Earth can easily understand the day on which Moon and Sun are together (New Moon) and they are 180 degrees apart (Full Moon) without the help of any instruments.

Moon apparently returns to Sun in one turn after moving 390 degrees in the 360 degrees Circle because of Sun’s motion of about one degree per day. This period is taken as Chaandra maas (Lunar month) and as it happens in about 30 Sun Rises, 30 Lunar days (called tithis) are considered in a Lunar Month.

The ancient Indian Time measuring conceptual design is also found in the Hebrew Calendar, the Chinese Calendar, and the Babyloian Calendar, but different from the Gregorian calendar.

The difference between the lunar calendar and the solar calendar is the celestial body used to measure the passage of time (i.e. Moon and Sun).

The lunar calendar uses the phases of the Moon to measure Time, usually measuring the time from new moon to new moon as one month. The time required for the Earth to rotate around the Sun is one solar year. The solar calendar typically measures the time between vernal equinoxes.

The Time Measuring Systems are applications (like operating systems) to measure the Time. 

A Saka or "era" (epoch), on the other hand, is a TOOL to actually understand and use the progression of Time to record and remember the events.

Yearly Panchang is prepared by using one of the Micro Time Measuring Systems (i.e. Chaandramaana + Soura maana or Guru Maana).

The basic five time measuring tools invented by Rishis over a period of time and which are revealed in a ‘panchang’ since ancient times are:

1. Thithi

2. Karana

3. Yoga

4. Nakshatra

5. Vaara

Knowledge of Thithi bestows Wealth (prosperity), Knowledge of Vaara increases Longevity, Knowledge of Nakshatra erases Sins, Knowledge of Yoga cures Diseases and Knowledge of Karana ensures Success in work – Thus the benefits of using the ‘Panchangam’.