History of Time
Measurement of Time in Ancient India
Page Last Updated: November 16, 2024
Ancient Indians devised a detailed terminology for minute intervals of time. Although some experts feel that this terminology had no relevance to everyday life, this indicates the deep inroads the ancient Indians, especially those who devoted to scholarhood, had made in physics and mathematics.
| Ancient Units of Time in India | |
| 18 nimesas (winks) | 1 kashta (3.2 seconds) |
| 30 kashtas | 1 kala (1.6 minutes) |
| 15 kalas | 1 nadika or 1 nalika |
| 30 kalas or 2 nadikas | 1 muhurta or kshana (48 minutes?) |
| 30 muhurtas | 1 aho-ratra (1 cycle of day and night, 24 hours) |
See Also:
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The Timeline of India -- wall of important events and movements
References
- Basham A. L., The Wonder That Was India, 1953
Timeless Theater
Timelines