17 October 2008

Comparison of Hindu & English Time units

Here I would try to bring out the comparison between Hindu and English Time Units especially for those interested in manual calculations and for those who are keen about Hindu Time units.

Hindu Time Units : They are
Ghati, Vighati, Lipta, Vilipta, Para and Tatpara.

1 Ghati = 60 Vighatis
1 Vighati = 60 Liptas
1 Lipta = 60 Viliptas
1 Vilipta = 60 Paras
1 Para = 60 Tatparas

Further 24 Hours = 60 Ghatis
Thus 1 Hour = 2.5 Ghatis
or 60 Minutes = 2.5 Ghatis
Now 1 Ghati = 60 Vighatis
Therefore 1 Hour = 60 Minutes= 2.5 Ghatis = 2.5X60Vighatis = 150 Vighatis
or 1 Minute = 2.5 Vighatis
Similarly 1 Second = 2.5 Liptas
Beneath "Second" there is no English Time Unit so we generally go for milli second,
micro-second etc. Further
1 Second = 2.5 Liptas = 150 Viliptas = 9,000 Paras = 5,40,000 Tatparas
Imagine the division of a Second by 5,40,000 !! That was told by None other than the Great Sage Parashara !! It is believed to be known even before him, but it was scripted by him along with the Jyotish Shaastra.
A day has 24 Hours so it will have 24X60X60 = 86,400 Seconds

On the other hand A day has 24 Hours = 60 Ghatis
Therefore A day has 60X60X60X60X60X60 = 46,65,60,00,000 Tatparas
Just Imagine here the conception of the minuteness of Time by Maha-Rishis and their Intellect.
A day in the calculation of Hindu astronomers contains the above number of Tatparas. This can possibly be conceived by 'The highest Human intellect' and that too many Thousands of years ago!