Vedic Divisions of Time

The following information is taken from the Paramahamsa Samhita Bhagavada Puranam III/IV,
which was originally spoken by Sri Sukadeva Goswami 30 years after the start of this current Kali Yuga or exactly 5070 years ago as of 1999 AD

1.The smallest particle of material substance -paramanu

Verse 1: (The great sage) Maitreya said: "The smallest particle of material substance, which has not yet combined with any other similar particles, is called paramanu (a sub-atomic particle of matter). Paramanus always exist both in the dormant and manifest states of material existence. It is the combination of more than one paramanu (sub-atomic particle) which gives rise to the illusory concept of a (material) unit.

2.Anu
Verse 5: A combination of two paramanus constitutes an anu (atom); and three anus (atoms) makes one trasarenu. Trasarenus are visible to the naked eye when seen floating upward in the air while viewed through rays of sunlight which enter a room through a latticed window.

3. Truti
Verse 6: Three Trasarenus is called a truti (8/13,500 part of a second), which is a measure of time it takes (the Sun) to travel across three Trasarenus

4.Vedha
A combination of one hundred trutis is called a vedha (8/135 part of a second).

5.Lava
Three vedas together is known as a lava (8/45 part of a second).

6.Nimesha
A combination of three lavas is called a nimesha or the twinkling of an eye (8/15 part of a second).

7.Ksana
Three such nimeshas equals a ksana (8/5 part of a second)

8.Kastha
A combination of five ksanas is known as a kastha (8 seconds)

9.Laghu
Fifteen kasthas is equal to a laghu (2 minutes)

10.Nadika
A conglomerate of 15 laghus is called a nadika (30 minutes)

How is nadika measured?
A nadika can be measured by taking a copper pot weighing six palas (8 tolas=ck dictionary) that can contain about 14 ounces of water and punching a small hole in the bottom using a 10-12" long golden needle that weighs four mashas (ck dictionary); when the pot is placed in water it takes a nadika of time (about 30 minutes) to fill up (and sink).

11.Muhurta
Two nadikas equal a muhurta (hour)

12.Prahara
Six or seven nadikas equal a prahara (approximately 3 hours to 3 and a half hours, depending on long or short days), which is a fourth of a day by human calculation.

13.Yama
For humans, day and night consist of four yamas (6 hour periods)

14.Masah
Fifteen such days & nights make up the bright or dark fortnight, by rotation. Two of these fortnights (the bright and the dark) equals a masah (one month consisting of 30 days length), and this period is taken as one day and one night of the forefathers (Pitris in heaven)

15.Ritu
Two of these months equal a ritu or season

16.Ayana
Six such months is called an ayana (one full movement of the Sun from North to South or South to North).

17.Life Span of Humans
By the calculation of the demigods in heaven these two ayanas (12 months by human calculation) make up their celestial day and night which is one year for humans. And the full life span for humans is 100 years.

Courtesy: nandan@nandanmenon.com