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Speed of Light in Hindu scriptures-
(Thread)
Speed of Light was well known in Ancient India, Acharya Sayana in his commentary on Rigveda 1.50.4 s
Mentions It
(Thread)
Speed of Light was well known in Ancient India, Acharya Sayana in his commentary on Rigveda 1.50.4 s
Mentions It
He says,
"It is to be remembered that light from sun travels 2202 Yojanas in half a Nimisha"
This Yojana and Nimisha are ancient units if Measurements, I will convert them to modern measurements here
"It is to be remembered that light from sun travels 2202 Yojanas in half a Nimisha"
This Yojana and Nimisha are ancient units if Measurements, I will convert them to modern measurements here
According to Manusmriti 1.64
18 Nimesha = 1Kastha
30 Kastha = 1 Kala
30 Kala = 1 Muhurta
30 Muhurta = 24 hours
Hence I Nimisha = 1.777777778s
And Half Nimisha = 0.88888889s
18 Nimesha = 1Kastha
30 Kastha = 1 Kala
30 Kala = 1 Muhurta
30 Muhurta = 24 hours
Hence I Nimisha = 1.777777778s
And Half Nimisha = 0.88888889s
Now Yojana it is generally taken as 8 Miles but that's an error, because it was used to measure distances on land and due to error in measurement and comparison the value should be 7.5 miles.
Same thing said by Alexander Cunningham In his Ancient Geography of India
Same thing said by Alexander Cunningham In his Ancient Geography of India
Hence light travels 2202×7.5 miles in 0.888888889 seconds the result is
= 18579.37499.. Miles per second
Modern Measurement = 186282 miles per second
Very close considering Yojana is a Approximation and not exact.
So it is proved that Ancients knew speed of light
= 18579.37499.. Miles per second
Modern Measurement = 186282 miles per second
Very close considering Yojana is a Approximation and not exact.
So it is proved that Ancients knew speed of light
A slight typing error, it is 0.1777777 seconds, hence .5 Nimish = 0.088888889
Hence final speed would be =
185,793.74997677
Hence final speed would be =
185,793.74997677
