Concept of Time in General and Particular in Ancient India and as in todays world (Part I)

 

This is very important topic in any textbook  may it be scientific, religious etc. in Indian tradition starts with Dika-Kala-Gati-Kriya-Krama i.e Space-Time-Motion-Action-Sequence or Order. Therefore it assumes to be important and for us when we go in the realm of Science.

The references which we are going to discuss are directly taken from the Vedic tradition which does not have any divisions and restrictions Jainism, Buddhism etc. It is a common tradition and this aspect of time is almost also common to all branches of knowledge. So any activity whether empirical, reflective or transcendental in Sanskrit Vyavahārika, Prātibhāsika and Pāramārthika. You have to consider Dika-Sadhana. Instrument which decides the frame of reference. It means geographical mapping.so it means first we have to decide the space and then directions, directional mapping. Sadhana means instrument, device or method of deciding the thing. So the word Dika means Disha, Asha , or directional quarter. The root is Dish means to instruct, direct or to show. So Dish means directed time, directed space and directed order or sequence. From same root Dish you get Desha which means country, directed region. Also you get Dishta, It is from same root which means measuring rod or measuring unit for measuring space as well as measuring time.

Who will do this? For doing this you need permission from the higher authority, King in that context. Suppose the king has ordered it to Scientists to do it. So it means it requires official permission in Sanskrit its Vidhan, Vidhi, scientific statement. So it is not an ordinary statement. We have to select specific region, place or quarter where we have to do this directional mapping. So we require space.

Space has to be made even. It means it is straight line, linear equation, Sama mathematically speaking. How to do that? Ordinarily Contactors level it and whether that level is proper or not, there are some criteria’s. So there is a technique called as water level. For example if we have 3m by 3m space to check its level we have to take a utensil fully filled with water and move it east to west or north to south etc. and check if the water drops or not outside , if it drops outside the space is not levelled. Like a mirror, slate. Even today water levelling is used in many places. Because it’s the nature of water to remain even in even place. Water assumes the form which is given to it. Once that is done, we have to find out the centre and from that centre we have to draw circle. Even if your region is rectangular, triangular, square etc. first you have to draw circle on that plane. Because circle is supposed to be the whole geometrical configuration for arriving at any rectangle, triangle, pentagon or anything else. This is most important because in western countries like in Europe they have this idea but there was not the concept of encircling circle and squaring circle and it was a problem then and also now. And therefore Indian tradition decided circle as a norm , as a standard based on which you can arrive at rectangle and triangles etc. rectangles and triangles cannot be drawn properly and accurately therefore circle is accepted. Because circle has 2 points 1 is fixed and other is dynamic, stable and variable, Dhruva and Adhruva, variable and invariable. Therefore accuracy is possible only because of circle. Ellipse is also circle, Square is also circle, 1 dimensional, 2 dimensional plane is also circle.

How to decide that? When to do that? For that we have to come towards Space-Time-Motion Paradigm. So first it’s Existence. Then there is Space. Then we have to measure directions and by directions also we have to measure time. As we are drawing circle we also have motion. So we have Existence, Space, Time, Motion and then plane as we have 2 dimensional, rectilinear, lines. It is like a coordinate system. Then measurement unit should be decided after that.

When to start this? In general statement you can start anything at anytime and anywhere. But that is not exact, it is inexact. So it’s the most important point which is decided by India and western countries also by experiences. The best time is when days and nights are equal in length. When this happens has been experimented in past for experimental purposes. There are only 2 such points in the whole year anywhere on earth, local. So that means here we are involving part and whole, local and global, microcosm and macrocosm, Pinda and Bramhanda.  Every religion, every country, every school of thought has their way for starting New Year. Then we have to decide local and global. We are having local decision. Then those points are only 1 then here comes astronomy. The three words; Bhu Bhua Swaha means Terrestrial, mid-regional and celestial. Terrestrial means Earth; mid-regional means moon and celestial means Sun. So the rule of three is everywhere which are told by Scientists such as Newton, Galileo, Kepler, Varahamira etc in different perspectives.

To be continued...