Recent IKS Research at CAHC, Jain University
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R. N. iyengar
Jan 15, 2021, 7:20:16 AM1/15/21
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Akṣara the Basic Unit of Time Measure in Ancient India
IJHS | VOL 55.3 | SEPTEMBER 2020 (R. N. Iyengar, H. S. Sudarshan, Anand Viswanathan)Abstract
In this paper after a brief review of ancient Indian time units, the ingenious method of Indian astronomers
for calibrating the small time unit of vighaṭikā (24 seconds) phonetically by the recitation of a Sanskrit
verse in the līlākhelā meter with sixty gurvakṣaras, is experimentally verified by sixty independent sample
recitations. This is followed by exploring the concept of congruence of akṣara count and time periods such
as the month and the year in Vedic texts. This leads to the symbolic equivalence of the bṛhatī meter of
36 syllables to the Year and several other numerical synchronies between phenomenal time and akṣara.
The 1000 bṛhatī verses of the prātaranuvāka nocturnal performance in the atirātra ritual is the traceable
most ancient origin and inspiration for gauging and estimating the lapse of time by recognizing audible
syllables as a time measure. To verify this, apart from text based theoretical estimates, real time information
from a famous śrauta expert on his prātaranuvāka performance is presented. It is further demonstrated
empirically that the rate of 3600 gurvakṣara per ghaṭikā of siddhānta astronomy is closely correlated with
the speed of present day traditional chanting of the Ṛgveda, the fidelity of which has remained stable over
millennia.
Links:
for calibrating the small time unit of vighaṭikā (24 seconds) phonetically by the recitation of a Sanskrit
verse in the līlākhelā meter with sixty gurvakṣaras, is experimentally verified by sixty independent sample
recitations. This is followed by exploring the concept of congruence of akṣara count and time periods such
as the month and the year in Vedic texts. This leads to the symbolic equivalence of the bṛhatī meter of
36 syllables to the Year and several other numerical synchronies between phenomenal time and akṣara.
The 1000 bṛhatī verses of the prātaranuvāka nocturnal performance in the atirātra ritual is the traceable
most ancient origin and inspiration for gauging and estimating the lapse of time by recognizing audible
syllables as a time measure. To verify this, apart from text based theoretical estimates, real time information
from a famous śrauta expert on his prātaranuvāka performance is presented. It is further demonstrated
empirically that the rate of 3600 gurvakṣara per ghaṭikā of siddhānta astronomy is closely correlated with
the speed of present day traditional chanting of the Ṛgveda, the fidelity of which has remained stable over
millennia.
Links:
https://insa.nic.in/UI/journaldetails.aspx?AID=Mw==
https://www.academia.edu/44909499/Ak%E1%B9%A3ara_the_Basic_Unit_of_Time_Measure_in_Ancient_India
K S Kannan
Jan 15, 2021, 7:37:40 AM1/15/21
to bvparishat
The highly multidisciplinary nature of the work
deserves appreciation
KSKannan
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Dr. K.S.Kannan D.Litt.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Chair Professor, IIT-Madras.
Senior Fellow, ICSSR, New Delhi.
Academic Director, Swadeshi Indology.
Member, Academic Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthana.
Nominated Member, IIAS, Shimla.
Former Professor, CAHC, Jain University, Bangalore.Former Director, Karnataka Samskrit
University, Bangalore.
Former Head, Dept. of Sanskrit, The
National Colleges, Bangalore.
Bijoy Misra
Jan 15, 2021, 7:43:21 AM1/15/21
to Bharatiya Vidvat parishad
Not appreciation, admiration. We need many more of such quantification results.
Iyengarji is a pioneer.
Bijoy Misra
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Megh Kalyanasundaram
Jan 15, 2021, 12:03:13 PM1/15/21
to भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्
Namaskaaram Prof. Iyengar,
What a start to 2021!
Thank you for sharing this fascinating paper (which I have only fully read once but one to which I foresee returning at least a few more times)!
In the first reading (itself), I found it to be highly informative (got introduced to, and learnt, much more than just a thing or two: thank you all!) and thought-provoking.
Do accept my congratulations. Many congratulations also to Sudarshan and Anand.
Sincerely,
Megh
On Fri, Jan 15, 2021 at 5:50 PM R. N. iyengar <narayana...@gmail.com> wrote:
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