Speed of light ?

Question

A verse from Rigveda (in Sanskrit) says "Yojanam Sahastra Dwe Dwe Shate Dwe Cha Yojana Aken Nimishardhena Krammana Namostutey" (1, 50-4), which in English stands "I salute Thee (Sunlight), who moves 2206 Yojana in half Nimish".
'Yojana' is well known in India & is equivalent to 4 'Kose', each 'Kose' measuring 8,000 yards or 8000 X 0.9144 metres.
'Nimish' is defined in the Hindu Sacred book, "Srimadbhagwat Gita"(111, 11-3 to 10), where 15 'nimish'es make 1 'kashta', 15 'kashta' make one 'laghu', 30 'laghu's make 1 'muhurta' and 30 'muhurtas' make one 'Diva-Ratri' (Day-Night). Day-Night is 24 hours. Hence a simple calculation converts the speed of sunlight as 3.00 X 10^8 m/s which is the speed of light in S.I.unit, correct upto two significant digits
Since Rigveda is one of the earliest of Vedic literatures that dates back to 1500-500 B.C., determination of speed of light with such accuracy is amazing and incredible, isn't it ?

Answer 1

24*60*60 s = 30*30*15*15 nimish
32 s = 75 nimish
1 s = 4.6875 nimish
1/2 nimish = 16/75 s

(2206 Yojana)(4 Kose/Yojana)(8,000 yd/Kose)(1 mi/1760 yd)(75 nimish/16 s) =
188,011.3636 mi/s
(299,792,458 m/s)(1 mi/1.609344 km/s)(1 km/1,000 m) = 186,282.3971 mi/s, or a difference of 0.9281427620% from today's agreed-upon value.

This difference might be accounted for by the value of 8,000 yards per "Kose" It is highly unlikely that such an "easy" conversion between two systems of linear measurement is accurate.

Agreement within 1% between the two estimates for the speed of light is indeed remarkable, especially since we believe measurement systems from our ancient past to be "primitive". Either the measuring equipment was not as primitive as we would like to believe, or the experimental method was far superior to what we know of today.

Answer 2

Using your figures I calculate the speed of light as 188,011 miles per second plus change. Since the actual speed is about 186,000 miles per second, this is a huge error by modern measurement standards.

Of course, with divine wisdom, all things are possible. Maybe the speed of light has slowed some since the Vadic writings were made.

If not, then someone knew a lot more about measuring the speed of light than is revealed in writings of that period.

One of the interesting things about Sanskrit is its ability to accurately represent in symbols every possible sound the human throat, lips, tongue and larynx are capable of making. This may apply not just to humans but to other animals too; I'm not sure about that. The language and the ancient writings are well worth study by modern humans.

Answer 3

sturdy adequate. Time does no longer circulate slower for rapid products. curiously to you, assuming you have to be table certain, that factor is passing slower for rapid products. If there are not any accelerations reward - each and every little thing is consistently shifting on the equivalent speeds relative to one yet another - then there is not any thank you to tell who's moving and who's at rest. Now the twin paradox, which you form of paraphrased here, has 3 accelerations in it. you start up from entertainment and attain an particularly severe velocity. After a time, you swap around this means which you sluggish down, you momentarily end, and you velocity as much as a severe velocity returned. hence you attain earth and sluggish to a stop. At each and each acceleration, you adventure a stress which the earthbound guy or woman does no longer so that's sparkling who's in circulate and who's at rest. hence, you are going to return after 10 years a while maximum effectual to hunt for out that a lots longer time has surpassed on the planet. Now celebrity trek assumes there is a thank you to adventure exterior of the 4 dimensional area that defines the universe - the so-trouble-loose as subspace. in this subspace, relativity does no longer save on with - that's exterior the universe fairly lots - so for you to circulate from factor to element in a finite volume of time and, the time it takes to traverse the hollow as measured by way of the starship's clock may be the time that elapses interior the universe - variety of no longer likely besides the shown fact that necessary while you're writting one hour long television episodes. there is not any data for this type of commute use in fashionable guy or woman trek.

Answer 4

Dear hi
Well yes it is amazing and there are many more amazing things in the Vedas. You have probably done a lot of excellent work and defined the Indian formula. Its great and i feel proud reading your definition.
I will some it as
" Jab Zero Diya Mere Bharat Na- tub Duniya ko Ginti Aaye"
(When India gave Zero then world came to know about counting)
Jai Hind

Answer 5

The Intelligent India.

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

It is, but I find it hard to believe that he pulled that number out of thin air, or found it simply by observation. Surely he must have had some experimental test to verify the speed that light travels at.

Answer 8

3*10^8 metre per second

Answer 9

It is 299792459 m/sec in vacuum, determined by kerr cell , the most accurate value measured so far.

Answer 10

BS

Have you ever heard of Nostradomus? This type of prophecy works the same way.

All this proves is that if you throw enough numbers out there, you can combine them to form most anything you want.