History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.53.1

v6.c82.53.1

From very ancient times minute divisions of time have been mentioned. The Vāj. S. states⁶⁷⁸ 'that all winkings of the eye (and similar units of time) were produced from the (supreme). Person that is brilliant (like lightning)'. This half verse occurs in the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad also. It is stated in the Bṛ. Up.⁶⁷⁹ that under the dominion of this imperishable *brahma* the Sun and the Moon are held apart, as also *nimeṣas*, *muhūrtas*, days, and nights, half months, months, seasons, and years stand apart The Mahānārāyana Upaniṣad' (I. 8-9) mentions as units of time 'Nimeṣas, Kalā, muhūrta, kāṣṭhā, ahorātra, half months, months, ṛtus, year' Manu I. 64 provides that 18 nimeṣas are equal to kāṣṭhā, 30 kāṣṭhās to kalā, 30 kalās to muhūrta, 30 muhūrtas are equal to one day and night Early and very exhaustive enumeration of the several units of time from subtlest to the highest are contained in Bṛhat-saṁhitā of Varāha and in the bhāṣya of Praśastapāda on Vaiśeṣikasūtra⁶⁸⁰ viz 'Kāla is the cause of the popular usage about the units being *kṣaṇa*, *lava*, *nimeṣas*, *kāṣṭhā*, *kalā*, muhūrta, yāma (prahara or ⅛th of a day), ahorātra (day and night), ardhamāsa (half month), māsa (month), ṛtu (season), ayana, saṁvatsara (year), yuga, manvantara, kalpa, pralaya and mahāpralaya. The Purāṇas also dilate upon the units of time from nimeṣa to pralaya or kalpa. Vide Brahma 231. 6-12, Kūrma I. 5 6-14, Padma V 3. 4-20, Vāyu 57 6-35. Nimeṣa (lit.