History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.53.3

v6.c82.53.3

quotes verses from Pauliśa-siddhānta and Brāhmasphuṭa-siddhānta to the effect that six prāṇas are equal to a vināḍikā, 60 vināḍikās are equal to a nāḍikā or ghaṭikā and 60 ghaṭikās are equal to a day (i. e. ahorātra). A smṛti quoted in the Tithitattva states that two truṭis make a lava, 2 lavas make a nimeṣa, so that truṭi is equal to ¼th of nimeṣa. Hemādri on Kāla (p. 7) quotes a verse that truṭi is equal to two nimeṣas and 10 truṭis are equal to prāṇa. The Amarakośa follows Manu as to eighteen nimeṣas being equal to kāṣṭhā, but it introduces a unit called kṣaṇa between kalā and muhūrta, so that its scheme is: 18 nimeṣas = kāṣṭhā, 30 kāṣṭhās = kalā, 30 kalās = kṣaṇa, 12 kṣaṇas = muhūrta, 30 muhūrtas = ahorātra. The Bhāgavata-purāṇa (III. 11. 3-10) puts forward a far more elaborate scheme: two atoms (of Time) = aṇu, 3 aṇus = trasareṇu, 3 trasareṇus = truṭi, 100 truṭis = vedha, 3 vedhas = lava, 3 lavas = nimeṣa, 3 nimeṣas = kṣaṇa, 5 kṣaṇas = kāṣṭhā, 15 kāṣṭhās = laghu, 15 laghus = nāḍikā, 2 nāḍikās = muhūrta, 30 muhūrtas = ahorātra. In the Ātharvaṇa-jyotiṣa the table is: 12 nimeṣas = lava, 30 lavas = kalā, 30 kalās = truṭi, 30 truṭis = muhūrta. This agrees with none. Further units of time from ahorātra to *pralaya* will be dwelt upon a little later.