History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c38.s3.8

v1.c38.s3.8

Kauṭilya gives (Shamasastry, 1956, p.118-119), 1 day (day & night) = 30 muhūrtas, 1 muhūrta = 2 nālikā, 1 nālikā = 40 kalās, 1 kalā = 30 kāṣṭhās, 1 kāṣṭhā = 5 nimeṣa, 1 nimeṣa = 2 lavas and 1 lava = 2 truṭis. From days and nights, Kauṭilya goes upto month, ṛtu (season), ayana (solstices), samvatsara (year), and yuga. Udayana’s Kiraṇāvalī and Śrīdhara’s Nyayakandalī give: 1 day (24 hours) = 30 muhūrtas, 1 muhūrta = 30 kāṣṭhās, 1 kāṣṭhā = 18 nimeṣas, 1 nimeṣa = 2 lavas, 1 lava = 2 kṣanas. This makes 1 kṣana = 2/45 seconds, if 1 day is taken as 24 hours, which was possibly determined from diurnal rotation of the earth.