Lecture Summary: Ancient Indian Units of Measurement

Introduction

• Previous videos covered:
  • Indian perspective on numbers
  • Large numbers, number names, and unique representation
• Current video focus:
  • Units of measurement in ancient Indian knowledge system
  • Importance for trade, science, and discoveries
  • Units for time, length, and weight

Units of Measurement

Length

• Ancient texts like Srimad Bhagavatam Mahapurana describe units
• "Paramanu" is a fundamental measure for length
  • Not directly related to modern subatomic particles
  • Time for light to pass through a paramanu: ~1.31 x 10^-5 seconds
  • Paramanu of length: ~2.88 x 10^-7 millimeters
  • Paramanu of weight: ~5.79 x 10^-5 grams
• Ancient Indian table of length:
  • 7 Paramanu = 1 Renu
  • 49 Paramanu = 1 Thruti
  • 343 Paramanu = 1 Varthya
  • 1 Anguli Parva = 7 Yavas
  • 1 Yojana = 14.484 kilometers

Time

• Srimad Bhagavatam Mahapurana offers detailed time units
  • From 10^-5 seconds to 432 billion human years
  • Paramanu as the smallest time unit
• Experiment with copper vessel in Puranas:
  • Copper vessel (6 Palas weight) submerged on water
  • Golden needle (4 inches long, 4 mashas weight) pierces hole for water
  • Resulting elapsed time to submerge: "Nadika"
• Table of time units:
  • 2 Paramanu = 1 Anu
  • 3 Anu = 1 Thrut Renu
  • 100 Veda = 1 Lava
  • 2 Nadika = Larger time units

Weight

• Historical evidence from Harappan period
• Arthashastra details weights:
  • Precious metal weights
  • 16 types of balances with calibration every 3 months
  • Inspector of devices for certification
• Ayurveda requires precise weight measures
• Ancient Indian table of weight:
  • 1 Paramanu = ~5.787 x 10^-5 grams
  • 30 Paramanu = 1 Vamshi
  • 4 Palas = 48 grams

Conclusion

• Importance of detailed units for:
  • Astronomical calculations
  • Trade
  • Ayurveda
• Upcoming video will explore ancient origins of binary systems