Invention of Clocks: Today, time rules every aspect of human life. But this was not something that humans invented overnight. The idea of ​​time has existed since the beginning of civilization. But what evolved was how humans learned to measure it. Let us know what is the answer to this question.

How did humans first understand time?

In the early stages of civilization, time was understood through nature. The rising and setting of the sun marked the beginning and end of the day. Along with this, the changing phases of the moon helped people keep track of the months. The movement of stars in the night sky also played a big role in understanding the cycles of weather.

24 hour day birth

The biggest milestone in the history of measuring time came from ancient Egypt. Between 1550 and 1069 BC the Egyptians divided the day into 24 hours. 12 hours were kept for day and 12 for night. But these hours were not fixed. The length of the 1 hour varied with the season. Long in summer and short in winter.

first device to measure time

The sundial is considered to be the oldest known device used to measure time. In this there was a straight stick stuck in the ground which was called nomon. As the sun moved in the sky, the shadow of the stick changed its position. This is how the time of the day was known. The oldest known sundial dates back to about 1500 BC in ancient Egypt.

water clock

The sundial worked only in daylight and clear weather. To deal with this problem, ancient civilizations developed water clocks. These are known as Ghati Yantra in India. These devices used a continuous flow of water from one vessel to another through a small hole. By measuring how much water flowed in a given time, people could keep track of time even at night or in cloudy weather.

Mechanical trains changed everything

The real revolution in time measurement came with the invention of mechanical clocks in Europe in the middle of the 14th century. These clocks used weights, gears, and escapement mechanisms to measure time without relying on natural objects. Initially these clocks were very large and not accurate but they brought a big change.

pendulum clock

In 1656, Dutch scientist Christian Huygens invented the pendulum clock. Due to this, tremendous improvement was seen in accuracy. Because of the pendulum’s constantly rotating motion, the clocks were behind by only a few seconds each day, rather than by minutes or hours.

first portable watch

In 1505, German locksmith Peter Henlein created the first portable clock. Although not very accurate by modern standards, it allowed people to take time with them for the first time.

Also read: Does height increase when we go to space, know the science behind it

In ancient India, Time Measurement in Ancient India was not only scientific process, but it was deeply connected in every aspect of religion, astrology and life.

From Vedic Period to Medieval Period, time calculation was done with means like Sun (Sun), Moon (Moon), Constellations, Constellations, Water Clock and Panchang.

These devices were used not only in daily life, but also in yajna, fasting, festivals, war and agriculture. Let’s know how

Sun Clock: Sun is the lord of Kalachakra!
Vedic proof:
It is said in the Rigveda (10.85.13) –
‘Suryo Devo Yatra Kalachakran Vahi’
(Surya Dev is going to run the Kalachakra)

How did the sun work
Ganomon (stick) was made in the middle by making an hour lines on a stone or metal plank. Time was known by changing the angle of the shadow of the sun.

How was it used in religious works?
Its use was common for Sandhya-Vandan, Agnihotra, daily worship and time to start the journey.

Water Clock: Current calculation from watch to Muhurta

• Classical mentions:
  A detailed description of water-waters is found in the texts of Suryasiddhanta and Bhaskaracharya.
  1 day = 60 clock (decreased), 1 clock = 24 minutes, 1 Muhurta = 48 minutes.
• Religious importance:
  To measure Aarti, Naivedya and Mahapuja in temples.
  To set auspicious moments of huge religious events like Kumbh Mela.
• Astrological experiment:
  In eclipse, fasting and marriage-muhurta determination.

What was the way of measurement of the moon and constellation -based time?

1. Vedic reference:
   It is said in the Atharvaveda –
   ‘Moon Masanan Raja’
   (Moon is the king of month)
2. How was it done
   The night time of the moon (Amavasya, Purnima etc.) and the status of the constellations was decided.
3. Religious Uses:
   Festivals like Karva Chauth, Mahashivaratri, Janmashtami are based on the lunar philosophy.

Sand-Ghadi and Deepak-Ghadi: Time’s fire

• Calculation of time due to lamp oil burning or sand fall in ancient times.
• Use of lamp clock in temples in South India for Abhishek and Aarti time.
• In Buddhist monasteries, meditation was measured with incense sticks.

Almanac and astrological time science
Date, war, constellation, yoga and Karan are considered to be 5 parts of these almanacs. The formulas of Varahamihira’s Brihat Samhita and Bhaskaracharya’s principle Shiromani are found to be the formulas of Muhurta determination. On the basis of this, a combination of planetary and clock was done to decide the time of auspicious works.

Modern Comparison: Ancient times from measurement to digital age

• Then: Sun, lunar, water-wage, sand-wage, almanac
• Now: Nuclear clocks, digital watch, celestial software
• Equality: Even today, the Panchang and Muhurta calculations are considered the same principles which were decided thousands of years ago.

Time measurement in ancient India was not only a means of knowing ‘hour’ and ‘minutes’, it was a period of time-system of religion, astrology, agriculture, war, business and society. This is the reason that Kaal has been called the ‘form of God’ in Vedic literature-‘Kal: Sarveshu Bhuteshu’ (Mahabharata).

FAQS
Q1. What were the main means of measurement time in ancient India?
Suryaghadi, water-clock, sand-clock, lamp-wage, moon-nakshatra and almanac.

Q2. What was the religious significance of water and water?
The auspicious time of Aarti, Puja and festival-festival was determined by water-wandering.

Q3. What are the 5 organs of almanac?
Date, war, constellation, yoga and karan.

Disclaimer: Here information provided here is based only on beliefs and information. It is important to mention here that Abplive.com does not confirm any kind of recognition, information. Before implementing any information or recognition, consult the concerned expert.