100

Trutis

= 1 Vedha

3

Vedhas

= 1 Lava

3

Lavas

= 1 Nimesha

3

Nimeshas

= 1 Kshańa

5

Kshańas

= 1 Kásht́há

15

Kásht́hás

= 1 Laghu

15

Laghus

= 1 Náriká

2

Nárikás

= 1 Muhúrtta

6 or 7

Nárikás

= 1 Yama, or watch of the day or night.

Allusions to this or either of the preceding computations, or to any other, have not been found in either of the other Puráńas: p. 23 yet the work of Gopála Bhat́t́a, from which Mr. Colebrooke states he derived his information on the subject of Indian weights and measures (A. R. 5. 105), the Sankhya Parimáńa, cites the Varáha P. for a peculiar computation, and quotes another from the Bhavishya, different from that which occurs in the first chapter of that work, to which we have referred. The principle of the calculation adopted by the astronomical works is different: it is, 6 respirations (Práńa) = 1 Vikalá; 60 Vikalás = 1 Dańd́a; 60 Dańd́as =1 sydereal day. The Nimesha, which is the base of one of the Pauráńic modes, is a twinkle of the eye of a man at rest; whilst the Paramáńu, which is the origin of the other, and apparently more modern system, considering the works in which it occurs, is the time taken by a Paramáńu, or mote in the sunbeam, to pass through a crevice in a shutter. Some indications of this calculation being in common currency, occur in the Hindustani terms Reńu (Trasareńu) and Lamhu (Laghu) in Indian horometry (A. R. 5. 81); whilst the more ordinary system seems derived from the astronomical works, being 60 Tilas = 1 Vipala; 60 Vipalas = 1 Pala; 60 Palas = 1 Dańd́a or Ghari. Ibid.

23:4 These calculations of time are found in most of the Puráńas, with some additions occasionally, of no importance, as that of the year of the seven Rishis, 3030 mortal years, and the year of Dhruva, 9090 such years, in the Linga P. In all essential points the computations accord, and the scheme, extravagant as it may appear, seems to admit of easy explanation. We have, in the first place, a computation of the years of the gods in the four ages, or, p. 24

Krita

Yuga

4000

Sandhyá

400

Sandhyánsa

400

4800

Tretá

Yuga

3000

Sandhyá

300

Sandhyánsa

300

3600

Dwápara

Yuga

2000

Sandhyá

200

Sandhyánsa

200

2400

Kali

Yuga

1000

Sandhya

100

Sandhyánsa

100

1200

12000.

[paragraph continues] If these divine years are converted into years of mortals, by multiplying them by 360, a year of men being a day of the gods, we obtain the years of which the Yugas of mortals are respectively said to consist:

4800 x 360

= 1.728.000

3600 x 360

= 1.296.000

2400 x 360