What is Time?

In the scriptures, time has been calculated in the following manner:-

One type of time destroys the world, and the other type is calculative, that is, it can be known. Time is also of two types—gross and subtle. Gross can be measured, so it is called concrete, and subtle cannot be measured, so it is called abstract.

The first type of time cannot even be imagined, because neither it is known when it started nor it will be known when it will end. It is unbroken and all-pervasive; but in its midst or while it is present, the world ends; Brahma is born, creates the world, and destroys it, but time remains. That is why it is called the destroyer of the world. That is why death is also called time.

The little middle part of the time can be known; even in that, the tiny part cannot be measured and is called abstract. The more subtle the measurement, the new definition of abstract time will also be;

All the units of time from Praan to above are called Murt (tangible) and the units from Truti to below Praan are called Amurt (immaterial). 6 Praans make one Vinadi (moment) and 60 Vinadis make one Naadi (clock). 60 Naadis make one Nakshatra Ahoratra (a pair of day and night) and 30 Nakshatra Ahoratra make one Nakshatra month. Similarly, 30 saavan days make one Savan month. Similarly, 30 lunar dates make one lunar month and the time from one Sankranti to the next Sankranti is called Solar month. 12 months make one year; which is called holy day or the day of the Gods.

If a healthy person is sitting comfortably, then the time in which he easily inhales and exhales air (Prana Vayu) is called Praan. This is the smallest unit, which could be measured at that time. There was no means of measuring less time than this at that time. That is why it was called intangible. Now such watches are made with which it is easy to measure even that unit which is called intangible. There are 60 ghadis in a Nakshatra day = 60 X 60 pal = 60 X 60 X 60 praan or 21600 praan. Similarly, there are 24 hours in a day = 24 X 60 minutes 24 X 60 X 60 seconds or 86400 seconds. Therefore, there are 4 seconds in 1 praan. Everyone knows how easy it is to measure seconds with a watch that has a second needle. There are also such watches with which one-fifth or one-tenth of a second can be easily known. But 1/10 of a second is like 1/40 of a praan. Therefore, nowadays some units below praan can also be called tangible.

Praan is also called asu...