We know that speed of light is nearly 3⨯108 m/sec or 186282 miles/s. But do you know approximately same value for velocity of light has been calculated in Vedas. Let us discuss about such Vedic verses.
Rig Veda 1.50.4
तरणिर्विश्वदर्शतो ज्योतिष्कृदसि सूर्य Ι
विश्वमा भासि रोचनम् ΙΙ
संपूर्ण संसार में एकमात्र दर्शनीय हे सूर्य ! तू समस्त साधकों का उद्धार करने वाला, प्रकाशक है तथा विशाल अंतरिक्ष को सभी ओर से प्रकाशित करता हैΙ
O Sun! you are swift and all beautiful. you are maker of light, illuminates all the realm.
After this RigVedic verse, it was also discussed and elaborated by Sayana in 14th Century AD. He says :
तथा च स्मर्यते योजनानां सहस्त्रं द्वे द्वे शते द्वे च योजने Ι
एकेन निमिषार्धेन क्रममाण नमोऽस्तुते ΙΙ
हे सूर्य ! नमन आपको। सूर्य की किरणें(सूर्या) एक निमसा में 2,202 योजन की यात्रा करती है।
O Sun! Bow to you who traverses 2202 Yojanas in a nimisharda.
The Hymns of Rgveda gives a concrete idea about the speed of light in half-nimesa. One nimesa is equal to 16/75th of a second. And sunlight travels 2,202 yojanas in half-nimesa. Thus the velocity of light can calculated as:
In 1/2 nimesa i.e. 8/75 second, light travels 2,202 yojanas
1 yojana = 4 kos
1 kos = 2000 dandas
1 danda = 2 yards
1 yojana = 4⨯2000⨯2 yards
= 16000 yards
= 16000/1760 miles (∵1 mile = 1760yards)
= 100/11 miles
2202 yojanas = (2202⨯100)/11 miles
Therefore in 8/75 second, light travels 220200/11 miles and in 1 second, light travels (220200⨯75)/11⨯8 miles = 1,87,670 miles
Thus the velocity of light comes out to be 1,87,670 miles/s.
Rig Veda 1.50.4
तरणिर्विश्वदर्शतो ज्योतिष्कृदसि सूर्य Ι
विश्वमा भासि रोचनम् ΙΙ
संपूर्ण संसार में एकमात्र दर्शनीय हे सूर्य ! तू समस्त साधकों का उद्धार करने वाला, प्रकाशक है तथा विशाल अंतरिक्ष को सभी ओर से प्रकाशित करता हैΙ
O Sun! you are swift and all beautiful. you are maker of light, illuminates all the realm.
After this RigVedic verse, it was also discussed and elaborated by Sayana in 14th Century AD. He says :
तथा च स्मर्यते योजनानां सहस्त्रं द्वे द्वे शते द्वे च योजने Ι
एकेन निमिषार्धेन क्रममाण नमोऽस्तुते ΙΙ
हे सूर्य ! नमन आपको। सूर्य की किरणें(सूर्या) एक निमसा में 2,202 योजन की यात्रा करती है।
O Sun! Bow to you who traverses 2202 Yojanas in a nimisharda.
The Hymns of Rgveda gives a concrete idea about the speed of light in half-nimesa. One nimesa is equal to 16/75th of a second. And sunlight travels 2,202 yojanas in half-nimesa. Thus the velocity of light can calculated as:
In 1/2 nimesa i.e. 8/75 second, light travels 2,202 yojanas
1 yojana = 4 kos
1 kos = 2000 dandas
1 danda = 2 yards
1 yojana = 4⨯2000⨯2 yards
= 16000 yards
= 16000/1760 miles (∵1 mile = 1760yards)
= 100/11 miles
2202 yojanas = (2202⨯100)/11 miles
Therefore in 8/75 second, light travels 220200/11 miles and in 1 second, light travels (220200⨯75)/11⨯8 miles = 1,87,670 miles
Thus the velocity of light comes out to be 1,87,670 miles/s.