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== Day in Vedic Astronomy ==

== Day in Vedic Astronomy ==

The day, called vāsara or ahan in the vedic literature, was reckoned from sunrise to sunrise. The variability of its length was known. The Ṛgveda (8. 48. 7) invoking Somarāja says: “O Somarāja, prolong thou our lives just as the Sun increases the length of the days.”<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>सोम राजन्प्र ण आयूंषि तारीरहानीव सूर्यो वासराणि ॥७॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 8, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AE.%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AE Sukta 48].</ref></blockquote>The duration of daylight, reckoned from sunrise to sunset, was divided into two parts called pūrvāhṇa (forenoon) and aparāhṇa (afternoon), three parts called, pūrvāhṇa, madhyāhna, and aparāhṇa, four parts called pūrvāhṇa madhyāhna, aparāhṇa and sāyāhna,4 and five parts called prātaḥ, saṅgava, madhyāhna, aparāhṇa, and sāyāhna (Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa, 2. 2. 3. 9).<blockquote>आदित्यस्त्वेव सर्व ऋतवः । यदैवोदेत्यथ वसन्तो यदा संगवोऽथ ग्रीष्मो यदा मध्यन्दिनोऽथ वर्षा यदापराह्णोऽथ शरद्यदैवास्तमेत्यथ हेमन्तस्तस्मादु मध्यंन्दिन एवादधीत तर्हि ह्येषोऽस्य लोकस्य नेदिष्ठं भवति तन्नेदिष्ठादेवैनमेतन्मध्यान्निर्मिमीते - २.२.३.[९]<ref>Shatapatha brahmana, Kanda 2, Adhyaya 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3_%E0%A5%A9 Brahmana 3].</ref></blockquote>Of these names the first three occur in Ṛgveda, 5. 76. 3; <blockquote>उता यातं संगवे प्रातरह्नो मध्यंदिन उदिता सूर्यस्य । दिवा नक्तमवसा शंतमेन नेदानीं पीतिरश्विना ततान ॥३॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AB.%E0%A5%AD%E0%A5%AC Sukta 76].</ref></blockquote>and sāyam (evening) occurs in Ṛgveda, 8. 2. 20;  <blockquote>मो ष्वद्य दुर्हणावान्सायं करदारे अस्मत् । अश्रीर इव जामाता ॥२०॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 8, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AE.%E0%A5%A8 Sukta 2].</ref></blockquote>10. 146. 3, 40.<blockquote>उत गाव इवादन्त्युत वेश्मेव दृश्यते । उतो अरण्यानिः सायं शकटीरिव सर्जति ॥३॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AC Sukta 146].</ref></blockquote>Kauṭilya (Arthaśāstra, 1.19), Dakṣa, and Kātyāyana divided the day and night each into eight parts.<blockquote>नालिकाभिरहरष्टधा रात्रिं च विभजेत् । छाया-प्रमाणेन वा ।। ०१.१९.०६ ।।<ref>Arthashastra, Adhikarana 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 19].</ref></blockquote>The days and nights were also divided into 15 parts each, and these parts were called muhūrta. The muhurtas falling during the days of the light and dark fortnights as well as those falling during the nights of the light and dark fortnights were given specific names (Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa, 3. 10. 1. 1–3). The fifteen days and nights of the light fortnight as well as the fifteen days and nights of the dark fortnight were also assigned special names (Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa, 3. 10. 1. 1–3; 3. 10. 10. 2).<ref name=":0">Taittiriya brahmana, Kanda 3, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Prapathaka 10].</ref>

The day, in vedic literature was called Vasara (वासरः) or ahan (अहन्). And was reckoned from sunrise to sunrise. The variability of its length was known. For, the Ṛgveda invoking Somaraja says: <blockquote>''“O Somaraja, prolong thou our lives just as the Sun increases the length of the days.”<ref name=":1" />''</blockquote><blockquote>सोम राजन्प्र ण आयूंषि तारीरहानीव सूर्यो वासराणि ॥७॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 8, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AE.%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AE Sukta 48].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''soma rājanpra ṇa āyūṁṣi tārīrahānīva sūryo vāsarāṇi ॥7॥''</blockquote>

 

The duration of daylight, reckoned from sunrise to sunset, was variously divided:

# Two parts called Purvahna (forenoon) and Aparahna (afternoon)

# Three parts called Purvahna, Madhyahna, and Aparahna.

# Four parts called Purvahna, Madhyahna, Aparahna and Sayahna

# Five parts called Pratah, Sangava, Madhyahna, Aparahna, and Sayahna

The names of these five parts occur together in the Shatapatha brahmana,<blockquote>आदित्यस्त्वेव सर्व ऋतवः । यदैवोदेत्यथ वसन्तो यदा संगवोऽथ ग्रीष्मो यदा मध्यन्दिनोऽथ वर्षा यदापराह्णोऽथ शरद्यदैवास्तमेत्यथ हेमन्तस्तस्मादु मध्यंन्दिन एवादधीत तर्हि ह्येषोऽस्य लोकस्य नेदिष्ठं भवति तन्नेदिष्ठादेवैनमेतन्मध्यान्निर्मिमीते - २.२.३.९<ref>Shatapatha brahmana, Kanda 2, Adhyaya 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3_%E0%A5%A9 Brahmana 3].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''ādityastveva sarva r̥tavaḥ । yadaivodetyatha vasanto yadā saṁgavo'tha grīṣmo yadā madhyandino'tha varṣā yadāparāhṇo'tha śaradyadaivāstametyatha hemantastasmādu madhyaṁndina evādadhīta tarhi hyeṣo'sya lokasya nediṣṭhaṁ bhavati tannediṣṭhādevainametanmadhyānnirmimīte''</blockquote>Of these names the first three occur in Ṛgveda, 5. 76. 3; <blockquote>उता यातं संगवे प्रातरह्नो मध्यंदिन उदिता सूर्यस्य । दिवा नक्तमवसा शंतमेन नेदानीं पीतिरश्विना ततान ॥३॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AB.%E0%A5%AD%E0%A5%AC Sukta 76].</ref></blockquote>and sāyam (evening) occurs in Ṛgveda, 8. 2. 20;  <blockquote>मो ष्वद्य दुर्हणावान्सायं करदारे अस्मत् । अश्रीर इव जामाता ॥२०॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 8, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AE.%E0%A5%A8 Sukta 2].</ref></blockquote>10. 146. 3, 40.<blockquote>उत गाव इवादन्त्युत वेश्मेव दृश्यते । उतो अरण्यानिः सायं शकटीरिव सर्जति ॥३॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AC Sukta 146].</ref></blockquote>Kauṭilya (Arthaśāstra, 1.19), Dakṣa, and Kātyāyana divided the day and night each into eight parts.<blockquote>नालिकाभिरहरष्टधा रात्रिं च विभजेत् । छाया-प्रमाणेन वा ।। ०१.१९.०६ ।।<ref>Arthashastra, Adhikarana 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 19].</ref></blockquote>The days and nights were also divided into 15 parts each, and these parts were called muhūrta. The muhurtas falling during the days of the light and dark fortnights as well as those falling during the nights of the light and dark fortnights were given specific names (Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa, 3. 10. 1. 1–3). The fifteen days and nights of the light fortnight as well as the fifteen days and nights of the dark fortnight were also assigned special names (Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa, 3. 10. 1. 1–3; 3. 10. 10. 2).<ref name=":0">Taittiriya brahmana, Kanda 3, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6 Prapathaka 10].</ref>

On the analogy of a civil day, a lunar day was also sometimes reckoned from one moonrise to the next and the name tithi was given to it (Aitareyabrāhmaṇa, 32. 10). <blockquote>तदाहुर्यद्दर्शपूर्णमासयोरुपवसति न ह वा अव्रतस्य देवा हविरश्नन्ति तस्मादुपवसत्युत मे देवा हविरश्नीयुरिति। पूर्वां पौर्णमासीमुपवसेदिति पैङ्ग्यमुत्तरामिति कौषीतकं या पूर्वा पौर्णमासी साऽनुमतिर्योत्तरा सा राका। या पूर्वाऽमावास्या सा सिनीवाली योत्तरा सा कुहूः। यां पर्यस्तमियादभ्युदियादिति सा तिथिः। पूर्वां पौर्णमासीमुपवसेदनिर्ज्ञाय पुरस्तादमावास्यायां चन्द्रमसं यदुपैति यद्यजते तेन सोमं क्रीणन्ति तेनोत्तरामुपवसेदुत्तराणि ह वै सोमो यजते सोममनु दैवतमेतद्वै देवसोमं यच्चन्द्रमास्तस्मादुत्तरामुपवसेत्॥7.11॥ (32.10) (134)<ref>Aitareya brahmana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A5%AD_(%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE) Panchika 7].</ref></blockquote>The use of the term tithi in the sense in which it is used now occurs in the Vedāṅga-jyautiṣa (Ārca-jyautiṣa, 20, 21, 31; Yājuṣa-jyautiṣa, 20–23, 25, 26). It does not occur in the vedic saṃhitās and brāhmaṇas, but there are reasons to believe that tithis were used even in those times.<ref name=":1" />

On the analogy of a civil day, a lunar day was also sometimes reckoned from one moonrise to the next and the name tithi was given to it (Aitareyabrāhmaṇa, 32. 10). <blockquote>तदाहुर्यद्दर्शपूर्णमासयोरुपवसति न ह वा अव्रतस्य देवा हविरश्नन्ति तस्मादुपवसत्युत मे देवा हविरश्नीयुरिति। पूर्वां पौर्णमासीमुपवसेदिति पैङ्ग्यमुत्तरामिति कौषीतकं या पूर्वा पौर्णमासी साऽनुमतिर्योत्तरा सा राका। या पूर्वाऽमावास्या सा सिनीवाली योत्तरा सा कुहूः। यां पर्यस्तमियादभ्युदियादिति सा तिथिः। पूर्वां पौर्णमासीमुपवसेदनिर्ज्ञाय पुरस्तादमावास्यायां चन्द्रमसं यदुपैति यद्यजते तेन सोमं क्रीणन्ति तेनोत्तरामुपवसेदुत्तराणि ह वै सोमो यजते सोममनु दैवतमेतद्वै देवसोमं यच्चन्द्रमास्तस्मादुत्तरामुपवसेत्॥7.11॥ (32.10) (134)<ref>Aitareya brahmana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A5%AD_(%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE) Panchika 7].</ref></blockquote>The use of the term tithi in the sense in which it is used now occurs in the Vedāṅga-jyautiṣa (Ārca-jyautiṣa, 20, 21, 31; Yājuṣa-jyautiṣa, 20–23, 25, 26). It does not occur in the vedic saṃhitās and brāhmaṇas, but there are reasons to believe that tithis were used even in those times.<ref name=":1" />