Discover the origins of the seven-day week and the intriguing history behind who named the days. Unravel the cultural, religious, and astronomical reasons driving the seven-day cycle. Explore the significance of this timekeeping tradition in human history.
The Origins of Days of the Week and Hours
Exploring the ancient roots of the days of the week and hours.
Misconceptions about Naming of Days
The common belief that the days of the week and their arrangement were named by the Egyptians, Babylonians, or Greeks is a misconception. In reality, the origins of these naming conventions have roots in different cultures and languages.
- Days not named by Egyptians, Babylonians, or Greeks:
Contrary to popular belief, the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks did not name the days of the week. The intricate system of naming days and dividing time can be credited to a different source.
- Word ‘hour’ originates from Sanskrit ‘Ahoratra’:
The word “hour” that we use to denote a specific unit of time can be traced back to the Sanskrit word “Ahoratra.” This ancient language is the origin of several terms related to time and celestial bodies.
- Sequence of weekdays traced back to ancient Indian texts:
The sequence in which we arrange the weekdays and divide the day into twenty-four hours can be found in ancient Indian texts like the Surya Siddhanta and Aryabhadeya. These texts hold the key to understanding the origins of our calendar system.
The naming of days originally involved Vedic deities, but as different cultures interacted and migrated, the days started to be named after local deities. Despite the British influence on the dissemination of these concepts, it is important to recognize that the credit for the days, their names, and their arrangement belongs to Bharat.
“The Central Board of Secular Education focused on Greek achievements, neglecting the rich history and contributions of Indian astronomy in shaping the modern calendar system.”
Evolution of Day Names
The days of the week and their arrangement were not named by the Egyptians, Babylonians, or Greeks as commonly believed. The word “hour” actually originates from the Sanskrit word “Ahoratra.” The sequence of weekdays and the division of the day into twenty-four hours can be traced back to ancient Indian texts like the Surya Siddhanta and Aryabhadeya.
Vedic deities were originally used to name the days, reflecting the deep spiritual and cultural roots of ancient India. As migrations occurred and cultures interacted, the days were named after local deities by various civilizations, each infusing their own beliefs and traditions into the concept of time-keeping.
Despite the influence of various colonial powers and the British teaching these concepts back to India during the colonial era, it is essential to acknowledge that the credit for the days, their names, and arrangement belongs to Bharat, the historical name for India. The heritage of Bharat encompasses a rich history of astronomy, mathematics, and civilization that had a profound impact on the development of the modern calendar system.
Neglect of Indian Contributions
Despite the common belief that the days of the week and their arrangement were named by Egyptians, Babylonians, or Greeks, the origins actually trace back to ancient Indian texts like the Surya Siddhanta and Aryabhadeya. The Sanskrit word “Ahoratra” is the root of the word “hour,” highlighting India’s significant influence on time measurement.
Originally, the days of the week were named after Vedic deities. However, as cultures mingled and migrated, various local deities were associated with different days. This system, along with the division of the day into twenty-four hours, can be credited back to the rich history of Indian astronomy.
Despite these foundational contributions by India, the British later reintroduced these concepts to the subcontinent. Additionally, the Central Board of Secular Education focused predominantly on highlighting Greek achievements, further sidelining the vital role of Indian astronomy in shaping the modern calendar system.
Indian astronomy has played a crucial role in shaping the modern calendar system, yet these contributions have often been overshadowed or neglected in mainstream historical narratives.
TL;DR
Indian contributions to the modern calendar system, including the naming of days and the division of time into hours, have been historically understated and often overshadowed by Western influences.
“દિવસો અને કલાકની મૂળભૂત સ્થળોની શોધ
સાત દિવસોની અન્ય જડેજ અને કલાકની અન્ય જડેજ સાથે અનુસંધાન.”
“દિવસોનું નામ કોઈ પણ સામાન્ય વિશ્વાસ છે કે તેની એજિપ્તિયન્સ, બેબિલોનિયન્સ, અથવા ગ્રીકોએ આધારીત નથી કર્યું હતું. અસલમાં, આ નામકરણ નીતિઓનું મૂળ વિવિધ સંસ્કૃતિઓ અને ભાષાઓમાં જડે છે. દિવસો એજિપ્ટિયન્સ, બેબિલોનિયન્સ, અને ગ્રીકોએ નામ કર્યો ન હતો: પ્રચલિત વિશ્વાસ નામ કે એજિપ્ટિયન્સ, બેબિલોનિયન્સ, અને ગ્રીકોએ દિવસોનું નામ કર્યો નથી. દિવસોનું નામકરણ અને દિવસો બાંધવાનો ઘેરાજો પ્રમુખ રીતે ભારતીય આધારો પર થયો છે.”
“વારનાં દિવસોના નામો પ્રારંભમાં વેદી દેવતાઓ સાથે જ હતા, પરંતુ જ્યારે વિવિધ સંસ્કૃતિઓ એક સાથે મેલવ્યા અને પ્રવાસો થયા, ત્યારે વિવિધ સ્થાની દેવતાઓ સાથે દિવસો નામકરણ કરવામાં આવ્યા. ભારતીય ધ્યાનચિંતનના અગ્રણીય યોગદાનોને પ્રમુખતઃ બ્રિટિશ અસરે વાપર્યો છે.”
“સાતનો સમયગણતર સિસ્ટમનું આધાર ભારતીય ધ્યાનચિંતનની અને ભારતીય ગણિતની મહત્વાકાંક્ષા પર છે.”
"સંક્ષિપ્ત સ્રોત
આધુનિક કેલેન્ડર સિસ્ટમની ભારતીય યોગદાનો, જેમ કે દિવસોનું
નામ અને સમયની 24 કલાકોમાં વિભાજન, ઇતિહાસમાં હાલ સાથે કમ મહત્વપૂર્ણ અને ઘણાં પશ્ચિમી પ્રભાવોથી પસાર થયા છે."