We all know about the fastest moving thing in the universe i.e. LIGHT moving with a speed of around 30,00,00,000 m/s. If we google the internet about the discovery of the speed of light the you will learn either about Michaelson & Morley (in 19th century AD) or about Ole Roemer (in 1676) who were the person behind the discovery of the speed of light.
Let's see about our seers' approach to the discovery of speed of light. Given below a slokha from Rik-samhita - 1.50.4 and its translations. This slokha was written long long ago..........
The sun quickly pervades the whole world. Sayanacharya ( a celebrated saint ) comments on the above text.
"It is remembered that the sunlight travels 2,202 yojanas in half a nimisha."
1 yojana = 9 miles,
110 yards = 9.6025 miles
2,202 yojanas = 21,144.705 miles
Time taken = 1/2 nimisha = 1/8.75 = 0.114286 seconds
Thus speed of light = 1,85,016.169 miles/second
Modern value = 1,86,000 miles/second
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