Many civilizations and religions have the concept of 7 days making a week. Is there any astronomical significance for this (7 days in a week)? How come all civilizations chose exactly to have 7 days in a week?
I had asked the very same question to Dr.S.Balachandra Rao of the Gandhi Center at the M.P.Birla Research Foundation. (Some of you might know him as the mathematics professor & HOD and former principal of National College).
He is an exponent in the subject of calendars and has authored many books. Link to all his books (both math and astronomy) is provided here.
His answer was that this concept started with babylonians and chaldeans. (indians adopted from them). People wanted a bigger unit than a day but smaller unit than a month. Even fortnight (paksha) seemed rather long. Since no natural unit existed (unlike day or paksha) they had to devise a concept of week (half of fortnight). As some of you have guessed, it is indeed to do with the visible planets + sun and moon. (numbering in 7)
Now reg. naming of the weekdays, the ingenious technique used is explained in detail in the book authored by him. "Astrology believe it or not" - published by navakarnataka. (More on that in a later post).
You can visit Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan to talk to him in person at "Gandhi Centre Of Science And Human Values" and buy his books as well.
I had asked the very same question to Dr.S.Balachandra Rao of the Gandhi Center at the M.P.Birla Research Foundation. (Some of you might know him as the mathematics professor & HOD and former principal of National College).
He is an exponent in the subject of calendars and has authored many books. Link to all his books (both math and astronomy) is provided here.
His answer was that this concept started with babylonians and chaldeans. (indians adopted from them). People wanted a bigger unit than a day but smaller unit than a month. Even fortnight (paksha) seemed rather long. Since no natural unit existed (unlike day or paksha) they had to devise a concept of week (half of fortnight). As some of you have guessed, it is indeed to do with the visible planets + sun and moon. (numbering in 7)
Now reg. naming of the weekdays, the ingenious technique used is explained in detail in the book authored by him. "Astrology believe it or not" - published by navakarnataka. (More on that in a later post).
You can visit Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan to talk to him in person at "Gandhi Centre Of Science And Human Values" and buy his books as well.
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