Search

Nimesha

Nimesha

निमेष, nimeṣa

“shutting the eye”, “twinkling”, “winking”

Nimesha is a unit of time denoting a moment, duration of blinking.

The most complete idea of time can be compiled from the ancient Indian treatise “Laws of Manu” (“Manawardharma Shastra”), which reads as follows:

"Eighteen nimeshas [constitute] kāṣṭhā; those thirty are kalā; muhūrta consists of thirty kalās; the same number [muhūrtas make] day and night [ahorātra]." 

From this description it is possible to calculate that 1 nimesha (winking) is 0.16 seconds.

Nimesha is mentioned in “Rigveda”: 

"With great respect, I worship the sun, which travels a distance of 2,202 yojanas for half a nimesha". 

In yoga and tantra practice, nimesha often means folding, closing, absorption and, along with unmesha, a manifestation of the will of the Supreme Absolute.



Share: