Hindu units and measurement of time

According to the Hindu tradition of time measurement, the basic unit is in terms of the wink of the eye. While the human wink, Devas, on the other hand, do not wink. That is why they are known as 'Imaiyavar' in Tamil – those who don't wink. In Nala-Dhamayanthi purana, Dhamayanthi identified Nala by the wink of the eye and the garland he was wearing was withering. Time is not applicable for celestials. 

That means there is no time for them.

Time is applicable for us in the created world.

18 winks = 1 kashtam

30 kashtam = 1 kala

30 kala = 1 vinadi

60 vinadi = 1 naazhigai / ghati = 24 minutes

2 naazhigai / ghati  = 1 muhurtha

30 muhurtha = 1 day = 24 hours

or

60 naazhigai / ghati = 1 day.

Another way is to take 'truti' as the basic unit.

Truti is the time taken for a needle to prick a lotus leaf.

60  truti = 1 prana (1 inhale + 1 exhale = 1 prana)

6 pranas = 1 vinadi

60 vinadi = 1 naazhigai

(and the rest continues as before.)

Another way of calculation is like this.

1 day = 10 jaamam.

10 jaamam = 30 muhurthas = 60 ghatis.

1 jaamam = 3 muhurthas = 6 ghatis

1 jaamam = 6 x 24 = 144 minutes = 2 hours, 24 minutes.

The further division of time until the basic unit is like this.

1 ghati / naazhigai = 60 vinadi / vighati = 24 minutes

1 vinadi = 60 lipta

1 lipta = 60 viliptas

1 vilipta = 60 para

1 para = 60 tatapras.

So a day was divisible into

60 x 60 x 60 x 60 x 60 x 60  basal units of tatapara

according to Hindu system!!