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A 14th century CE Sanskrit commentary on the Rig Veda contains a value for the speed of light accurate to 0.14% — 300 years before Ole Rømer
In the 14th century CE, Sayanacharya — prime minister of the Vijayanagara Empire and great Sanskrit scholar — wrote a comprehensive commentary on the Rig Veda. While commenting on hymn 1.50.4 — a hymn to the Sun god — he wrote a statement that would astonish scientists in the 21st century.
"तथा च स्मर्यते योजनानां सहस्रे द्वे द्वे शते द्वे च योजने एकेन निमिषार्धेन क्रममाण नमोऽस्तु ते"
"Thus it is remembered: O [Surya], you who traverse two thousand two hundred and two yojanas in half a nimesha, salutations to you."
— Sayana, Rigvedabhashya, commentary on hymn 1.50.4 (~1380 CE)
Yojana: Ancient Indian distance unit. Per Arthashastra ≈ 9.09 miles (14.6 km).
Nimesha: A blink of an eye — ancient Indian time unit. ≈ 16/75 seconds.
Half-nimesha: ≈ 8/75 seconds ≈ 0.1067 seconds.
Calculation:
2,202 × 9.09 mi / 0.1067 s ≈ 186,536 mi/s
Modern: 186,282 mi/s
Error: 0.14%