Why does a week have seven days?

It is funny how the whole world believes that the 7 day week is a western concept! It is not a concept borrowed from Romans as it is generally believed.

The 7 day week is not really based on western calendar. Firstly, let's look at how classic predictions (Jyothisha Shastra) of the Vedas for answers to these questions :

* Why do we have only 7 days in a week? Why can't we have 8 or 9? * What is an hour? * Why do we have only 24 hours in a day? Why can't we have 30 or 40 units and call it an hour?

Ancient Indians were so well versed that they often used 4 to 5 different units of time. If you ask your Indian grandmother, she might have told you that during her days, people measured time in a weird unit called ghati/ghadiya (1 ghati = 24 minutes).

1 day is the time lapsed between two sunrises. Sandhi, in Sankrit, means knot or junction and hence the junction points are named as pratah sandhya (Early morning) and sayam sandhya (Evening) which divide the standard day into two halves i.e from sunrise to sunset and sunset to sunrise.

Since there are 12 Zodiac constellations, each constellation is assigned a part of the half a day unit and hence 12 parts in half a day each, together 12+12=24 units. This is the concept of hora or hour. (Yes, hora is the standard hour. English unit of time and Sanskrit unit of time named similarly. Strange coincidence, don't you think so?)

Just as there are constellations associated with each hora, each graha is assigned rulership of individual hora. The order of the planetary rulership of horas is as follows:-

 * Surya (Sun/SUN-DAY) followed by

 * Shukra (Venus/FRI-DAY) followed by

 * Budha (Mercury/WEDNES-DAY) followed by

 * Soma (Moon/MON-DAY) followed by

 * Shani (Saturn/SATUR-DAY) followed by

 * Guru (Jupiter/THURS-DAY) followed by

 * Mangala (Mars/TUES-DAY).

In Indian Prediction science (jyothisha shastra), the rising sign at the time of sunrise is noted down and is considered very important to make any astronomical/astrological calculations regarding a chart, especially to find out the janma lagna (Birth time), it is very essential. So, the rising sign is very important. Likewise, the planetary rulership of the hora during the time of sunrise is noted down. The planet that rules the hora at the time of sunrise is assigned the rulership of the whole day.

And hence,

the day Ravi-vara (or Sun-day) is named after Ravi/Sun who is assigned lordship of the day because he rules the hora at the time of sunrise of that day. Now, following Sun, the next hour after sunrise is ruled by Shukra followed by the rest. In the above mentioned order of rulership of horas, calculate the next ruling planet that comes after 24 horas i.e

* Ist hour by Ravi * 2nd hour by Shukra * 3rd hour by Budha * 4th hour by Soma * 5th hour by Shani * 6th hour by Guru * 7th hour by Mangala * 8th hour by Ravi * 9th hour by Shukra * 10th hour by Budha * 11th hour by Soma * 12th hour by Shani * 13th hour by Guru * 14th hour by Mangala * 15th hour by Ravi * 16th hour by Shukra * 17th hour by Budha * 18th hour by Soma * 19th hour by Shani * 20th hour by Guru * 21st hour by Mangala * 22nd hour by Ravi * 23rd hour by Shukra * 24th hour by Budha..........* End of a day * 25th hour by Soma (Moon/Monday)

As you see it turns out that Soma is the ruler of the next day's sunrise. And hence, the next day Soma-vara (or Mon-day) is named after Chandra/Moon who is assigned lordship of the day because he rules the hora at the time of that day's sunrise.

In the same order, Mangala-vara (Tuesday) for Mangala/Mars being the hora ruler at sunrise,

Budha-vara (Wednesday) for Budha/Mercury being the hora ruler at sunrise,

Guru-vara (Thursday) for Deva Guru Brihaspati/Jupiter being the hora ruler at sunrise,

Shukra-vara (Friday) for Shukra/Venus being the hora ruler at sunrise,

Shani-vara (Saturday) for Shani/Saturn being the hora ruler at sunrise,

Now, after Saturday, the cycle reverts to :

(a) With Surya being the ruler of the hora at the time of next day's sunrise. This is the reason why there are only 7 days in a week based on these calculations of hora and their planetary rulership as mentioned in the vedic texts.

(b) One may be a Christian, Muslim, Sikh or Jew, knowingly or unknowingly, they follow the methods of the ancient Rishis.

(c) This is the reason why Hindu dharma is called Ancient Indian Civilisation Principles - called as Sanatana dharma (eternal and expansive in its very nature).

It is funny how the whole world believes that the 7 day week is a western concept!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. 

The trip to Pulinkkunnu Sub Registrar's office tomorrow has been postponed on account of two reasons - my cousin, Sindhu's cough and cold and the scare of the Burevi cyclone. The districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha are on Red alert on account of the impending heavy rain. Informed Mini, first thing in the morning, so that she could stand down on her departure plans from Bangalore.