Why is it in the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vedic Clock in Ujjain as part of the 'Vikramotsav' celebration in Madhya Pradesh.

Features of the Vikramaditya Vedic Clock:

• This is the world's first 'Vedic Clock', designed to display time according to the ancient Indian traditional Panchang (time calculation system).
• The clock is installed on an 85-foot high tower constructed at Jantar Mantar in Ujjain, adjacent to the Government Jiwaji Observatory.
• It will display 30 Muhurats, tithi, and all other time calculations of Vedic Hindu panchang.
  • Additionally, Samvat, Mas, moon position, Parva, Shubhshubh Muhurat, Ghati, Nakshatra, solar eclipse, and lunar eclipse, among other things
• It will be the world’s first clock in which Indian time calculation will be displayed.
• The Vedic clock installed in Ujjain as the city has been considered the centre of time calculation.
  • The Tropic of Cancer passes through Ujjain.

Time calculation:

• The unique timepiece calculates time-based on Vedic Hindu Panchang, planetary positions, Muhurat, astrological calculations, solar eclipse, and lunar eclipse, among other things, and also indicates the Indian Standard Time (IST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
• The period from one sunrise to the next is used to calculate time.
• The clock will calculate time from one sunrise to another.
• The time period between the two sunrises will be divided into 30 parts, with each hour consisting of 48 minutes according to ISD.
• The reading will start from 0.00 with the sunrise functions for 30 hours (an hour of 48 minutes).
• Also, there will be a dedicated mobile application for the readings of the Vedic Clock, and citizens will be able to use it on their smartphones, computers, televisions, and other devices.

Why It is Located in Ujjain?

• The standard time of the world was determined from Ujjain 300 years ago.
• Throughout the world, the time prescribed and transmitted from Ujjayini (Ujjain) has been followed.
  • The shortest fraction of time is included in Indian time calculations based on the Indian astronomical theory and the motions of planetary constellations.
• Ujjain was previously thought to be India’s central meridian, and the city determined the nation’s time zones and time differences, according to Hindu astronomical belief.
• The city of Lord Mahakal is situated exactly where the Tropic of Cancer and Zero Meridians meet.
  • Additionally, it is situated in the oldest observatory in India, which Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed in the early 1700s.
• Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, which is located at 82°30’ East longitude, is the location of the zero meridians on the Prime Meridian, or IST, four hours ahead of GMT, according to the 1884 convention on meridians.