Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: Decimal system [Re: Ishwa] #14342 - 04/04/02 10:37 AM Edit Reply Quote

I forgot about this very important point: The name of the numbers in Sanskrit gives us the indication that the counting system was based on a system of 7, somewhat later 8 and then 9: eka-dvi-tri-chatus-panchan-shash-saptan. These names are the core. Then something different happens: ashtau is the name of 8. This form is in the dual (dvivachana). It means "twice four". When we arrive at navan or nine,this means "new". The system of seven might be based on the seven colours of the sunlight. Three of which are primary: red-yellow-blue: the colours of rajas-sattva-tamas. The sunlight is named as sapti in Vedic Sanskrit, meaning not only seven, but also horse. The rootmeaning is swiftness: horse and light are very speedy. And the lightspectrum has seven colours. Vedic people used the words Go and Sapti/Ashva, but were translated only as cow and horses (needed by some in a theory of Vedic people as cattlebreeders). Go and Sapti/Ashva stand for light. I believe Go means the feeding or energy-giving light (in this sense it is used in the RigVeda as name for Sun, Earth, Stars and cows) and Sapti/Ashva the expressing light (used as Sunlight, Lightspectrum and horses). Edited by Ishwa on 04/04/02 07:40 AM (server time).