The Ancient thinkers of India were not only Greatest Scientists and mathematicians, but also
deeply religious, esteemed saints of their times. While it may surprise some to think of religious sages as mundane scientists,
the Indian view is that religion (universal) and science are but two sides of the same coin - in short…semantics. Whether
one calls a natural phenomena wind or the wind god - Vayu - one is speaking of the same thing. Yet it seems that having a
spiritual foundation not only brought out important discoveries still in use today, but these discoveries also were helpful
without causing harm or destruction like toadys science is doing to environment,living beings & mother earth. In fact
this article will cite the origins of some amazing and here-to-for mis-credited discoveries as coming from India. Some examples
include so-called Arabic numerals, the concept of the zero, so-called Pythagorean theory, surgery and more. It may seem astonishing,
but the ancient texts are there to show the thinking and writing of these great Indian thinkers. Why is India not credited?
It seems that in the West we have a condescending, Euro- or Greco-centric view that civilizations older than Greece were uncivilized
barbarians.But I digress. The point is that westerners have been brought up for decades incorrectly viewing ancient civilizations
as intellectually and culturally inferior to modern man .
So it is no surprise to be surprised in learning some of
the greatest discoveries not only came from India, but from ancient India. It shakes the very foundations of prejudicial beliefs.
Here are but a few examples of India's enlightened thinkers.
Cosmology & Psychology
According to India's
ancient texts, around 3000 BCE sage Kapil founded both cosmology and psychology. He shed light on the Soul, the subtle elements
of matter and creation. His main idea was that essential nature (prakrti) comes from the eternal (purusha) to develop all
of creation. No deeper a view of the cosmos has ever been developed. Further, his philosophy of Sankhya philosophy also covered
the secret levels of the psyche, including mind, intellect and ego, and how they relate to the Soul or Atma. Maharishi Patanjali
again showed the great path to perfection of the human mind & codified it in his works in which he mentions the mind boggling
perfections/Siddhis & knowledge man can achieve by following the laws of the universe.Yoga Vashistha & Gita talks
about the secrets of universe, Its formation , Galaxy & Undivided Cosmic Consciousness Pervading Every Atom
& After Which at a much later period scientist proposed a theory "Matter is neither created nor destroyed".
Medicine
(Ayurveda), Aviation
Around 800 BCE Sage Bharadwaj, was both the father of modern medicine, teaching Ayurveda,
and also the developer of aviation technology. He wrote the Yantra Sarvasva, which covers astonishing discoveries in aviation
and space sciences, and flying machines - well before Leonardo DaVinchi's time. Some of his flying machines were reported
to fly around the earth, from the earth to other planets, and between universes. His designs and descriptions have left a
huge impression on modern-day aviation engineers. He also discussed how to make these flying machines invisible by using sun
and wind force. There are much more fascinating insights discovered by sage Bharadwaj.
Medicine, Surgery, pediatrics,
gynecology. anatomy,
physiology, pharmacology, embryology, blood circulation
Around this era and through 400 BCE
many great developments occurred. In the field of medicine (Ayurveda), sage Divodasa Dhanwantari developed the school of surgery;
Rishi Kashyap developed the specialized fields of pediatrics and gynecology. Lord Atreya, author of the one of the main Ayurvedic
texts, the Charak Samhita, classified the principles of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, embryology, blood circulation and
more. He discussed how to heal thousands of diseases, many of which modern science still has no answer. Along with herbs,
diet and lifestyle, Atreya showed a correlation between mind, body, spirit and ethics. He outlined a charter of ethics centuries
before the Hippocratic oath. Sage Thirumular lived for hundreds of years by using the following the path of yoga & ayurveda
without getting any disease & prolonging his life for hundreds of years.
Rhinoplasty, amputation, caesarean and
cranial surgeries, anesthesia, antibiotic herbs
While Lord Atreya is recognized for his contribution to medicine, sage
Sushrut is known as the "Father of surgery". Even modern science recognizes India as the first country to develop and use
rhinoplasty (developed by Sushrut). He also practiced amputation, caesarean and cranial surgeries, and developed 125 surgical
instruments including scalpels, lancets, and needles.
Lord Atreya - author of Charak Samhita. Circa 8th - 6th century
BCE. Perhaps the most referred to Rishi/physician today The Charak Samhita was the first compilation of all aspects of ayurvedic
medicine including diagnoses, cures, anatomy, embryology, pharmacology, and blood circulation (excluding surgery).He wrote
about causes and cures for diabetes, TB, and heart diseases. At that time, European medicine had no idea of these ideas. In
fact, even today many of these disease causes and cures are still unknown to modern allopathic medicine.Other unique quality
of Ayurveda is that it uncovers and cures the root cause of illness, it is safe, gentle and inexpensive, it sees 6 stages
of disease development (where modern medicine only sees the last two stages), it treats people in a personalized manner according
to their dosha or constitution and not in any generic manner.Further, Ayurveda being the science of 'life', Atrea was quick
to emphasize, proper nutrition according to dosha, and perhaps above all else, that there was a mind/body/soul relationship
and that the root cause of all diseases and the best medicine for all conditions is spiritual and ethical life.
125
Types Of Surgical Instruments
"The Hindus (Indians) were so advanced in surgery that their instruments could cut a
hair longitudinally".MRS PlunketShushruta worked with 125 kinds of surgical instruments, which included scalpels, lancets,
needles, catheters, rectal speculums, mostly conceived from jaws of animals and birds to obtain the necessary grips. He also
defined various methods of stitching: the use of horse’s hair, fine thread, fibres of bark, goat’s guts and ant’s
heads.
Rishi Sushrut is known as the father of surgery & author of Sushrut Samhita. Circa 5 - 4th century BCE.
He is credited with performing the world's first rhinoplasty, using anesthesia and plastic surgery. He used surgical instruments
- many of them look similar to instruments used today; and discussed more than 300 types of surgical operations. One of the
Ayurvedic surgical practices being used today in India involves dipping sutures into antibiotic herbs so when sewed into the
person, the scar heals quicker and prevent infection. The modern surgical world owes a great debt to this great surgical sage.
Atomic
theory
Sage Kanad (circa 600 BCE) is recognized as the founder of atomic theory, and classified all the objects of
creation into nine elements (earth, water, light or fire, wind, ether, time, space, mind and soul). He stated that every object
in creation is made of atoms(Anu) that in turn connect with each other to form molecules nearly 2,500 years before John Dalton.
Further, Kanad described the dimension and motion of atoms, and the chemical reaction with one another. The eminent historian,
T.N. Colebrook said, "Compared to scientists of Europe, Kanad and other Indian scientists were the global masters in this
field."
Chemistry alchemical metals
In the field of chemistry alchemical metals were developed for medicinal
uses by sage Nagarjuna. He wrote many famous books including Ras Ratnakar, which is still used in India's Ayurvedic colleges
today. By carefully burning metals like iron, tin, copper, etc. into ash, removing the toxic elements, these metals produce
quick and profound healing in the most difficult diseases.
Astronomy and Mathematics
Sage Aryabhatt (b. 476
CE) wrote texts on astronomy and mathematics. He formulated the process of calculating the motion of planets and the time
of eclipses. Aryabhatt was the first to proclaim the earth was round, rotating on an axis, orbiting the sun and suspended
in space. This was around 1,000 years before Copernicus. He was a geometry genius credited with calculating pi to four decimal
places, developing the trigonomic sine table and the area of a triangle. Perhaps his most important contribution was the concept
of the zero. Details are found in Shulva sutra. Other sages of mathematics include Baudhayana, Katyayana, and Apastamba.
Astronomy,
Geography, Constellation
Science, Botany and Animal science.
Varahamihr (499 - 587 CE) was another eminent astronomer.
In his book, Panschsiddhant, he noted that the moon and planets shine due to the sun. Many of his other contributions captured
in his books Bruhad Samhita and Bruhad Jatak, were in the fields of geography, constellation science, botany and animal science.
For example he presented cures for various diseases of plants and trees.
Knowledge of botany (Vrksh-Ayurveda) dates back
more than 5,000 years, discussed in India's Rig Veda. Sage Parashara (100 BCE) is called the "father of botany" because he
classified flowering plants into various families, nearly 2,000 years before Lannaeus (the modern father of taxonomy). Parashara
described plant cells - the outer and inner walls, sap color-matter and something not visible to the eye - anvasva. Nearly
2,000 years -later Robert Hooke, using a microscope described the outer and inner wall and sap color-matter. Algebra, arithmetic
and geometry, planetary positions, eclipses, cosmography, and mathematical techniques. force of gravity.In the field of mathematics,
Bhaskaracharya II (1114 - 1183 CE) contributed to the fields of algebra, arithmetic and geometry. Two of his most well known
books are Lilavati and Bijaganita, which are translated in several languages of the world. In his book, Siddhant Shiromani,
he expounds on planetary positions, eclipses, cosmography, and mathematical techniques. Another of his books, Surya Siddhant
discusses the force of gravity, 500 years before Sir Isaac Newton. Sage Sridharacharya developed the quadratic equation around
991 CE. Indian astronomers have been mapping the skies for 3500 years. Copernicus published his theory of the revolution of
the Earth in 1543. A thousand years before him, Aryabhatta in 5th century (400-500 CE) stated that the Earth revolves around
the sun, "just as a person traveling in a boat feels that the trees on the bank are moving, people on earth feel that the
sun is moving". In his treatise Aryabhatteeam, he clearly states that our earth is round, it rotates on its axis, orbits the
sun and is suspended in space and explains that lunar and solar eclipses occur by the interplay of the sun, the moon and the
earth.
The Decimal
Ancient India invented the decimal scale using base 10. They number-names to denote numbers.
In the 9th century CE, an Arab mathematician, Al-Khwarizmi, learned Sanskrit and wrote a book explaining the Hindu system
of numeration. In the 12th century CE the book was translated into Latin. The British used this numerical system and credited
the Arabs - mislabeling it 'Arabic numerals'. "We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile
scientific discovery could have been made." - Albert Einstein. The word Geometry seems to have emerged from the Indian word
‘Gyaamiti’ which means measuring the Earth. And the word Trigonometry is similar to ‘Trikonamiti’
meaning measuring triangular forms. Euclid is credited with the invention of Geometry in 300 BCE while the concept of Geometry
in India emerged in 1000 BCE, from the practice of making fire altars in square and rectangular shapes. The treatise of Surya
Siddhanta (4th century CE) describes amazing details of Trigonometry, which were introduced to Europe 1200 years later in
the 16th century by Briggs. The ratio of the circumference and the diameter of a circle are known as Pi, which gives its value
as 3,1428571. The old Sanskrit text Baudhayana Shulba Sutra of the 6th century BCE mentions this ratio as approximately equal
to 3. Aryabhatta in 499, CE worked the value of Pi to the fourth decimal place as 3.1416. Centuries later, in 825 CE Arab
mathematician Mohammed Ibna Musa says that "This value has been given by the Hindus (Indians)".
The Law of Gravity
- 1200 Years Before NewtonThe Law of Gravity was known to the ancient Indian astronomer Bhaskaracharya. In his Surya Siddhanta,
he notes:"Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. therefore, the earth, the planets, constellations,
the moon and the sun are held in orbit due to this attraction".It was not until the late 17th century in 1687, 1200 years
later, that Sir Isaac Newton rediscovered the Law of Gravity.
Metallurgy
India was the world-leader in Metallurgy
for more than 5,000 years. Gold jewellery is available from 3,000 BCE. Brass and bronze pieces are dated back to 1,300 BCE.
Extraction of zinc from ore by distillation was used in India as early as 400 BCE while European William Campion patented
the process some 2,000 years later. Copper statues can be dated back to 500 CE. There is an iron pillar in Delhi dating back
to 400 CE that shows no sign of rust or decay.
There are two unique aspects to India's ancient scientists. First their
discoveries are in use today as some of the most important aspects of their field; and are validated by modern technological
machines. Second, their discoveries brought peace and prosperity rather than the harm and destruction of many of our modern
discoveries.
Due to their intense spiritual life, they developed such power of discrimination (vivek). Spirituality
gives helpful direction and science brings speed. With a core of spirituality, modern scientists' discoveries can quickly
bring only helpful ideas to help humanity. While Einstein is credited with the idea that one can travel faster than the speed
of light, it was written about centuries before in the ancient Vedic literature. Perhaps it was Einstein's association with
the famed Indian physicist, Bose that led to his introduction to the views about the speed of light. Through deep meditation
and reading the ancient Vedic texts, who knows what our modern-day scientists will discover? The major drawbacks there discoveries
have is that there minds are not perfect & imperfect mind cannot give perfect & complete knowledge about truth, its
only when the India will rise again in the 21 century & shine the world will see its greatness again.There are two points
here, the first is that India & Indians should be proud of its amazing achievements and be properly credited, and second
is that India leaves a blueprint, compass and map for how to develop safe and helpful discoveries for the future betterment
of mankind.
University (The world’s first university)
Takshashila (Taxila)
Around 2700 years ago,
as early as 700 BCE there existed a giant University at Takshashila, located in the northwest region of India.Not only Indians
but also students from as far as Babylonia, Greece, Syria, Arabia and China came to study.68 different streams of knowledge
were on the syllabus.Experienced masters taught a wide range of subjects.Vedas, Language, Grammar, Philosophy, Medicine, Surgery,
Archery, Politics, Warfare, Astronomy, Accounts, commerce, Futurology, Documentation, Occult, Music, Dance, The art of discovering
hidden treasures, etc.The minimum entrance age was 16 and there were 10,500 students.The panel of Masters included renowned
names like Kautilya, Panini, Jivak and Vishnu Sharma.At a time when the Dark Ages were looming large, the existence of a university
of Taxila’s grandeur really makes India stand apart way ahead of the European countries who struggled with ignorance
and total information blackout. For the Indian subcontinent Taxila stood as a light house of higher knowledge and pride of
India. In the present day world, Taxila is situated in Pakistan at a place called Rawalpindi. The university accommodated
more than 10,000 students at a time. The university offered courses spanning a period of more than eight years. The students
were admitted after graduating from their own countries. Aspiring students opted for elective subjects going for in depth
studies in specialized branches of learning. After graduating from the university, the students are recognized as the best
scholars in the subcontinent. It became a cultural heritage as time passed. Taxila was the junction where people of different
origins mingled with each other and exchanged knowledge of their countries.The university was famous as "Taxila" university,
named after the city where it was situated. The king and rich people of the region used to donate lavishly for the development
of the university. In the religious scriptures also, Taxila is mentioned as the place where the king of snakes, Vasuki selected
Taxila for the dissemination of knowledge on earth.Here it would be essential to mention briefly the range of subjects taught
in the university of Taxila. (1) Science, (2) Philosophy, (3) Ayurveda, (4) Grammar of various languages, (5) Mathematics,
(6) Economics, (7) Astrology, (8) Geography, (9) Astronomy, (10) Surgical science, (11) Agricultural sciences, (12) Archery
and Ancient and Modern Sciences.
Measurement of Time
In Surya Siddhanta, Bhaskaracharya calculates the
time taken for the earth to orbit the sun to 9 decimal places.Bhaskaracharya = 365.258756484 days.Modern accepted measurement
= 365.2596 days.Between Bhaskaracharya’s ancient measurement 1500 years ago and the modern measurement the difference
is only 0.00085 days, only 0.0002%.34000TH of a Second to 4.32 Billion YearsIndia has given the idea of the smallest and the
largest measure of time.Krati Krati = 34,000th of a second1 Truti = 300th of a second 2 Truti = 1 Luv 2 Luv = 1 Kshana
30
Kshana = 1 Vipal 60 Vipal = 1 Pal 60 Pal = 1 Ghadi (24 minutes) 2.5 Gadhi = 1 Hora (1 hour)
24 Hora = 1 Divas (1 day) 7
Divas = 1 saptaah (1 week) 4 Saptaah = 1 Maas (1 month) 2 Maas = 1 Rutu (1 season)
6 Rutu = 1 Varsh (1 year) 100 Varsh
= 1 Shataabda (1 century)10 Shataabda = 1 sahasraabda 432 Sahasraabda = 1 Yug (Kaliyug)2 Yug = 1 Dwaaparyug 3 Yug = 1 Tretaayug
4 Yug = 1 Krutayug 10 Yug = 1 Mahaayug (4,320,000 years)
1000 Mahaayug = 1 Kalpa 1 Kalpa = 4.32 billion years
Architecture
& Vaastu Shastra or Art of Building & Designing
It was the important ancient science given by our Maharishis
& Saints whose relevance is felt by Architects & Engineers of modern times too. This science was take to china &
Chinese modified it to gave their own name Of Feng Shui. Sages or Ancient scientists like Bhrigu, Atri, Vasistha,Maya
did marvelous works on Vastu thousands of years ago.
It is interesting to note that Dr.Robert Pinotti II , an Italian
scientist observed at the world space conference that in the text of the great classical work on vastu, "samarangana-sutradhara"..
He said it would be better to examine the Hindu text instead of dismissing the traditions of myths.
Psychic &
Occult Sciences
Almost al the Occult & Psychic sciences known to man today have their origins to India, whether
it is science of sound(Mantra), Tantra, Yantra , Meditation, Yoga, Palmistry, Numerology, Tarot Card , Pranic Healing, Vastu
shastra,Vedic Astrology, Magic & Illusion, Astral Traveling, Metaphysics, Graphology, Study of Dreams, Science of Levitation,
Magnetic Therapy, Acupressure, Hypnotism, Telepathy, etc.
Panini's grammar has been evaluated from various points
of view. After all these different evaluations, I think that the grammar merits asserting ... that it is one of the greatest
monuments of human intelligence.
- An evaluation of Panini's contribution by Cardona
The Kautiliya Arthasastra
(Politics, Military,Agriculture,Minerals,Metals)
The Kautiliya Arthasastra, a Sanskrit work of the c. 4th century B.C.,
is more known for its contents on politics and statecraft. But the book contains information and instructions about various
other aspects of social life, including man's relationship with animals and plants. The present monograph of Prof. P. Sensarma
is an excellent treatise in lucid English on the Ethnobiological Information contained in the Arthasastra. It deals with forests,
plants, animals, animal husbandry including veterinary suggestions, agriculture medicinal-industrial commercial importance
and application of flora and fauna, and the uses of plants and animals in biological and chemical warfare, besides weapon
making and other military uses.
The Corrosion Resistant Iron Pillar of Delhi
The pillar—over seven meters
high and weighing more than six tones—was erected by Kumara Gupta of Gupta dynasty that ruled northern India in AD 320-540.Experts
at the Indian Institute of Technology have resolved the mystery behind the 1,600-year-old iron pillar in Delhi, which has
never corroded despite the capital's harsh weather.
By David Gray, PhD
Atomic Physics
"After the conversations
about Indian philosophy, some of the ideas of Quantum Physics that had seemed so crazy suddenly made much more sense".
W.
Heisenberg (German Physicist, 1901-1976)
Press Trust of India
The Indian Express 26 January 2004
Why, one might ask,
did Europe take over thousand years to attain the level of abstract mathematics achieved by Indians such as Aaryabhatta? The
answer appears to be that Europeans were trapped in the relatively simplistic and concrete geometrical mathematics developed
by the Greeks. It was not until they had, via the Arabs, received, assimilated and accepted the place-value system of enumeration
developed in India that they were able to free their minds from the concrete and develop more abstract systems of thought.
This development thus triggered the scientific and information technology revolutions which swept Europe and, later, the world.
The role played by India in the development is no mere footnote, easily and inconsequentially swept under the rug of Eurocentric
bias. To do so is to distort history, and to deny India one of it's greatest contributions to world civilization.
