Science Technology in Ancient India -PB Sharma

Science & Technology in Ancient Science & Technology in Ancient India and its Relevance in the India and its Relevance in the

Knowledge AgeKnowledge Age

RGTU – Knowledge RGTU – Knowledge University of 3University of 3rdrd

MillenniumMillennium

Prof. P.B.Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (University of Technology of M.P.)Prof. P.B.Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (University of Technology of M.P.)

izKkuizKkua czEga czEg PROF. P.B. SHARMAPROF. P.B. SHARMAPh.D. (B'ham), FIE, FAeroS, FWAPSPh.D. (B'ham), FIE, FAeroS, FWAPS

Founder Vice Chancellor, RGTU, Bhopal, India Founder Vice Chancellor, RGTU, Bhopal, India

The wonder that was IndiaThe wonder that was India

India’s glorious past is embedded with a rich Scientific and Technological Heritage from the Vedic age and is an inspiration to create a scientifically advanced and spiritually enlightened human society in which peace, prosperity and happiness together create a haven on earth


Peace loving people, people with scientific bent of mind having a profound understanding of the purpose and meaning of life, able to decode the secrete of creation and serve the creator through service of man and nature is what, the wonder that was India which glittered like gold and spread its enlightenment all around the world


Prosperous India – The Golden eagle of the world Enlightened India – Its wisdom glowed the world

over Scientifically Advanced India – Spreading a

culture of Science and Technology to create a happy and healthy living in harmony with nature

Mighty India – Making no invasion, harming no one yet influencing the whole world by its scientific traditions and spiritual wisdom

India’s Ancient Scientists India’s Ancient Scientists

Atreya, Agnivesa and Shushruta– Medical Scientists 800 BC.

Aryabhatta (BC.476–550), Bhaskaracharya, Varahmihir, Bodhayan – Ancient astronomers and mathematicians

Kanva, Panini, Gargi,

Great Indian MathematiciansGreat Indian Mathematicians

Yajnavalkya, the author of the altar mathematics of the Shatapatha Brahmana.

Lagadha - Author of a 1350 BC text on Vedic astronomy Baudhayana, 800 BC Manava, 750 BC Apastamba, 700 BC Aksapada Gautama, 550 BC, Logician Katyayana, 400 BC Panini, 400 BC, Algebraic grammarian Pingala, 5th century BC Bharata Muni, 4th century BC, combinatorics in music

Great Indian MathematiciansGreat Indian Mathematicians

Aryabhata - Astronomer who gave accurate calculations for astronomical constants, 476-520

Varahamihira Bhaskara I, 620 Brahmagupta - Helped bring the concept of zero into arithmetic Matanga Muni - Combinatorics in music Virahanka (8th century) - Described the Fibonacci series. Shridhara (between 650-850) - Gave a good rule for finding the volume of a sphere. Lalla, 720-790 Govindsvamin (9th century) Virasena Mahavira (9th century) Jayadeva (9th century) Prithudaka, 9th century Halayudha, 10th century Aryabhata II, 920-1000 Vateshvara (10th century) Manjula, 930

Some FactsSome Facts

The law of gravitation discovered by Brahmagupta 598 A.D. anticipated after 1400 years by Newton declaring "all things fall to the earth by law of nature; for it is the nature of the earth to attract and keep things."

Pingala (3rd C AD), author of Chandasutra explored the relationship between combinatorics and musical theory anticipating Mersenne (1588-1648) author of a classic on musical theory


The 'Pythagoras theorem' which stated in Sulva Sutras by Baudhayana's (6th century BC): "The diagonal of a rectangle produces both areas, which its length and breadth produce separately."

Arya Bhatta discovered the method of finding out the areas of a triangle, a trapezium and a circle. The approximate value of an 'irrational number' i.e. 2 (dvikarani) (1.143256) and 3 (1.7320513) can be obtained, Baudhayana and Apastamba.


In the geometry of the circle, "Arybhatta- I" gave a value for pi (tyajya) which is correct to the four decimal places in a sloka (Sankara Varman's treatise on astronomy, Sadratnamala) theorems and their deductions:"Lemma of Brahmagupta for integral solution or the indeterminate equation of second degree. John Pell (1611-1685) discovered this in the 17th century. Indians discovered it a 1,000 years earlier


Zero, the most modest and most valuable of all numerals is one of the subtle gifts of India to mankind. The earliest use of the zero symbol, so far discovered, is in one of the scriptural books dated about 200 B.C. The zero, called shunya or nothing, was originally a dot and later it became a small circle. It was considered as a number like any other. Professor G. B. Halsted, in his book ' Mathematics for the Million' (London 1942) thus emphasizes the vital significance of this invention.

India’s Decimal SystemIndia’s Decimal System

The decimal system was known to Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta long before its appearance in the writings of the Arabs and the Syrians; it was adopted by China from Buddhist missionaries; and Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khwarazni, the greatest mathematician of his age (ca 850 A.D.), seems to have introduced it into Baghdad

India’s Decimal System India’s Decimal System

India’s system of Decimal counting goes back to the days of Ramayana (around 5000 BC) and Mahabharata (3067 BC)

In Ramayana, the Rama’s army was described by Ravana’s missionary as having 18x1018 ( 18 Padams, 1012 millions )

India’s Decimal SystemIndia’s Decimal System

In Mahabharata, in the Shanti Parva the Bhishma’s passing away is described in true decimal system - 10 Days of Mahabharata war and their after 58 nights till the sun of thousands rays turned to Uttarayana

Bhisma Pitamaha’s Nirvana Bhisma Pitamaha’s Nirvana

Parivrtto hi Bhagavan sahasransur Divakarah

Astapancasatam ratryah sayanasyadya me gatah Saresu nisitagresu yatha varsasatam tatha.

Magho’yam samanuprapto masah saumyo Yudhisthira

Tribhagasesah pakso’yam suklo bhavitum arhati.

(XIII.153,26-28)

Brahmagupta’s RulesBrahmagupta’s Rules

A debt minus zero is a debt.A fortune minus zero is a fortune.Zero (shunya) minus zero is nothing. (kha).A debt subtracted from zero is a fortune.So a fortune subtracted from zero is a debt.The product of zero multiplied by a debt or fortune is zero.The product of zero multiplied by itself is nothing.The product or the quotient of two fortunes is one fortune.The product or the quotient of two debts is one debt.The product or the quotient of a debt multiplied by a fortune is a debt.The product or the quotient of a fortune multiplied by a debt is a debt.

MetallurgyMetallurgy Iron Pillar at Delhi - The Rust less Wonder and a Unique

Scientific Phenomenon from Ancient India, The pillar is said to be over 2000 years old

As early as the second century B.C. Nagarjuna devoted an entire volume to mercury

The Konasamudram region in Andhra Pradesh was famous for producing the world renowned Wootz steel - the raw material for King Saladin's fabled Damascus Sword. The tempering of steel was brought in ancient India to a perfection unknown in Europe till our own times. King Porus is said to have selected, as special valuable gift for Alexander, not gold or silver, but thirty pounds of steel.

PhysicsPhysics Kanaada, 600 B. C the founder of the Vaisesika

system of philosophy, expounded that the entire matter in this world consists of atoms as many in kind as the various elements. He also claimed that elements could not be destroyed

Artharveda says that there are seven types of sun's rays, sapta surayasya rasmayah, signifying seven colors of light

Umasvati, first century A.D. suggested that atoms of opposite qualities alone combined and the atoms attracted or repelled as they were heterogeneous or homogenous

Shipbuilding and Navigation Shipbuilding and Navigation

The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago

There is overwhelming evidence that Indian civilization traded with the Egyptians using ships.

Rig Veda makes several references to ships used to cross the "Samudra."

History records that Indian ships traded with countries as far as Java and Sumatra, they were also trading with other countries in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Chandragupta Maurya established an Admiralty Division under a Superintendent of Ships as part of his war office, with a charter including responsibility for navigation on the seas, oceans, lakes and rivers

Shipbuilding and Navigation Shipbuilding and Navigation

Shipbuilding and NavigationShipbuilding and Navigation

King Hiram of Tyre (Phoenicia) in 975 B.C. traded with India through the port of Ophir (Supara) near modern Bombay. Harappan seals discovered at several Mesopotamia sites have been dated to about 2400 B.C.

Yukti Kalpa Taru, explains how to build ships, ship types, sizes and materials, including suitability of different types of wood

Bhoja has advised the builders of the sea-faring ships not to join the plants with iron, as, in the case, the magnetic iron in sea water could expose the ship to danger

Medical ScienceMedical ScienceSusruta Samhita, (600 B.C.) the Hindu

medical chronicle said about plastic surgery in India

Caraka Samhita, (300 BC) Sutra Sthana Nidan Sthana (8 chapters) – Viman Sthana (8 chapters) – Sharir Sthana (8 chapters) – Indriya Sthana (12 chapters) – Chikitsa Sthana (30 chapters) – Kalpa Sthana (12 chapters) – Siddhi Sthana (12 chapters)

AviationAviation

Acharya Bharadwaj (800BC) authored the "Yantra Sarvasva" which includes astonishing and outstanding discoveries in aviation science, space science and flying machines. He has described three categories of flying machines:

1.) One that flies on earth from one place to another.

2.) One that travels from one planet to another.

3.) And One that travels from one universe to another.

AviationAviationBharadwaj’s designs and descriptions are Profound Secret: The technique to make a flying

machine invisible through the application of sunlight and wind force.

Living Secret: The technique to make an invisible space machine visible through the application of electrical force.

Secret of Eavesdropping: The technique to listen to a conversation in another plane.

Visual Secrets: The technique to see what's happening inside another plane.Through his innovative and brilliant discoveries, Acharya Bharadwaj has been recognized as the pioneer of aviation technology

Chemistry Chemistry

In ancient India, chemistry was called Rasayan Shastra, Rasa-Vidya, Rasatantra and Rasakriya

Chemistry being the basic Science of Nature was pursued by ancient Inida’s Scientists to create Colours, Chemicals, Fertilizers, Warhead materials, food preservatives, spices and above all Gems and Crystals. Purification of Silver, Gold and other precious metals.

Medicinal Chemistry of Plants and Herbs. Bio Chemistry of Natural Fertilizers all point towards a rich foundation of Chemistry in India from ancient times

Chemistry in IndiaChemistry in India

The Famous Indian ink to date is the testimony of India’s profound knowledge of Chemistry

24 Ct Gold and Silver and Gold plated ornaments so well exhibited in India’s images to date are the basis for Chemistry of Metal processing

Cave paintings (Bhim Betika near Bhopal, Ajanta in Maharastra) by Natural Colours and Colourful textile and embroidery marks India’s mastery over Chemistry

Chemistry in IndiaChemistry in India

Colourful potteries, Gold Plated Potteries, Golden and Silver Studded Carvings on Metals, Glass and Textile further give the glimpses of India’s profound knowledge of Chemistry

Use of Colours and Chemicals mostly Natural in Indian Temple forts and Palaces further reinforce the Indian Chemistry Knowledge.

Swarna Bhasma (Gold ash), Rajat Bhasma (Silver Ash) and Shankha Bhasma (Bone Ash) are the ultimate of Indian Chemistry.

Relevance to the Modern AgeRelevance to the Modern Age

We are returning to the nature, Natural medicines, natural fertilizers, natural fuels ( Bio Fuels) , Natural food, natural preservatives and natural water harvesting and purification systems

We are today in a knowledge age where the wisdom of antiquity can be synthesised with the most modern science and technology

Relevance to the Modern AgeRelevance to the Modern Age

Ancient ( Vedic) mathematics to high speed computing

Ancient astronomy and knowledge of the universal system giving foundation for a larger universal system beyond the solar system

Ancient chemistry leading to natural and environmentally benign paints and chemicals, Drugs and Fertilizers

Growth with sustainability and prosperity with happiness

Dr. T. D. Singh

Director, Bhaktivedanta InstitutePresident, Vedanta and Science Educational

Research Foundation

Scientific and religious paths are like two streams of the creative human mind. The scientific path tries to explain the nature of reality within rationality, whereas the religious or spiritual path does so within and beyond rationality.

(His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami)

Jnana & VijnanaJnana & VijnanaJnana, the fire of knowledge destroys

the attachment to the karmas, actionsThe jnana and vijnana together are

known to a soul which liberates from the world of misery.

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Jnana, Vijnana & KarmaJnana, Vijnana & KarmaJnana, the knowledge; the vijnana the

knoledge used with the application of mind; the karma, the actions perfomed by a man of knowledge in this material world lead to salvation, encounter with divinity within.

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Mankind from the early dawns of civilization has ventured into the understanding the world around and thus discover the harmony between man and nature.

Was realized that man does not exist in isolation. Was also realized that our survival, more so our

happiness and our success to lead a healthy life isdeeply dependent upon the survival and

sustenance of a healthy atmosphere around us. During the Vedic times, the Vedic Rishies have discovered this secret of harmony between man and nature.

Pre-logPre-log

Vedas clearly emphasize on the eternal aspect of creation

“Om purnamada purnamidam purnatpurna mudatchayte, Purnase purn mevaya purnemeva vasishyate”

(Ishopnishad 1.1). Human beings, having scientific bent of mind and

the sensitivity, they posses, to the world around them and empowered with the power of intellect and intuition, have always been in search of truth that unveils the secrete of creation, purpose of life, and ultimately leading to a clear understanding of secret of Life and Death.

Vedic Concept of Eternity

Vedic Concept of Eternity

In Kathopanishad, we find that the learned Yamraja, who possessed the secret of life and death counsels Nachiketa

“Yastu Vijyanban bhabhatu, mansa sada suchi”

i.e. let you adore science, but remember that purity of mind is maintained, meaning therein that purity of manas, i.e the purity of mind, purity of heart and in turn the purity of whole body is always maintained.

Purity of Mind –a must for pursuit of Truth

Purity of mind, heart and body can only enable a person to pursue scientific inquiry which leads to the discovery of the

truth. The truth so realized unveils the secret of the universe and bridges the gap between man and the Divine, the gap between body and soul, the gap between matter and energy and the gap between our own existence with the large universal system around us.

Purity of Mind –a must for pursuit of Truth

In the Indian Vedic system, Jyana the knowledge and Vijyana, the science both have been recognized as means and mechanisms to perform the work activity, the karma, to attain enlightenment and ultimately to attain fame, prosperity and salvation from the endless sufferings encountered during earthly existence.

The Bhagbhat Gita clearly states “Jyanagni sarva karmani bhasmat kurute thata” ie. the fire of knowledge destroys all the fruits of our actions, which otherwise shall make us bind with the Karma, our actions(Bhagvatgita 4.37).

Jyana, Vijyana & Prajyana

Remember that the Bhavabat Gita also says “ Jyana vijyana traptatma kutastho vijayate indriah” ie knowledge of Sciece and Knowledge of the self, the jnana together enables us to win over the senses which in fact enjoy the fruits of our actions(Bhagvat Gita 6.8).

Further the Lord Krishna states in Bhagbatgita

“Jnanam vijnanaa sahitam yat jyatva mokshyase ashubhata” ie the scientific knowledge and the knowledge of the self together enables us to win over the world of misery, the world in which we live and the world from where we wish to liberate ourselves( Bhagvat Gita, 9.1)

Jyana, Vijyana & Prajyana

The point I am trying to drive is that the knowledge; jyana, and the science; vijyana, both are considered to be highly useful not only to attain prosperity and happiness on mother earth but also to acquire immense capability to enable the entire society, the humankind the world over, to elevate itself to the level of godliness. We must clearly understand, however, that a polluted mind, a mind devoid of orientation to serve the society and a heart full of revenge and hatred cannot attain the levels of existence where in a man could come face to face with reality, face to face with the divinity and proclaim “ Aham Barhma asmi”, I am God, the proclamation made by the Vedic seers.

The question often being asked as to why should we be spiritual, why can’t I do without spirituality?

The answer is that even if we wish to be devoid of spirituality we can not as be God’s intelligent design which is also fine turned to create individuals, the divinity

with in shall make regular efforts to surface itself often in the workplace, in the places of worship and also at the time of deep sorrow or immense happiness.

Why we need Spirituality?

The divinity with in, if truly experienced, enables man to rise to the level of Godliness. We need spirituality to

create and utilize the immense wealth of knowledge and the power of mind, the power of working in and for divine and thus in turn benefit mankind by our work and noble deeds. Spirituality gives us the much needed orientation to serve the society with fullest of our abilities and to serve God through the service of man.

Why we need Spirituality?

Science, Technology and Spirituality all go together as those who adore science and also have a spiritual bent of mind would always be employing their fullest capabilities and knowledge for the betterment of the society while at the same time constantly engaging themselves in search of truth through the service of man, through the pursuit of the work activity with fullest of devotion through their understanding of the world around them. Science without spirituality leads to prosperity without happiness. Science and spirituality together create prosperity with eternal happiness.

Science, Technology and Spirituality

Prof. Charles Townes, the noble laureate in physics in conversation with Swami Dr. T.D. Singh, Founder Director of the Bhakti Vedanta Institute, Kolkatta, India has opined that “it is not practical to keep scientific and spiritual cultures separate. The people who study science are often at the same time thoughtful about the meaning of life and values” (Seven Nobel Laureates on Science & Spirituality, Dr. T.D. Singh (Ed), 2004). Science and spirituality both are to be practiced and adored to create a civic society tuned to attaining the destined goal of human existence living and working in the company of God.

Science, Technology and Spirituality

The dream of a civic and just society, realizing the infinite power of divinity, elevating man to the level of God head, people living in perfect harmony with nature, fulfilling the aim and realizing the meaning of life is achievable with the progress of science in the realm of spirituality. The journey on the pat of jyanam, the knowledge, associated and enabled by vijanam, the science, would then lead us to the horizons of Pragyanam, the horizon form where we are in a position to proclaim as the Vedic scientists did several thousand years ago, namely, Prajyanam Bhrama, that is Prajyanam is visualizing and realizing our existence in God.

In the knowledge age driven by the power of the mind and propelled by the capabilities and maturity of people, it has become absolutely essential that science, technology and spirituality co-exist everywhere, more so in the universities and in the institutions and organizations cultivating knowledge, imparting knowledge, using knowledge to create wealth and prosperity while at the same time ensuring that the journey of mankind on the path of prosperity and happiness is assured by a firm commitment and resolve to discover better and better ways of maintaining harmony with nature and thus assuring continued sustenance of human life on mother planet earth.

We need more and more of scientism to foster scientific explorations into hitherto unexplored vistas of human endeavour. We also need more and more people of scientific bent of mind turning to spirituality to discover the rich wealth of science of soul, the secret of the creation. In fact we need a new mantra for the new knowledge age and this new mantra must prepare the human society to rise to newer heights of glory in respect of peace, prosperity and happiness with a firm commitment to sustain a clean environment, maintain earths ecological balance and serve God, the creator, through the service of man and mother nature. This new mantra is based on the fusion of science and spiritual values to build a new global order. “Vashdaev kutumbkam” the concept of the world family would then be truly nurtured by people around the globe adoring “Scientopirituality”

The journey of mankind on the path of knowledge shall then continue to the horizons of enlightenment and shall lead to wisdom manifold. The man shall then realize his fullest potentialities of eternal strength and shall witness the meeting point of mortal with the eternal, the natural destination of a spirituality enlightened scientific civic society. A Vedic seer of modern India has so beautifully put it in his proclamation of the mankind of future :Frontiers of ignorance shall recedeMore and more soul shall attain divine.The summit of life with divineIs bound to happen in ones own lifetime

May be the prophecy of this great Vedic seer of the modern age is bound to come true in the near future given the accelerated pace of science and interest in spirituality by the scientific world. A developed prosperous India habited by peace loving people, a society tuned to the objective of living in and working with and for Divine, creating a haven on earth, realizing the purpose of life, decoding the secret of life and death and together as a human society attaining an existence with lord and on successful culmination of life activity returning to Godhead is attainable only if Science and Spirituality together are adored by the people of the world in the new knowledge age. Prosperity and happiness together then descend on the human society creating smiles in plenty and fair prosperous days providing multifaceted peace. We then enjoy the wisdom of the ancient in the modern times of Science and Technology.

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The Author is a former Professor of IIT Delhi and currently Vice Chancellor of University of Technology

of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, India. Can be reached at [email protected] and

www.rgtu.net

Let us pledge to create such a better tomorrow and elevate man

to the level of God and create goodness in plenty around the

world.


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Science Technology in Ancient India -PB Sharma