A COMPARISON OF MODERN SCIENCE WITH VEDIC SCIENCE PART 8
START 16 10 24 K RAJARAM IRS AND HIS READSHIPS (FINAL PART)
SCIENTISTS OF ANCIENT INDIA
48 In the previous lesson, you have read about the relationship
between science and technology. In this lesson, you will read about the
contributions made by ancient Indians in the field of Mathematics and
Science, including Medical Science, Ayurveda, Yoga, Astronomy, Astrology,
etc. You will be surprised to know that a lot of scientific knowledge was
evolved in ancient India, so many years ago. OBJECTIVES After reading this
lesson you will be able to: list the contributions of India to the world
in the field of Mathematics and Science. discuss the contributions made
to knowledge by ancient Indian scientists like Baudhayan, Aryabhatta,
Brahmgupta, Bhaskaracharya, Kanad, Varahamihira, Nagarjuna, Susruta,
Charak, Patanjali Science and Mathematics were highly developed during the
ancient period in India. Ancient Indians contributed immensely to the
knowledge in Mathematics as well as various branches of science. In this
section, we will read about the developments in Mathematics and the
scholars who contributed to it. You will be surprised to know that many
theories of modern-day mathematics were actually known to ancient Indians.
However, since ancient Indian mathematicians were not as good in
documentation and dissemination as their counterparts in the modern western
world, their contributions did not find the place they deserved. Moreover,
the western world ruled over most of the world for a long time, which
empowered Indian Culture and Heritage to claim superiority in every way,
including in the field of knowledge.
49 Let us now take a look at some of these contributions of ancient
Indian mathematicians.
15.1.1 Baudhayan Baudhayan was the first one ever to arrive at
several concepts in Mathematics, which were later rediscovered by the
western world. The value of pi was first calculated by him. As you know, pi
is useful in calculating the area and circumference of a circle. What is
known as Pythagoras theorem today is already found in Baudhayan’s Sulva
Sutra, which was written several years before the age of Pythagoras.
15.1.2 Aryabhatta Aryabhatta was a fifth century
mathematician, astronomer, astrologer and physicist. He was a pioneer in
the field of mathematics. At the age of 23, he wrote Aryabhattiya, which is
a summary of mathematics of his time. There are four sections in this
scholarly work. In the first section he describes the method of denoting
big decimal numbers by alphabets. In the second section, we find difficult
questions from topics of modern day Mathematics such as number theory,
geometry, trigonometry and Beejganita (algebra). The remaining two sections
are on astronomy. Aryabhatta showed that zero was not a numeral only but
also a symbol and a concept. Discovery of zero enabled Aryabhatta to find
out the exact distance between the earth and the moon. The discovery of
zero also opened up a new dimension of negative numerals. As we have seen,
the last two sections of Aryabhattiya were on Astronomy. Evidently,
Aryabhatta contributed greatly to the field of science, too, particularly
Astronomy. In ancient India, the science of astronomy was well advanced. It
was called Khagolshastra. Khagol was the famous astronomical observatory at
Nalanda, where Aryabhatta studied. In fact science of astronomy was highly
advanced and our ancestors were proud of it. The aim behind the development
of the science of astronomy was the need to have accurate calendars, a
better understanding of climate and rainfall patterns for timely sowing and
choice of crops, fixing the dates of seasons and festivals, navigation,
calculation of time and casting of horoscopes for use in astrology.
Knowledge of astronomy, particularly knowledge of the tides and the stars,
was of great importance in trade, because of the requirement of crossing
the oceans and deserts during night time. Disregarding the popular view
that our planet earth is ‘Achala’ (immovable), Aryabhatta stated his theory
that ‘earth is round and rotates on its own axis’ He explained that the
appearance of the sun moving from east to west is false by giving examples.
One such example was: When a person travels in a boat, the trees on the
shore appear to move in the opposite direction. He also correctly stated
that the moon and the planets shined by Indian Culture and Heritage
Secondary Scientists of Ancient India reflected sunlight. He also gave a
scientific explanation for solar and lunar eclipse clarifying that the
eclipse were not because of Rahhu and/or Ketu or some other rakshasa
(demon,). Do you realize now, why the first satellite sent into orbit by
India has been named after Aryabhatta?
15.1.3 Brahmgupta In 7th century, Brahmgupta took mathematics
to heights far beyond others. In his methods of multiplication, he used
place value in almost the same way as it is used today. He introduced
negative numbers and operations on zero into mathematics. He wrote Brahm
Sputa Siddantika through which the Arabs came to know our mathematical
system.
15.1.4 Bhaskaracharya Bhaskaracharya was the leading light
of 12th Century. He was born at Bijapur, Karnataka. He is famous for his
book Siddanta Shiromani. It is divided into four sections: Lilavati
(Arithmetic), Beejaganit (Algebra), Goladhyaya (Sphere) and Grahaganit
(mathematics of planets). Bhaskara introduced Chakrawat Method or the
Cyclic Method to solve algebraic equations. This method was rediscovered
six centuries later by European mathematicians, who called it inverse
cycle. Lilavati and made this great work known to the world.
15.1.5 Mahaviracharya There is an elaborate description
of mathematics in Jain literature (500 B.C -100 B.C). Jain gurus knew how
to solve quadratic equations. They have also described fractions, algebraic
equations, series, set theory, logarithms and exponents in a very
interesting manner. Jain Guru Mahaviracharya wrote Ganit Sara Sangraha in
850A.D., which is the first textbook on arithmetic in present day form. The
current method of solving Least common Multiple (LCM) of given numbers was
also described by him. Thus, long before John Napier introduced it to the
world, it was already known to Indians. Match the following works with
their authors: Name of the Work Name of the Author 1. Sulva Sutra 2.
Aryabhattiya 3. Brahm Sputa Siddantika 4. Siddanta Shiromani 5. Ganit Sara
Sangraha 1. Aryabhatta 2. Mahaviracharya 3. Baudhayan 4. Brahmgupta 5.
Bhaskaracharya
15.2 SCIENCE As in Mathematics, ancient Indians
contributed to the knowledge in science, too. Let us now learn about the
contributions of some scientists of ancient India.
15.2.1 Kanad Kanad was a sixth century scientist of
Vaisheshika School, one of the six systems of Indian philosophy. His
original name was Aulukya. He got the name Kanad, because even as a child,
he was interested in very minute particles called “kana”. His atomic theory
can be a match to any modern atomic theory. According to Kanad, material
universe is made up of kanas, (anu/atom) which cannot be seen through any
human organ. These cannot be further subdivided. Thus, they are indivisible
and indestructible. This is, of course, as you may be knowing, what the
modern atomic theory also says.
15.2.2 Varahamihira Varahamihira was another well-known
scientist of the ancient period in India. He lived in the Gupta period.
Varahamihira made great contributions in the fields of hydrology, geology
and ecology. He was one of the first scientists to claim that termites and
plants could be the indicators of the presence of underground water. He
gave a list of six animals and thirty plants, which could indicate the
presence of water. He gave very important information regarding termites
(Deemak or insects that destroy wood), that they go very deep to the
surface of water level to bring water to keep their houses (bambis) wet.
Another theory, which has attracted the world of science is the earthquake
cloud theory given by Varahmihira in his Brhat Samhita. The thirty second
chapter of this samhita is devoted to signs of earthquakes. He has tried to
relate earthquakes to the influence of planets, undersea activities,
underground water, unusual cloud formation and abnormal behaviour of
animals. Another field where Varahamihira’s contribution is worth
mentioning is Jyotish or Astrology. Astrology was given a very high place
in ancient India and it has continued even today. (West mockery has not
reached Indian astrology as they do not know much about it) Jyotish, which
means science of light, originated with the Vedas. It was presented
scientifically in a systematic form by Aryabhatta and Varahmihira. You have
already seen that Aryabhatta Indian Culture and Heritage Secondary
Astrology is the science of predicting the future. Varahamihira was one of
the nine gems, who were scholars, in the court of Vikramaditya.
Varahamihira’s predictions were so accurate that king Vikramaditya gave him
the title of ‘Varaha’.
15.2.3 Nagarjuna Nagarjuna was a tenth century scientist.
The main aim of his experiments was to transform base elements into gold,
like the alchemists in the western world. Even though he was not successful
in his goal, he succeeded in making an element with gold-like shine. Till
date, this technology is used in making imitation jewelry. In his treatise,
Rasaratnakara, he has discussed methods for the extraction of metals like
gold, silver, tin and copperAs you have read, scientific knowledge was in a
highly advanced stage in ancient India. In keeping with the times, Medical
Science was also highly developed. Ayurveda is the indigenous system of
medicine that was developed in Ancient India. The word Ayurveda literally
means the science of good health and longevity of life. This ancient Indian
system of medicine not only helps in treatment of diseases but also in
finding the causes and symptoms of diseases. It is a guide for the healthy
as well as the sick. It defines health as an equilibrium in three doshas,
and diseases as disturbance in these three doshas. While treating a disease
with the help of herbal medicines, it aims at removing the cause of disease
by striking at the roots. The main aim of ayurveda has been health and
longevity. It is the oldest medical system of our planet. *A treatise on
Ayurveda, Atreya Samhita, is the oldest medical book of the world*. Charak
is called the father of ayurvedic medicine and Susruta the father of
surgery. Susruta, Charak, Madhava, Vagbhatta and Jeevak were noted
ayurvedic practitioners. Do you know that Ayurveda has lately become very
popular in the western world? This is because of its many advantages over
the modern system of medicine called Allopathy, which is of western origin.
15.3.1 Susruta Susruta was a pioneer in the field of surgery. He
considered surgery as “the highest division of the healing arts and least
liable to fallacy”. He studied human anatomy with the help of a dead body.
In Susruta Samhita, over 1100 diseases are mentioned including fevers of
twenty-six kinds, jaundice of eight kinds and urinary complaints of twenty
kinds. Over 760 plants are described. All parts, roots, bark, juice, resin,
flowers etc. were used. Cinnamon, sesame, peppers, cardamom, ginger are
household remedies even today. In Susruta Samhita, the method of selecting
and preserving a dead body for the purpose of its detailed study has also
been described. The dead body of an old man or a person who died of a
severe disease was generally not considered for studies. The body needed to
be perfectly cleaned and then preserved in the bark of a tree. It was then
kept in a cage and hidden carefully in a spot in the river. There the
current of the river softened it. After seven days it was removed from the
river. It was then cleaned with a brush made of grass roots, hair and
bamboo. When this was done, every inner or outer part of the body could be
seen clearly. Susruta’s greatest contribution was in the fields of
Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery) and Ophthalmic surgery (removal of
cataracts). In those days, cutting of nose and/or ears was a common
punishment. Restoration of these or limbs lost in wars was a great
blessing. In Susruta Samhita, there is a very accurate step-by-step
description of these operations. Surprisingly, the steps followed by
Susruta are strikingly similar to those followed by modern surgeons while
doing plastic surgery. Susruta Samhita also gives a description of 101
instruments used in surgery. Some serious operations performed included
taking foetus out of the womb, repairing the damaged rectum, removing stone
from the bladder, etc. Does it not sound interesting and wonderful?
15.3.2 Charak Charak is considered the father of ancient Indian
science of medicine. He was the Raj Vaidya (royal doctor) in the court of
Kanishka. His Charak Samhita is a remarkable book on medicine. It has the
description of a large number of diseases and gives methods of identifying
their causes as well as the method of their treatment. He was the first to
talk about digestion, metabolism and immunity as important for health and
so medical scienc. In Charak Samhita, more stress has been laid on removing
the cause of disease rather than simply treating the illness. Charak also
knew the fundamentals of Genetics. Don’t you find it fascinating those
thousands of years back, medical science was at such an advanced stage in
India.
15.3.3 Yoga & Patanjali The science of Yoga was developed in ancient
India as an allied science of Ayurveda for healing without medicine at the
physical and mental level. The term Yoga has been derived from the Sanskrit
work Yoktra. Its literal meaning is “yoking the mind to the inner self
after detaching it from the outer subjects of senses”. Like all other
sciences, it has its roots in the Vedas. It defines chitta i.e. dissolving
thoughts, emotions and desires of a person’s consciousness and achieving a
state of equilibrium. It sets in to motion the force that purifies and
uplifts the consciousness to divine realization. Yoga is physical as well
as mental. Physical yoga is called Hathyoga. Generally, it aims at removing
a disease and restoring healthy condition to the body. Rajayoga is mental
yoga. Its goal is self realization and liberation from bondage by achieving
physical mental, emotional and spritiual balance. Yoga was passed on by
word of mouth from one sage to another. The credit of systematically
presenting this great science goes to Patanjali. In the Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali, Aum is spoken of as the symbol of God. He refers to Aum as a
cosmic sound, continuously flowing through the ether, fully known only to
the illuminated. Besides Yoga Sutras, Patanjali also wrote a work on
medicine and worked on Panini’s grammar known as Mahabhasaya.
KR IRS 161024 END
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Thatha_Patty" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
To view this discussion on the web visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooVZV7hbsPw-BUWOqOO-i7YHaPr%3DbVLT-BOYd85LoGzcA%40mail.gmail.com.
