Facts about India

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 foundationsof 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.

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, paediatrics, 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 ofAyurveda 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 suturesinto 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 themost difficult diseases.

Nanatechnology:-

Sages of India were the real inventors, with their pure minds & higher consciousness they prepared Ayurvedic Bhasmas which are examples of Nano-technology.The team of leding Scientists in the Indian Science Congress has accepted this fact very recently. Dr. Jayesh Ballare,professor of I.I.T. Mumbai who presented the paper on Nano-bio-technology has saidthat treatment of diseases is being found out with the help of very minute particles, these can be harmful but also beneficial and a blessing when given in right minute doses.The Bhasmas prepared by Indian rishis get subdivided into Nano Particles & cure the incurable 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 creditedwith calculating pi to four decimal places, developing the trigonomicsine 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. Vedic Astrology is definately the ildst work on astronomy available in the world. 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, constellationscience, 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 interplayof the sun, the moon and the earth. Vishnu Purana,Yoga Vashistha talks about Galaxy,Great Bears,Zodical signs,Planets,Poles,Milky Way Weekdays & Various Divisions Of Time.

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 Years. India has given the idea of the smallest and the largest measure of time. Krati Krati = 34,000th of a second 1 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 (4,320,000years) 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 sounds(Mantra), Tantra, Yantra , Meditation, Yoga, Palmistry, Numerology, Tarot Card Readings ,Pranic Healing, Vastu shastra, Vedic Astrology, Magic & Illusion, Astral Traveling, Metaphysics, Graphology, Study of Dreams, Science of Levitation, Magnetic Therapy, Acupressure, Hypnotism, Telepathy, Aura Readings, Past Life Regression, OBE, Distant Healing, Powers Of Mind & other Holistic Sciences etc.

Religion & Spirituality :-

Almost All the Religions Of The World have their Origins & Roots In the Great "Sanatana Dharma"(Eternal Religion) of India & Revived by Avtaars & Prophets or Messangers Of God from time to time & was given the New Name after them when they left their Earthly Existence. It was the Same Advanced Scientific Religion Practiced In India, Egypt, Mayan civilizations in the past.

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. Microbioligsts Research Today have found out that Bacteria formation in water falls in a copper vessel thus purifying it & fit for drinking but Indian Rishis & Seers have been practicing this truth thousandds of years before.

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. 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.

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)