SCIENCE IN SANSKRIT
अंतरिक्ष विषये ऋषीणां योगदानविषये विखत ।(Ashtronomy) First Essay
कक्ष्या प्रवतमण्डिगा भ्रमन्ति सिे ग्रहााः स्वचािे ण।
Indian Rishis were innovators in various fields like Astronomy mathematics physics
Medicine and many Shastras. Rishis are classified based on their level of achievement and
exploration of divine nature with Rishi Maharshi, Brahmarshi, kandarshi, Devarshi, Rajarshi
.Rishis Realized supreme truths through Great penance and Meditation they became eligible
to hear the Brahmans Veda mantra and they transmitted their knowledge to the disciples
they are seen as seer of spiritual truth and natural Directors of society providing Guidance
on religious, moral and practical life.
येनेमा विश्वा भुिनावन तस्ुाः ।
तताः क्षत्रं बिमोजश्च जातम् |
The world is due to the Sun God The living beings get their strength and Energy from him the
fact that Sun is the source of energy was well, known to Indians from Vedic period
वमत्रो दाधाि पृव्िीमुतद्याम् । वमत्राः कृष्ीाः
The Sun holds the earth and the celestial region the Sun is the attracting power of all
heavenly bodies
वत्रनावभचक्रमजिमनिं
The elliptical path through Which all the celestial bodies move is imperishable and unslaked
This is Trinabhichakram because to form an ellipse three points are required .Ellipse is the
path of a point that moves so that the sum of its distance from two fixed points called foci is
constant
[ In the western astronomical tradition up to the age of Copernicus (1473-1543), it was
believed that the planets and other celestial bodies had circular orbits. Later Johannes
Kepler proposed a new theory in 1609. According to him the path of all the planets and
other celestial bodies is elliptical
.
नाडीििय यंत्र शंकु यंत्रयोाः िणणनं कुरुत । Second Essay
अपिृत्ते कुजिग्ने िग्नं चा्ो खगोिनविकािाः ।
भूि्ं ध्रुियवष्स्ं चक्रं षष्ा वनजोदयैचायम् व्यस्तैयणष्ी भायामुदयेऽकणन्यस्य नावडका ज्ञेयााः
Sundials in ancient India were sophisticated timekeeping devices that utilized the sun's
position to indicate the time of da. India has a rich history of sundial development with
examples like the Samrat Yantra in Jaipur which is the world's largest stone sundial. These
devices found at sites like the Konark Sun Temple demonstrate an understanding of celestial
mechanics and timekeeping principles
This is a simple astronomical instrument of Hindu origin commonly used by ancient
astronomers. Bhaskaracharya describes his Nadivalayam as a circle of wood circumferences
of which was graduated into Ghatis and its subdivisions. This dial is placed in the plane of
equator and the vertical gnomon is fixed at it center. The shadow of the gnomon is taken
into account to determine local time and hemispherical positions of the planets. This is also
known as Dhupaghadi.
समतिमस्तकपरिवधभ्रमवसद्धो दन्तिदिजाः शङ्काः
THIS INSTRUMENT, MADE OF IVORY CONSISTS OF A CIRCULAR PLATFORM ON THE HORIZONTAL
PLANE WITH SHANKU (POST) AT THE CENTRE. THIS IS USED TO TRACE THE SUN'S PATH AND ALSO TO
KNOW SEVERAL FACTS OF ASTRONOMY. ELEPHANTINE CALCULATIONS WITH IVORY-FINE DEVICES !
TRULY FINE INDEED!!
HISTORY OF PHYSICS : INDIA'S ROLE AND STATUS 23 PHYSICS Third Essay
tries to understand natural phenomena and the basic laws of working of the nature through
observations, experiments and formulating mathematical theories. The method is due to
Galileo [ Italy, 1564 - 1642] and Newton [England, 1642 - 1727]. Newton's book, Philosophia
Naturalis Principia Mathematica, (Meaning: mathematical principles of natural philosophy,
published in 1687) forms the foundation of Physics, known as Natural Philosophy. The
principles enunciated are stillused with little modification in the exploration of the
Macroscopic World. By the end of the 19th century several experimental as well as
theoretical situations arose,, which seemed to contradict the Newtonian Formulation. Then
came Einstein's Theory of Relativity (The Spl. theory, in 1905 and the Gen. theory in 1915)
for objects moving at speeds of the order of light, and The Quantum Mechanics (by
Heisenberg, Schrodinger, Max born, Pauli and others) for energies or masses at the level of
the elementary particles such as Electrons, Protons and Mesons. While Einstein's Theory
completely revolutionized our understanding of the basic laws of Physics, The Quantum
Mechanics created a new mathematical formalism to explore the sub-atomicworld. Prior to
Galileo, the tool of investigation was the sharpness of intelligence and vision. The great
minds involved in such activities were known as Philosophers and Thinkers. In this early age
of scientific thought the sages of India occupy a leading position. Among the materialistic
philosophers of India stands out the name of Kanaada, who was the proponent of the
Vaisheshika school ofthought. Knowledge of the various aspects of the physical world lie
scattered in many Sanskrit works such as the Vedas, Vedangas, Puranas, etc. The six
darsanas, viz., Nyaya of Gautama, Vasheshika of Kanaada, Saankhya of Kapila, Yoga of
Patanjali, Purva-mimamsa of Jamini and Uttara-mimamsa of Vyasa deal with several aspects
of the animate and inanimate world. The ancient Indians had a holistic view of the entire
world. Some of the observations can be better correlated to 20 century physical concepts.
Mr. Capra refers to the Mundakopanishad and quotes David Bohm: "One is lead to a new
notion of unbroken wholeness which denies the classical idea of analyzability of the world
into separately and independently existing parts...we have reversed the usual Classical
notion that the independent elementary parts of the world are the fundamental reality, and
that the various systems are merely particular contingent forms and arrangements of these
parts. Rather, we say that the inseparable quantum interconnections of the whole universe
is the fundamental reality and that relatively independently behaving parts are merely
particular and contingent forms within the whole."
िसायन शास्त्र विषये ऋषीणां योगदान विषये विखत । Forth Essay
िसशािा प्रकुिीत सिणबाधावििवजणते ।
The experiments of ancient Indian Alchemy were conducted in chemical laboratory
RASASHALA . A full description of such a laboratory is described in Rasaratnasamucchaya(a
Samskrit treatise on chemistry) which is given below. A laboratory is to be established in a
region where abounds in medicinal plants, water and free from all interferences. The
building should be well protected with high boundary walls. The laboratory is to be
furnished with a variety of equipments.The presiding deity, Rasabhairava made of mercury is
to be installed in the east. The furnace should be arranged in the southeast. Stone
implements should be kept in the south. In the southwest, apparatus for cutting, slicing etc.,
should be housed. In the west, washing and cleaning should be arranged. The northwest is
reserved for drying operations. Metallic investigations may be carried out in the north. The
northeast is reserved for preserving and storing the preparations made in the laboratory.
वक्षपेद्रसं घटे दीघण नताधोनािसंयुते ।
Place the chemical in a vessel provided with a long tube immersed in an inclined position
which enters into another vessel arranged as a reciever. The mouth of the vessel and the
joints should be sealed with clay and cloth.Now put a strong fire at the bottom of the vessel
containing the chemicals, while,the other vessel is in cold water. This apparatus (used for
distillation) is called Tiryakpatanam.
कौत्सः गु रुदक्षिण ां कथां गुरवे वरतन्तवे अक्षपितव न् वणियतु।
Guru-Dakshina Reward to the Guru
Kavikula Guru Kalidasa is one of the most prominent poets of Ancient India. He has written
number of books including poems and dramas. Present lesson Guru Dakshina is taken from
his Raghuvamsam Mahakavya
STORY: It was the time of Sri Ramachandra’s grandfather Raghu Maharaja’s rule. He was a
great and pious king like other rulers of Raghu Vamsha. In his kingdom there were many
Gurukulas each with many disciples. In one of the Gurukulas, which belonged to the sage
Varatantu there was a student by name Kautsa. At the end of 12-year course Kautsa wanted
to offer Dakshina to his Guru Varatantu as a reward. Kautsa said Sir, please give me an
oppurtunity to pay you Dakshina as a token of my gratitude. Keeping in view Kautsa’s
poverty the master said “You need not give any thing as you served me by body and mind
for all the 12 years during your studies. I am very much pleased with your service. So there is
no need of Gurudakshina. Now you are allowed to accept Gruhastha Dharma, where one
can do good for the society.” Kautsa persistently asked his master again and again to accept
a reward. After number of repeated requests the Guru got angry and said “O you are
crossing my words. Okay, since I have taught you 14 vidyas, give me 14 crores of gold coins.”
Kautsa accepted and came back, but worried about the fulfillment of his promise. Thinking
constantly about Gurudakshina Kautsa remembered Raghumaharaja. Knowing that
Raghumaharaja was very benevolent he approached him for help. But unfortunately, just
before Kautsa’s arrival Raghu had donated his entire wealth on an occassion of a Yagna
called Vishwajit. Having got the information of Kautsa’s arrival, king Raghu came to receive
the disciple of Varatantu with an earthen pot full of flowers and fruits. Seeing that, Kautsa
estimated the financial condition of Raghu and decided not to trouble him for money. King
Raghu invited him and asked for the reason of his arrival. Kautsa hesitatingly said “Sir, it
would be difficult for you to give………”. Having understood that Kautsa was in need of
something, king Raghu insisted him to say what he needed. King said “Coming to a king’s
palace with an expectation and returning without its fulfillment is not good for the royal
family. Please, don’t hesitate to tell what you want.” Then Kautsa told him the reason of his
arrival. King Raghu responded “Please stay here for two days and let me help you in this
regard.” Raghumaharaja thought “How can I give 14 crores of money within 2 days? Royal
treasury is empty due to the Vishwajit sacrifice in which each and every pie is donated to the
poor.” He decided to fight with Kubera, treasurer of Lord Indra as it was the only way left for
him. He called his ministers and ordered to start preparations for an attack on the following
day on Kubera. Before Raghu marched into his kingdom, Kubera had sent his servants and
told them to fill Raghu’s treasury with money to avoid war and blood-shed as he knew the
power of Raghu. On the following day Raghu Maharaja was informed by his ministers that
his treasury was full of money and there was no need of any invasion. Raghu called Kautsa
and told him happily that his money was ready but Kautsa was interested only in 14 crores.
The nature of Raghuvamsha was to give more than what a supplicant needed; hence he
wanted Kautsa to accept all the money as that invasion was meant only for him. But Kautsa
strongly rejected to accept more than what he had to give to his master. Moral – How a
disciple should show his devotion towards his Guru and how a master is worried about his
students are well narrated in the story
