dear brother  the scintific heritage of  Hindus included herewoith

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF HINDUS

This is only an outline on the  scientific and technological heritage of Hindus to be selected for the study by the individuals depending on their own interest and specialization.  They  may collect  as many  points  asking the questions why ? how ? when ? where ?  what?  and comparing the  answer  with the  knowled ge  existing in other parts of the world,  in each topic, so that  they can  learn thoroughly  and  teach  others.  Let us try  to become an expert in selected  and specialized  areas of  Indian scientific  heritage.  The syllabi   are   given   as subject wise.

Example : If in the syllabus  Ajantha   is given,  ask the questions   what are the novel points with Ajantha cave temple? when  was it constructed ?  how it  was  constructed ? what are the salient structural  features of Ajantha? How  the people  in other parts of the world  were living, during  when this  Ajanta cave temples were constructed (BC 50) ? What was their  capability in this  subject area of cave structure construction ?…..Ask these questions and find out the answers.  Repeat the  same  for  other syllabus  points.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Health science (Health science  is  a part of ayurveda  which is  an upaveda of  Atharva veda. It is  also discussed in yoga sastra  which is one among the  six darsanas of the Hindus. The subject has also been dealt with in puranas and itihasas): The Indian vision on health  as given  by Ma harshi Susrutha, Charaka  and Vagbhatachaarya  and  many others.  The  approach taken by Patanjali in Yoga saastra,  the spiritual  approach of body and mind, etc will be the part of the Indian health science.  Aswini devatha concept of hitha  aayaasa  and mitha aahaara (food & exercise), need of  appropriate exercise based of the age-sex-physiological conditions, etc. Yogaasanas, sooryanamaskaara,   effect of  medicines,  identification of  diseases  through  saastram pramaanam/ aaptavaakyam pramaanam/prthyksham pramaanam/ anumaanam pramanam /  methods.  Use of drugs,  fastings and  pathyas  and  fasting as a part of customs/rituals.  Selection of   food based on climatic variation/age/health conditions/etc of the person/patient, physical and mental rest,   upaasana  and worship as a part of  day to day life, ethics and morality in the common man’s life  and also  for doctors, …  causes of  illness, pathogenic organisms,  precautions to be taken for  good health, solar therapy, music therapy, Yoga therapy, Reiki, energy healing, water therapy, as described in the Indian system. The  knowledge on surgery  and plastic surgery  and surgical equipments known sastras  and yanthras as described in Susrutha samhitha, practicing surgery as given by  Maharshi Susrutha. Variety of acharas/customs and rituals influencing the health. Importance of  vegetarian foods.  Indian  traditional  foods  and their  merits. Taking oil bath during selected days, hot/cold water bath. Allowing  children to play in the  soils  after  smearing the oil. ‘Grandmaa’s technological foods’ for babies  and baby health care  system existed in  ancient Ind ia.

Mental Health / Psychology (this again is a subject of  ayurveda and yoga/ poorva meemamsa/uttarameemamsa/vaiseshika/ darsanas and Upanishads. It has been discussed in detail in Yogavasishta, Bhagavath geetha, dharma saastra  and so on):  Description of mind given in Upanishads, mental influence on health, the influence of yamaas and niyamaas: ahimsa- satyam- astheyam-brahmacharya- aparigraham- oucham- snthosha- thapa- swadhyayam- eeswara pranidhaanam –etc. Effect of stabilised vision on life, controlling the angr,fear,and attachment, mental preparations  < /SPAN>to face ups and downs/loss and profit/ success  and failures/ animosity and friendship/ appreciations and criticisms  …as described in Indian  philosophical books.  Influence  of puranic  / epic  related stories in mind  to face the  realities of the life. Influence of pranayam/ dhyaana/dharana  etc on the mental development. Impact of food on  mind as  proved by the modern science, effect of saatwic  food, dreams, effect of manthras on mind,  customs  influencing the  mental health  and  family relations.  Analyses of the purpose of living, family-social-and national  goals to be  put forth  for  a purposeful life  and its impact on mind.  Spirituality  and faith in healing. Effect of curative chemical on mind and body.  Bhajans /keerthans/ prayer/ manthras etc on mind.  The positive  songs and images influencing the mind. Psychologically influencing  acharas.

Food science(very specific explanations  are givenin ayurveda- as told –it is  a part of atharvaveda. It has been given in dharma saastra  and gruhyasootra part of kalpasastra  and to some extent in puraanaas): Variety of  Indian foods,  balanced nutritious foods, natural traditional baby foods, the  medicinal components usually added in Indian foods (like asafoetida, turmeric, spices, mustard,  etc), pathya based  food during illness, specialized  cooking, roasting, fermenting, processing, preserving,  etc. done for variety of  foods and their science. Generation of specific flavors in foods by suitably modifying spices. The science of altering the foods during  fasting  on  specific  days like  ekaadasi/ somavaar vratha/ karthika month/ vaisaakha month/ etc. Opting for integrated balanced foods through  fasting and vrathaas,  importance of selecting  cooking vessels like ceramics / iron/copper/ brass vessels ( for getting  micro nutrients like, iron, zinc, copper, silica, magnesium, sodium, potassium etc), variety of vegetables  and  their  significance in balanced healthy foods.  Many more   significant scientific observations can be made  if  a student  carefully  examines the Indian foods, naturopathy, vegetarian food.

Chemistry ( Rasachikitsa is  a part of  atharvaveda based  ayurveda prevalent in north India.  All the  authors  of  Rasachikitsa  were  Siddhas or Maharshies.  The chemistry descriptions one  can see sytematically in the rasa books) :  The ancient Indian chemistry books like rasarnava, rasaratna samucchaya, rasendra choodamany, rasarnavakalpa, rasa chandriks, rasaratnakara, and  hundreds of  rasa based books . (These books  are  available  in Sanskrit  with English or Hindi translations.).  The  knowledge on chemicals, particularly in inorganic chemicals, like  sulphides/ sulphates/oxides/ etc.  Sanskrit names of chemicals,  detailed description given for setting up a laboratory, scientific temper, qualification of laboratory assistants,  research scholars as described in Rasaratna samucchaya.  properties of  inorganic  chemicals  and their uses described by Vagbhatacharya, centuries ago. Chemicals used for   various purposes as described in Bharadhvaja in yantra sarvaswa, Varahamihira in Bruhath samhita and  also by others in the  above chemistry books .

Bio-pesticides( biopesticides  are  part of  vrukshayurveda  which again is  a part of Ayurveda  or  Bhruhat samhitha): Variety of plant products,  Neem, sweet neem, neem cake, mustard cake, tulasi, clove,  pepper, turmeric, tobacco,  oils from  se same , cotton seed,  castor  etc.,  used as  bio pesticides  and  as  preservatives, traditional methods of pest control like fumigation with neem/ sulphur/ camphor/ coconut husk(since it contains  sulphur /coconut shell (raw for its  phenolic content) / cow dung (since it contains  ammonia). The use of panchagavya / aqueous cow dung filtrate /extract as pesticide. The traditional knowledge   available  from  farmers. Detailed descriptions  for controlling the pests/microorganisms/etc given in Vruksha ayurvedic books.

Plant drugs/pharmacology ( this  is  a part of the  atharvavedic  ayurveda):   Active  plant bio-chemicals possessing  medicinal plants, as described in Chraka samhita, Ashtanga hrudaya, ashtanga sangraha, sahasrayoga, etc. comparative studies on  modern and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants. The student  can try to under stand as many plants  as possible which are  good  sources of the  bio-active principles.  Variety of  plants ( herbs, shrubs, creepers, grass, trees  etc.) used for  curing  diseases. The plant   leaves, buds, flowers, stems, roots, latex, etc used for  treating specific  diseases.  Single drug  treatment.

Medicines and medicinal preparations /plant biochemistry ( Charaka samhitha  and  Susrutha  samhitha  are  written  by  Rishies  of the caliber of those  of vedic Rishies,  this  also include sages like  Chyavana/Brugu/Vagbhata/Agastya and so on):  The descriptions of   inorganic chemicals used  as  medicines in ancient Indian  Rasa chikitsa books, their preparations/processing  and  preservation.  The plant  products used as drugs, the raw drugs, their  harvesting, drying, storage,  mixing,  drug formulation,  decoction  preparation, etc.  Variety of  Ayurvedic drug formulation obtained by mixing many raw drugs. Knowledge on the  possible  chemical changes taking place in ayurvedic drug preparation  while  drying,  storing,  heating,  roasting,  boiling with  water,  concentration, etc (all ayurvedic preparations). Here we have to focus only on the knowledge existed  and their  scientific merits,&nb sp; in the area of  plant drugs. The scientific  knowledge behind kashaya/decoction preparation, choorna, kwatha, lehya, arishta, ghrutha, thyla. etc reparations  and their  basic principles of applications.

Basic plant sciences/botany: Detailed description given  in Vrukshayurveda by Rishies like Saarngadhara, Katyayana, Varahamihira, Parasara, and others. Plant  growth, grafting, irrigation, use of manure, seeds preservation,  phototropism, agricultural practices both basic and applied. Seasons of  sowing/planting/ biodynamics of agricultural practice, etc., Variety of the traditional knowledge still practiced in villages, in the production of agriculture commodities.

Fermentation  technology. The knowledge  of microorganisms  existed in India   as described in ayurvedic books. Fermentation of milk to curd and yoghurt,  fruit juice fermentation to vines,  medicinal preparation of  arishtas, etc. Fermentation procedures followed in  four  major  types liquors mentioned  in Chanakya’s Artha saastra ( Arthasastra is  an upaveda of  Rigveda), the source of microorganisms, cultures,  fermentation products mentioned in the  ayurvedic  and vrukshayurvedic books. Fermented  rice based  common solid foods like pan cake, fermentation of  traditional liquors from coconut  and palm  products .

TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Ancient Indian mines:  Knowledge on the ancient Indian  mines  which were active  during the last  three or more millenia,  the ores/ minerals  of copper, gold, zinc, lead, silver,  distributed through out Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, Bengal, Gujarath , Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh  , etc…. The technology adopted for digging , mining, transportation,   processing  and  refining the above ore prior to  metallurgical processing,  provisions given for  aeration  and lighting in mines, etc.  the  present day  scenes of  ancient  metallurgical sites.

Ancient Indian knowledge in Metallurgy (metallurgy is  a part of lohathanthra which again  is  becoming a part of Rasachikitsa/saastra):  The production  and purification of metals, the use of flux and slag,  temperature attained,   technology  for the production and purification of  metals  < /SPAN>like  tin, copper, iron,  silver, gold, zinc, lead.  An understanding of the  chemical reactions  accomplished like, oxidation, reduction,. slag formation, distillation  of low boiling  metals, etc.  The fine  technology used  for  the large scale production of  bronze,  brass, panchaloha, bell metal, coin making metals  and many alloys  mentioned in  chemistry books  and also in the books like  Chanakya’s Arthasaastra.  Impressive  metallic alloy preparation techniques mentioned in  the Rasa books , rasopanishad and Bharadvaajaa’s writings. The kilns nd mooshas used for the  metallurgical applications. Special methods adopted  for the preparation of zinc and  lead.  Preparation of the purest form of copper  and  alpha and beta  b rass. Identification of  alpha and beta  tin  and  descriptions of the physical characteristics of these metals.  The metal ingots, sheets, plates etc  of zinc/lead/iron/brass/bronze/copper/gold/silver/…of Indian origin  excavated from   other countries like Athens,  Babylonia, Rome,  Egypt,..

Ancient Indian  Iron  making technology. Production of  pig iron, cast iron  and wrought iron, Delhi  and Dhar iron pillar, forge welding, lamination, paint coating for  preventing the rusting,. Making the swords,  the Banaras  and  Kodumanal swords, carburization in iron instruments  used i n agriculture  and  surgery. Rust free preservation  techniques  adopted for iron, woortz steel.  Large scale production of iron alloys, export of iron to  European/ middle east  countries. The iron technology existed in North Kerala/Andra/Nasic/ Gujarath/Bengal/Varanasi/etc. the  Damascus sword from India.

Ceramics science and technology in ancient India (detailed description of the  moosha is given in  Rasa based  books)   :  The  top quality ceramics  vessels, tiles, glazed  vessels,  beads,  bricks  etc. produced in Harappa, Mohanjo daro, Lot hal, Varanasi, Thakshasila, Kalibhangan,  Hastinapura,  and many other  North and south Indian  archeological sites.  Variety of  coloring materials used  for the ceramics vessels  and decoration ceramics  articles which were also used in the glass making. The great bath of Mohen jo dara, thelost city of Cambay, Dwaraka, Hastinapura, etc

Industrial and instrumental glass technology existed in India:  Variety of  multi colored  glasses  with   different  size, shape,  appearance and  capacity  produced  in India .  The glass beads, ornaments,&nbs p; plates, vessels,  made using variety of inorganic coloring  materials like the oxides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, etc of chromium,  lead, copper,  iron , nickel, calcium, sodium.  The  non metallic compounds used  as  coloring materials.  Technology  introducing the  golden/ silver  leaf/plates  in glasses.

General Instruments used in ancient India:  Description of  a variety of  instruments  given in Bharadvaja’s yanthra sarvaswa  (Bharadwaja is now  a clan ordered  after the great   Vedic sage of Bharadwaja . He is  known  as Maharshi Bharadwaja. Only a part of his book  Yantra sarvaswa/ amsubhodini  is now available)  the Vaimanika saastra, dvaantha pramapaka yantra, etc. The numbering  systems with serial numbers of the components of instruments,  alloy preparations, quality of glass  lenses, prisms, glass plates, variety of Krithaka loha ( artificial metallic alloys having  non metallic  compounds also) dies used for molding the  instrument  parts/components,  in required size and shape. The instruments used in astronomical calculations  known under the title  jyothir yantra .

Musical instruments ( Music  is  Gandharva veda  which is an upaveda of  Saamaveda. Music/ dance/ drama/ musical instrument  are  all originated  from Saamagaana) : Variety of  string instruments for music/dance performances, the metallic alloys used for the preparation of  strings, wind  in struments, the knowledge of  sound waves , the membrane instruments, preparation/processing  of the membranes  for  these  musical instruments.  The  basic  knowledge of sound  in  music.  The granite   music  pillars  known as sangeetha mandapa  seen  in  ancient south Indian temples.  Traditional  Indian musical instruments like flute, idakka, mrudanga, chenda, thaala, naadaswara,  veena, violin, harmonium,  and so on. The basic principles  adopted in their making and use.

Surgical instruments ( detailed  descrtiptionof these  instruments  and their  pictures  are  given in the books written by Maharshi Susrutha  as  a part of  Salya chikitsa which again  is  a part of  ayurveda/ upaveda of atharva veda):  The  surgical  instruments  known  as  sastras and  yanthras  numbering more than a hundred, as mentioned in  Susrutha samhitha, the metals used for making these instruments. Their size, shape and comparison  with the modern instruments used for the purpose. Description of  plastic surgery techniques.  The instruments for kidney stone removal, stitching, cutting open, etc.  all th ese  instruments used in the  modern surgery tables  may be compared  with those available  thousands  of years  ago, in India.

Laboratory equipments ( this  decrtiptionis coming as part of  rasa  books):  More than  35 types of ceramics, glass and metallic  equipments mentioned  in Rasaratna samucchaya  for the use  in chemical  laboratories for the processes like, distillation, sublimation, extraction, drying, heat ing, roasting, mixing, decanting, etc. generally known  under the name yanthras made using specific quality  clays. Many varieties of mooshaas , put yantras  were also used  here  for processing themetals  and other compounds.

Kilns/furnaces, mushas  & Putas used for metallurgy.  Variety of  furnaces  and  kilns, crucibles  used for the production of  various metals  and alloys. The  temperature  attained  for  oxidation, r eduction, slag preparation   and  distillation  of variety of  metals and  correspondingly suitable selection of putas/furnaces.  Heating materials  and their proportions, heating time, flux used  for removing the impurities  in the  metal processing . description of  maha gajaputa,  gajaputa, kukkuta  puta, kapotha puta  ……etc  and their preparations.

Painting Technology/organic and  inorganic colorants ( this  subject coming as part of sthaapathya veda /architecture which  is an upaveda of  Rigveda sometimes it is  also said  as the upaveda of  atharva veda) .  The  chemistry of the  paints used in Ajantha, Ellora, and other cave temple< SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  paintings, mural paintings, the inorganic  colors  and  plant products  used for  paintings, their preparation, mixing,  applying on the  preprocessed surfaces. Selecting  and processing plant  products  used as  paints.  The  preparation of inks, for variety of applications. Mural paintings, oil paintings,   preparation of painting beds/ walls/ canvass, etc  as done in cave temples and walls.

Textiles technology  (  detailed  dscrtiption can be  seen in dharma saastra  and also artha saastra  part of  either kalpasastra or upaveda): Ancient Indian textile  industry as mentioned in Chanakya’s Artha saastra,  textiles produced  using  cot ton, silk, wool, jute,  and also incorporation of   gold, silver and lead  metallic  threads  as boarders for the textiles.  The famous  Kancheepuram , Banaras,.. sarees/textiles.  the  dying technology and  coloring materials  used.  The textile dyes, leather colors,  variety of coloring materials produced in different parts of India   and method of  application  of the dyes.

Civil engineering  and architecture ( The subject matter is dealt with systematically in Sthapathya veda which is  upaveda – as mentioned above. Detailed descrtiption is  also available  in artha sasstra books)  : The civil engineering skill demonstrated   in the famous south Indian temples  constructed by the kings of the  Chola, Chera, Pandya, Hoysaalsa, Kakateeya, Vijay a nagara …periods.  The  huge and tall entrances/gopurams  of these  temples.  The mortars/cements   used for the construction of these temples.  The instruments used for measuring / maintaining  the geometry of these structures. The granite/ marble/ laterite stone cutting and polishing equipment/devises  existed during then.  The transportation techniques adopted  for the huge granite pieces. Construction  of marble&nbs p; temples,  palaces  and lake palaces in Rajasthan . The temples of Kancheepuram, Rameswaram, Chidambaram, Kumbhakonam, Thiruvannamali, Sucheendram,  Trivandrum,  Konark and Khajuraho,….   The  music pillars   and music mandapas, the knowledge on the  sound waves produced  by these  granite pillars and  granite  stone  carvings (thick-thin - pointed and so on)  ; The carving undertaken  with top precision, in all the above structures.

The construction of  cave temples, of Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, knowledge  on geological aspects of rocks in which the Chaityaas and Viharas  were carved out.  Huge palaces constructed  particularly like Jaisalamar palace, palaces in the pink city Rajasthan, Gwalior, Mysore, Hyderabad, etc  the  air conditioning/temperature maintaining mechanisms adopted, glazed and non glazed  tiles/glasses  used for flooring/windows.  The  ponds and water reservoirs  made  thousands of years ago. (learn as many  structures constructed as possible and their technologies)

The civil engineering  sciences and technologies of forts  and walls, channels,  rivers etc.  the archeologically important  sites of Mohan jo daro, Lothal, Harappa, Dwaraka, the lost city of Cambay  etc

BASIC SCIENCES:

Basic principles of  physics (for  these basic  principles one has to sarch  very any books  examples  are sited   against  each subject)  the velocity of  light ( Sayana Bhashya for Vedas), wave  nature of  sound  (Maharshi Gouthama’s nyaaya saastra), seven colors of  light *Rigveda),  Heisenberg’s uncertainty principles Patanjali’s yoga sastra), definition and explanation of atoms, gravitational forces *siddhanta siromany of Bhaskaracharya II),  different types of  rays (UV, IR, Heat rays, visible  rays - as explained by Bharadvaja)  lenses,  prisms, magnetic materials like  iron and variety of magnets, time,  weights and measures, linear parameters.  Modern scientific principle  equiva lent  ancient  observations. Explanations  given yantra sarva sarvawa of Bharadwaja , the vaimanika saastra, dwanthapramapaka yantra/ spectro photometer, etc the scale used in measuring the temperature, the  serialization of  instrument parts commonly used., graduation method adopted, metallic alloys used in measuring the  light waves, etc *all yantra sarvaswa of Maharshi Bhardvaja)

Ancient Indian Mathematics  & Astronomy ( Mathematics  and  astronomy re the fifth vedanga of vedic literature kown  as Jyothisha.  There are  four vedanga jyothis  onnected  with Rigveda- archa jyothisha- Yajurveda – Yajusha jyothisha, Samaveda  samjyothis  and  Atharva veda  ; Atharva jyothisha).  The later  development of th subject matter  are directly  connected with  these jyothisha books) :  Detailed knowledge  are given in the books written by  Aryabhatta  (I & II), Bhaskara  (I & II), Vateswara, Manjula, Lalla, Varahamihira, Parameswara, Sankaranarayana, and many other mathematicians. The four number systems, (Sanskrit number, Aryabhatta number, Bhootha sankya and Katapayaadi number) arithmetic and geometrical progressions  and their  variety of  applications, interest calculations, moving bodies, forward and backward motions, linear  and  angular  measurements,  number theories, square/cube roots and power series, determinations,   degree/minutes/seconds/ microseconds both for  time and  angular measurements,   various geometrical figures  both inscribed one another  and independent figures, parameters  connected with  area, perimeter, volume  of  squares, triangles, circles, trapeziums, spheres, cones, cyclic quadrilaterals, polygonals,  detailed algebra,  quadratic equations, monomial and  binomial theorems, etc. Hundreds of theorems  developed by Aryabhatta, Bhaskara I  &  II, Sankaranarayana, Sangamagrama Madhavacharya, Puthumana Somayaji, Vateswarana, Aryabhatta II, Sankara Varman, Paramewaracharya…… the  application of  ka ta pa ya adi  number  and bhootha sankhya systems made by the above mathematicians.