Ancient technological science in india

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 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 and 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 brass. 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 ancient 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 in 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, Lothal, 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 lass 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, 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 instruments, 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 art 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 these instruments used in the modern surgery tables may be compared with those available thousands of years ago, in India.

Laboratory equipments ( this descrtiptionis 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 lie, distillation, sublimation, extraction, drying, heating, 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, reduction, 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 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 cotton, 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, Vijaya 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 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 search very many 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 equivalent ancient observations. Explanations given in 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 are the fifth vedanga of vedic literature kown as Jyothisha. There are four vedanga jyothis connected with Rigveda‐ archa jyothisha‐ Yajurveda – Yajusha jyothisha, Samaveda samjyothisha 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.

Determination of Sine, cosine and tangent, Rsine values their squares, square roots, additions and subtractions, determination at degree/minute/second levels. and their tables, as explained in detailed by Varahmihira/ Vateswara/ Aryabhata II/ Puthumana Somayaji/ Parameswaracharya/ Nilakanta/ Sankaranrayana/ Achuta/ jayadeva/ Manulacharya/ and so on, method of determining these values, angles in degrees and radians, calculations and theorems connected with these values . Relation among radius‐ arc‐chord‐circumference ‐ sine ‐ cosine ‐ tangent – angles.Indian theorems known in foreign scientists names such as : Newton’s theorems, Gregory’s theorem’s, Kelvin’s theorem, Lhulers theorem, Lebnitzs’ series, Taylor series, Tycho Brahe equations, etc.
Astronomical parameters( As mentioned above; Jyothisaastra is applied ganithasaatra accordind to the fifth vedanga known as jyothisha): Various astronomical and geographical parameters mentioned in the above books: The spherical shape, size, diameter, circumference, gravity, declination, rotation speed, revolution, celestial/terestrial latitude and longitude, parallax in latitude and longitude, earthsine, etc of earth. Many more astronomical parameters described with definition by Vatewaracharya, like co‐latitude, prime meridian, and its relation with time, sun rise and sun set, eight type of revolutions of planets, visibility of planets, declination, precision equinox, alpha Aeries point, apogee, perigee, solar and lunar eclipse, calculation of eclipse, diameter of shadow and movement of shadow, instruments used for time calculation and also for the calculation of various astronomical parameters known as yanthras.

Hundreds of parameters described systematically and calculated mathematically on solar and lunar eclipses, changes in the signs, latitude/ longitude, time variations, east –west lines, avanti lines of international importance, the inferior plants and superior planets, occulting of planets and stars, the star constellations, the comets, and their appearance, etc., etc
Indian Management science ( All Indian management books are directly connected with Itihasa( epics) puranas, subhashitas): Thousands of modern and relevant management principles explained by Chanakya in (Chanakya) neetisara also known as Chanakya upadesa, , Bharthru Hari in upadesa sathaka in hundred points, , Vidura in Vidura neetisara as a question answer method of presentation to Dhrutharashtra and Vidura, Bhishma in Bhishmopadesa to the questions asked by Dharma putra,, and also books like Yoga Vaasishta as given by Mahrshi Vasishta, Bhagavath geetha advise given to Arjuna by Lord Krishna, Sukra neeti sara by Sukra muni and many subhashtaas ( advises) mentioned in Pancha thantra, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Thirukkural and so on. They are all applicable even for the management in the 21st century.

Ancient Indian knowledge in Economics (This subject is the upaveda of Rigveda): The book on artha saastra written by Chanakya known as Koutlileeyam, many cross reference books are also mentioned in arthasaastra, books of dharma sastras/ smruthies dealing with this subject The detailed explanations about money, budget, banking, interest, loans, compound interest, penal interest, surety, witness, documents preparations for loans, pledging of materials, leasing, etc. the detailed method of implementing sales tax, agricultural tax, property tax, gift tax, land tax, house tax, customs duty and penal taxes, etc. ( as described in dharma saastra) can be seen in many books written during BC 500 and before.

Indian Philosophy (Philosophies either part of Upanishads which are known as vedantas or as part of shaddarsanas: The philosophical compilations known as darsanas by Vyasa, Jaiminee, Patanjali, Gouthama, Kapila and Kanaada ‐ poorva & uttara meemamsa, yoga, nyaaya, vaiseshikaa, are the most important books known as shad darsanas. Many fundamental principles of physics, chemistry, biology, etc are mentioned in the above darsanaas. Sankara’s Adwaitha and Madhva’s dwaitha. The book of Charvaka known as Charvaka samhita of atheism. Other than the specific philosophical compilations, the philosophy described in upanishad, Bhagavath geetha, Yogavasishta, etc. Thus the knowledge of Hindus did not restrict upon mere spirituality and achaaras but also focused on every branch of modrn science and technology. That is the reason why many of these knowledge, the western scientists are patenting now.

Modern India’s Achievements (The modern Indian achievements in every field is a continuation of the ancient Indian blood and achievements) : Since large amount of data are available in this subject, the reader/student can select or collect as much details as possible for continuous learning of the great scientists of modern India and our achievement n space science, harnessing atomic energy , technology of exploding atom bombs, Antarctica expedition, the green revolution, the blue revolution , white revolution, chemistry and achievements in the area of biotechnology, in telecommunication, roads and transportation, education at lower and higher levels, professional education, information technology and computer science and super computer technology, revolutions in print and electronic media. The student can add much more than this, as the specialization has achieved in India, in almost all subject areas.

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