Science And Education In Ancient India
The first evidence of science was seen in the Harappan period where weights were discovered and these were based on the decimal system. this is the beginning of Indian numerology. food in Indus valley sites was 13.2 inches. Planning and Architecture indicate knowledge of geometry, cotton cultivation indicates knowledge of weaving, and metal sculptures, the science of metallurgy.
Medicine:
Atharva Veda contains BHeshaja ( medicinal charms) and Rudra was the medicinal god as he was the guardian of medicinal herbs. Dhanvantari was the legendary fountain of wisdom in medicine. the first person associated with the ancient Indian medicinal system was Punarvasu Atreya who taught at Taxila During the reign of Buddha. charkha was a famous physician in the court of Kanishka and he wrote his famous treaties in medicine called Charaka Samhita. but perhaps the doyen among physicians was Sushruta of Banaras who’s treaties Sushruta Samhita indicate his knowledge of plastic surgery and has a section on surgical instruments. Many physicians from Persia and Central Asia came to Banaras to learn surgery from Sushruta. Ayurveda which developed in India means the science of longevity. another physician Vallabhatta wrote ashtanga Hridayasamhita(8 divisions of medicine)
Astronomy:
Jyotisha for astrology was a Vedanga and it contains elements of astronomy. Aryabhatta I wrote the Surya Siddhanta which dealt with the epicyclic revolution of the earth and the nature of eclipses, Besides others. the Jyothishya Vedant mentions the 27 nakshatras and the Solar year of 366 days. Varahamihira wrote The Panchasiddhantika, master treaties on astrology which analysis of various findings of astronomy.
Mathematics:
The Vedicsamhitas have large numbers expressed in the power of 10. the Sulvasutra portion of the Kalpa sutra dealt with the construction of sacrificial altars, which led to the growth of geometry. Dadar sutras were written by Katyayani and Apastamba mentions squares, triangles, rectangles, circles, diagonals, etc. Aryabhatta was also a mathematician par excellence. his work Aryabhata mentions the value of Pi more accurately than the Greek version of 3.1416. Brahmagupta wrote Brahma Gupta Siddhanta which dealt with mathematics and astronomy where is supposed to have indicated the theory of gravity and so is popularly called Indian Newton. Bhaskara was and another famous mathematician whose Masterpiece Siddhanta Shiromani marks and important progress in Indian knowledge of mathematics. here he mentions Patiganita or arithmetic, Bijaganita or algebra, And also Kshetra ganitha or geometry. He mentions impotent mathematical concepts like area of a circle, square roots, squaring, quadratic equations, etc. the Bhojadeva inscription of Gwalior is famous for its mention of zero which was used by Bhaskara to put forward his concepts of positive and negative numbers in Bijaganita or Algebra and quadratic equations. The Indian discovery of the number zero is perhaps the most important Landmark because it was found useful in the field of computers.
Physics:
Our ancient texts put forward the concept of Panchabhutas or five elements of air fire earth water and Ether and sense perceptions. Indians knew the existence of atom(anu) and molecule(parama anu) long before the greeks. the Vaisesika School was the first one to give a detailed elaboration of the atomic theory. in the field of acoustics, the Octave was classified into 24 Shrutis, or quarter tones, and their proportions were measured accurately.
Chemistry (Rasayana):
The technology of extraction of various metals was known to Indians as seen by the various Copper and iron tools discovered at various sites. the Mehrauli Iron Pillar of the Gupta period is made of pure iron and has not rusted for over 1500 years and is so is a great tribute to the metallurgical skills of Ancient Indians.
Education:
It is comprised of three processes – Shravan or listening to roots; Manana or thinking about them; Nidhyasanas for a complete comprehension of truth. Gurukuls Vardha educational institutions where the brahmacharya after his Upanayan II ceremony went to Guru’s ashramas to study. the Rig Veda mentions Brahmana Sangha which shaped the Sanskrit and was an institution for advanced study. many Kings patronized learning and it is believed that Janaka of Videha is supposed to have held the Congress of philosophers Under Yagyavalkya where Gargi, a woman philosopher also participated. The greatest educational institution of Ancient India was Nalanda which had about 10,000 students and 1500 lecturers during its Zenith. its library was called Ratna Sagara and was boosted by philosophers like Sila Badra, Nagarjuna, Asanga, Vasubandhu among others. Ghatikas and Salias were the South Indian educational institutions.