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CH : 5 India’s Heritage of Science and Technology

 Science : Systematic knowledge.


 Technology : Practical use of systematic knowledge.
 Science and Technology in spite of being two different words, they are linked
to each other.
 Heritage of Ancient India in the field of Science & Technology :
→ Great sages of our ancient India have gifted invaluable heritage of science
to the world.
→ They made outstanding contribution in the field :
 Metallurgy
 Chemistry
 Medical science
 Surgery
 Mathematics
 Astronomy
 Astrology
 Vastushestra
 Physics.
→ India has contributed not only in the filed of literatures art, religion etc
but also it has made immense contribution in science and Technology.
→ Modern age researches have proved that India has scientific attitude
along with religious book.
 Metallurgy :
→ Metallurgy means science of metals.
→ Since, ancient age, the people of India use metals in their practical life.
→ A metallic idol of a female dancer discovered from Indus valley civilization is on
examples achievement of ancient India.
→ Later, statues of Buddha belonging to the Kushan period have been found at
Takshshila.
→ In south India, during the chola period numbers metal idols were made.
 Chennai museum :
→ Statue of Natraja
→ Ram – the archer
→ Statues of Gods – Goddesses
→ Statues of birds and animal
→ Betel – nut cuthers
→ All of them have important place in the history of India.
 Chemistry :
→ Chemistry is an experimental science.
→ This science is very useful for various minerals, plants, seeds, making of
various metals or to bring changes in them.
→ It is also useful for making medicine.
→ Acharya Nagarjun, a learned Buddhist of Nalanda University is known as
Acharya in the field of chemistry.
→ He wrote books like : (i) Rasaratnakar and (ii) Arogyamanjari
→ Acharya Nagarjun, advocated the use of Alopathy along with herbal
medicines.
→ It is believed that the use of mercury ash as a medicine was initiated by him.
→ Nalanda University had its own school of chemistry and furnace for study
and research.
→ The description of main rasa, uprasa, ten types of poisons as well as various
types of salts and ash of minerals is seen in the chemistry.
→ Copper statue of Buddha reflect on expert knowledge and skill in the filed of
chemistry.
→ Copper statue of Buddha – sultangujn in Bhagalpur district (Bihar)
→ Wight : one Tone (1000 Kgs)
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→ Height : 7 feet.
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→ Statue of Buddha – Nalanda is 18 feet high.


→ Example of vijay Stambha is 24 feet high, weight : 7 Tones built by
Chandragupta – II.
→ In spite of nature’s fury over centuries, the pillar has not yet corroded.
 Medical science and Surgery :
→ India attained an unprecedented achievement in the field of medicine and
surgery.
→ Maharshi Charak, Mahershi Sushrut and vagbhatta pioneered the Indian
medicine science and surgery through their intense researches and reached
to the greatest height.
→ Maharshi charak worte “Charak Samhita” in which he mentioned over 2000
medicinal herbs.
→ Mahrashi Shushrut has mentioned is strummetns used in surgery.
→ The instruments were so Sharp that they would spilt a single vertical hair in
two divisions.
→ Vagbhatta has written book “vagbhatta Samhita” is also a very important
work.
→ Study of charak, Samhita, shushrat Samhita and vagbhatta Samhita is very
useful for very doctor.
→ Hindu herbal science of ancient time is enriched with huge collection of
minerals and medicines from plants and animals.
→ This has presented a detailed and complicated process of making medicines,
their classification and their usage.
→ They could even stop blood circulation with bowl shaped bandage.
→ They could classify, also join the broken or displaced bones and extract the
things pierced into the body easily and skillfully.
→ Recognize symptoms and dingoes the disease.
→ They also gave dietary directions after post recovery of diseases.
→ They had knowledge of plastic surgery as well – joining nose and ears.
→ They showed a keen interest in teaching students the method of surgery, by
doing surgery on the dead body or on the wax statue.
→ They were expert gynecologists and pediatricians.
→ Veterinary science developed in ancient India.
→ They wrote books on diseases related to the horses (Ashwa) and elephants
(Hasti)
→ Among them “Hasti Ayurveda”, “Shalihotra” and “Ashwashastra” are well
known.
 Mathematics :
 The gift of India to the world are discovery of zero, decimal systems,
algebra, theorem of Boddhayan, Geometry and Arithmetic.

 Discovery of Aryabhata :
→ Aryabhata discovered ‘zero’ (0)
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→ Aryabhata had mentioned the value of 𝜋 (pie) is (3.14) in his book
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“Aryabhattiyam”.
→ He also propounded that 𝜋 (pie) is constant to show the ratio of
circumference and diameter of circle.
→ Multiplication, addition, subtraction, square – root, cube – root etc,
“Ashtang” method introduced by Aryabhata.
→ He had written many other books like ‘Dash Gitika’ and ‘Aryabhattiyam’.
→ He has described main principles of Astronomy in his book named
“Aryasiddhanta”.
→ He found the solution of fundamentals of mathematics i.e. Arithmetic and
Geometry.
 other discoveries in Mathematics :
→ Decimal system had been seen for measuring and weighting instruments
which had been found from the remains of “Harppa” and “Mohan – jo –
Daro”.
→ Bhaskaracharya has written books ‘Lilawati Ganti’ and “Bij Ganit” in1150
A.D.
→ He discovered sings of addition (+) and subtraction (-).
→ Brahmgupta introduced the types of equations, Boddhayan discovered
theorem.
 Astronomy and Astrology :
→ Astronomy is the most ancient science.
→ Many books related to Astrology was made by Indian ancient universities.
→ Plants and their movements, constellations and other celestial objects were
used for calculations through which astrology and astronomy were developed
remarkably.
→ Predictions were mode on the basis of planetary movements.
→ Aryabhata made a remarkable contribution in the field of Astronomy.
→ So the first Indian satellite was named “Aryabhata” on his name.
→ He declared that the earth rotates on its own axis and he proved that the basic
reason for lunar eclipse is the shadow of the earth, which was addressed as
“Ajarubhar” by the scholars.
→ In the same manner, Brahmagupta popularized the laws of gravitation in his
book “BrahmaSiddhant”
→ Varahmihir was the great astrologer and astronomer who divided astrology
into 3 sections – Tantra, Hora and Samhita.
→ His Gruntha named “Brihadssamhita” gives information regarding effects of
plants on man’s future, his characteristics, various classes of animals , the time
of marriage, pounds, wells etc.
 Vastu Shastra :
→ Vastushastra of India is being recognized, dignified and praised by many
countries of the world.
→ Brahma, Narvad, brushpati, bhrugu, vshishtha and vishwakaram have made
unique contribution in vastushastra.
→ They have propagated the principles if construction for temple, palace, forts,
town – planning etc mentioned in “bhrihasamhita”

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