Our Ancient Scientists

Our Ancient ScientistsStop looking them as RishisStart looking them as Scientists

Acharya Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna (931 AD) was born at fort Daihak in Gujarat.His writings are RASARATNAKARA, ayurvedic treatises UTTARATANTRA, AROGYAMANJARI, KAKSHAPUTATANTRA, YOGASARA & YOGASTAK.In his treatise, he also listed the appartures that was used by earlier alchemists, the possibility of transmutation of base metals into gold.Till today these methods are used to manufacture imitation jewelry.

Aryabhata

Aryabhata belong to the period of 476-550 AD.One of his major works was Aryabhattiya written in 499 AD.The book dealt with many topics like Astronomy, Spherical Trigonometry, Arithmetic, Algebra & Plane Trigonometry. Aryabhatas computation of the Earths circumference as 39,968.0582 KM was only 0.2% smaller than the actual value 40,075.0167 KM.This approximation was a significant improvement over the computation by Greeks whose calculation error is 5-10%.

Kanada belongs to the period of 600 BCE.He was the founder of VAISHESHIK DARSHAN one of the six principle philosophies of India.He stated that Every object of creation is made of atoms which inturn connect with each other to form molecules.His statement ushered in the atomic theory for the first time ever in the world, nearly 2500 years before John Dalton.Acharya Kanada

Bhaskara was born in1114 AD in Vijayapura.He wroteLilavati on Mathematics,Bijaganita on Algebra,Siddhanta Siromani on Mathematical Astronomy,Vasanabhasya of Mitaksara views on Siddhanta Siromani.He gave the numbers from Eka (1) to Parardha (10^17).Where the English could calculate up to millions & billions (10^9).Bhaskaracharya-II

Pingala presents the first ever known description of Binary Numeral System.His discussion of the combinators of meter, corresponds to the binomial theorem.Pingalas work also contains the basic idea of Fibonacci number (called Maatraameru).Pingala

Manava belonged to 750-690 BC.Manavas Sulabhasutra, like all the Sulabhasutras, contained approximate construction of circles from rectangles & Squares from circles.Manava

Katyayana belong to 3rd century BC.He dealt with the Sulabhasutras composed of right sided triangles, rectangles & Rhombuses.His text on Sulabhasutras dealt with geometry, & extended the treatment of the Pythagorean theorem.Katyayana

Charaka the Father of Anatomy was of 300 BC.He was the first physician to present the concept of digestion, metabolism & immunity.He knew the fundamentals of genetics like sex determination & few causes of genetic disorders.Charaka wrote a book called Charaka Samhita which contained 120 Chapters.Charaka

Baudhayana (800 BC) was noted as the earliest author of Sulabhasutras.His book is called as Baudhayana Sulabhasutras.The known Pythagorean Theorem is believed to have been invented by Baudhayana.This theorem is used to calculate Right Angled Triangle.Baudhayana

Aryabhata-II (around 920 AD) had composed Mahasiddhanta, a book on mathematical astronomy.It contained 18 chapters.The first 12 chapters contain astronomy, the longitudes of planets, eclipses of sun & moon, the rising & setting of planets.In Mahasiddhanta he gives in about twenty verses detailed rules to solve equations like by=ax+c.Aryabhata-II

Panini was born in present day Pakistan (near Rawalpindi).He was a Sanskrit grammarian who gave a comprehensive & scientific theory of Phonetics, Phonology & Morphology.A treatise called Astadhyayi is Paninis major work.The construction of sentences, compound nouns etc., explained in a manner similar to modern world.Panini

The dharmasutra of Apastamba (600 BC) forms a larger Kalpasutra of Apastamba.The mathematics given in Sulabhasutras is there to enable the accurate construction of altars needed for sacrifice.The general linear equation is solved in the Apastamba Sulabhasutras.He also gives remarkably accurate value for namely 1+1/3+1/(3*4)-1/(3*4*34) which gives an answer up to 5 decimal places exactly.Apastamba

The mathematician who first framed rules of operation for zero was Bramhagupta.He was the founder of a branch of higher mathematics called Numerical Analysis.He declared in his book Bramhaguptasiddhanta that addition or subtraction of zero to or from any quantity, negative or positive doesnt affect it.About gravitation he said that bodies fall towards earth as it is the nature of the earth to attract bodies, just as it is the nature of water to flow.Bramhagupta

Varahamihra

Divanji Varahamihra (505-587 AD) wrote Panchasiddhatika Brihatsamhitha.Varahamihra made some important mathematical discoveries.His Brihatsamhitha discusses the topics like heavenly bodies, their moments & conjunctions, meteorological phenomena.His claim that plants & termites serve as indicators of ground water is now receiving attention in scientific world.

Parasara

Sage Parasara is called the Father of Botany.He classified flowering plants into various families 2000 years before Linnaeus.Parasara described plant cells-inner & outer walls, sap-color matter which not visible to the naked eye.Nearly 3000 years after Robert Hooke using a micro scope described the outer & inner walls & sap color material.

Acharya Kapila (Father of Cosmology) was the founder of Sankhya Philosophy.His extraordinary & extrasensory perceptions, observations & revelation on the secrets of creation, brought him the recognition as Father of Cosmology.His pioneering work threw light on the nature & principles of ultimate Soul.Acharya Kapila

18

Susruta was the first physician to advocate what is today known as Caesarean operation.He wrote a book called Susruta Samhita.It has description of 1120 illness, 700 medicinal plants, a detailed study on Anatomy, 64 preparations from mineral sources & 57 preparations based on animal sources.He was expert in removing urinary stones, locating & treating fractures & eye operations for cataract.Sushruta

Patanjali (2nd Century BC) is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice.Research is in progress in laboratories all over the world to probe further the merits of yoga.What Patanjali advocated several centuries is now receiving attention it deserves.Acharya Patanjali

ByVMYF (Vande Mataram Youth Front)www.vmyf.org