Vedic Scientific and Technological Texts

Ancient Civilization Highly Advanced in Science and Technology

The current assumption that the history of human progress begins from the cave man stage is not true.

The Vedic concept is quite the contrary, viz that at the start humanity was invested with godly capabilities.

The other assumption that the history of human progress is a steadily rising graph also does not appear to be right. Because history must take cognizance of the Law of Fluctuating Fortunes which affects all human affairs whether of one individual, community, region or nation. Like the waxing and waning phases of the moon, history follows a fluctuating course.

Equipped with this realization one has to take cognizance of past records and claims. Ancient Sanskrit literature is replete with references to wonder missiles, miracle rays, interstellar travel and astounding medical cures.

Some rethinking on ancient expertise in modern times in the field of science and technology may be traced to Krishanji Vinayak Vaze, born on 16th December 1869. He took his diploma in civil engineering from the Engineering College in Pune (India) in 1891.

In an article contributed to the Vedic Magazine published from Lahore, K.V. Vaze expressed surprise that in his entire engineering course there was absolutely no reference to any scientific or technological expertise of ancient India.

Consider the stupendous building projects of the ancient world from the Pyramids in Egypt to the Taj Mahal and Konark in India, Borobidur in Java and Angkorwat in Cambodia. Carving whole mountains and creating artistically carved statues, halls, corridors and mansions out of them as seen at Abu Sibel on the Nile, at Bamiyan in Afghanistan and Ellora and Ajanta in India called for multilaterial technological expertise. Ancient conduit water supply systems, strong stone embankments known as "ghats" at riversides, towering temples, forts and palaces, bridges and towers exist all over India despite a thousand years of destruction caused by Muslim invasions. Yet no attempt seems to have been made to retrace that ancient expertise.

In a talk over the Madras station of All India Radio on February 17, 1945, K.V. Vaze observed,

"It is unfortunate that most of the research work done so far regarding ancient Indian architecture has been conducted on lines that miss, what I might call, the soul of the subject. A thorough knowledge of the ancient Indian languages, mythology and religion would be the first essential for any correct grasp of the subject."[1]

Science and Engineering in Vedic Texts

Vaze made a pioneering study of that ancient scientific achievement and found that the traditional claim of 16 sciences and 64 technologies was a reality. The ancient Sanskrit text which classified them all was known as Bhrugu-Shilp-Samhita, i.e. a technological compilation by Bhrugu.

The table of ancient Hindu, Vedic engineering prepared by K.V. Vaze is first divided into three heads, namely exploitation, distribution and manufacture.

Exploitation has three divisions, viz biology (of plant, animal and human life), hydraulics and mining.

Biology was divided into three branches, namely procreation, refinement and nurture.

The divisions of hydraulics were excavation, natural, built, supply and drainage. The three classes of excavated hydraulics are ordinary wells, stepped wells and cisterns. The two classes of built hydraulics are canals and tanks. Flowing-water resources are subdivided into stoney, those with islands, deep pools and sandy reservoirs.

Mining operation branches were breaking, calcination, mixtures and separation. Breaking operations had three groups—metals, boulders and slabs. Calcination had two divisions—"once burnt" and "twice burnt". Alloys had four groups—brass, gun metal, German silver and nickel. Metals had three groups—gold, silver, copper. "Once burnt" had three divisions—bricks, glass, lime. "Twice burnt" included cement and metals. The "twice burnt" metals were grouped as lead, tin, steel, iron and manganese.

The distribution category was classified into marine, communications and aeronatics. The marine division branched into rafts, boats and ships. Communications were subdivided as roads, pathways and streets. Roads were subdivided as metalled, paved and dust tracks.

The manufacture head was divided into shelter, protective and townships. Shelter was subdivided into tents, huts, cottages and buildings. The buildings category was subdivided into sheds, quadrangles, houses, mansions and palaces. The protective group was divided into two groups—forts and coot. The coot was subdivided as "Krutak" and "Aakar". The "aakar" head is divided into hamlet, village, borough, town, city, harbour and metropolis. The township category was split into civil and military. Military structures were classified as outpost, barrack, camp and cantonment.

The entire range of engineering technology was known as Samhita. Its three branches—exploitation, distribution and manufacture—were known as "Khand", i.e. divisions. The other groups dealing with biology, hydraulics, mining, marine, communications, aeronautics, shelter, protection and towns were known as sciences. Their numerous sub-groups were known as "Vidyas".

The last category was of "arts", alias technologies.

A list of 400 ancient Sanskrit texts dealing with the branches of study mentioned above was compiled by K.V. Vaze. It appears on pages 16 to 20 of a book known as Hindi Shilpashastra, published by the Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal, Pune-411030 (India).

Some of the texts listed in that publication are: Vishwa-medini Kosh, Shankh-Smruti, Shilpa-deepika, Vasturaja-vallabh, Bhrugu-samhita, Mayamat, Maansaar, Aparajita-prucchha, Samarangana-Sootradhar, Kashyap-samhita, Brihatparashariya-Krishi, Nissaraha, Shigru, Saurasookta, aaraam Rachana, Manushyalaya Chandrika, Rajagriha nirman, Durgavidhan, Vaastuvidya, Yuddhajayarnava.

Of the 18 ancient technological Sanskrit texts available, Kashyap Shilpam is believed to be the ancientmost. Its edition edited by K.V. Vaze was published by Anandashram in Pune. Its 278 pages comprise 88 chapters.

Another text is titled Aryashilpa-Hindi Yantrashastra (Publisher: Baalshastri Ravji Ksheersagar, Kalikaprasad Press, Pune-2). That booklet of 46 pages deals with mechanisms known as Bhoo yantra, Jala yantra, Vayu yantra, Tejo yantra and aakash yantra. These mechnanisms bear the names of the five natural elements, namely earth, water, air, cosmic light and space. Incidentally, even Sivlings are divided into the same five categories.

A Sanskrit text on warfare, titled Praacheen Yuddha Vidya (tenth publication of Saayaji Sahityanaka of Baroda) has 14 chapters and 144 pages dealing with tactics, weapons, missiles, firearms, etc.

Dr. Prasannakumar Acharya has published an English translated and annotated edition of the Maansaar Vastushastra in seven parts. It was an Oxford University Press publication of Prayag. It may be obtained from the Superintendent, Government Press, Allahabad.

Another text entitled Mantra-Chintamani by Chakradhar (published from Mathura and Varanasi) deals with mechanisms used in observatories.

The Vedic Magazine (Lahore) issues of October, November 1928 carried articles titled "Study of Mechanics from Indian Engineering Books.

Some ancient Sanskrit texts on mining and minerals are titled Ratnapareeksha, Loharnava, Dhatukalpa, Lohapradeep, Mahavajra Bhairava Tantra and Paashaan Vichaar.

Professor R.N. Bhagwat of St. Xavier's College, Bombay has published a research volume on India's ancient skills in mining and metallurgy, titled Metals in Ancient India.

The International Institute of Sanskrit Research, Mysore has published an annotated edition of the ancient text titled Narada Shilpashastram on the same topic.

Some sample stanzas ... from the ancient Sanskrit text titled Yantrarnava (literally "the ocean of mechanics") will give the reader an idea of its contents. ... [One such] stanza defines a machine as a contrivance which produces energy or creates movement with the help of a lever, pulley, toothed wheel or a ramp. ... [Other lines of text, taken from Samarangan Sootradhar, Chapter 31] classify the functions of different mechanical contrivances, namely:

1. Some machines are for incessant repetition of a specific process.
2. Some other machines operate at specific times or at fixed intervals.
3. Some mechanisms are meant to produce a specific sound or relay or modulate it.
4. Some machines are for specific jobs or to magnify or sharpen things.

The qualities necessary in an efficient machine are enumerated [in lines of Sanskrit quoted, here left out]:

1. It should produce the necessary energy at the required time for its operation,
2. Ensure proper coordination,
3. Its working should be smooth,
4. The contrivance shouldn't require constant supervision,
5. It should be able to ensure uninterrupted working,
6. Its working should as far as possible be without stress or strain,
7. It should give out as little sound or make as little noise as possible,
8. At required intervals it may sound the necessary loud warning signals,
9. The machine shouldn't be shaky, loose or rattling,
10. It shouldn't stop or get stuck up while in use,
11. Its straps and other parts should be an integral part of the machine,
12. Its working should be continuous (without a break),
13. It should ensure the desired result,
14. The necessary turns or changes in the manufacturing process should be automatic,
15. Its processes should follow in properly phased sequences,
16. At the end of a process the mechanism should automatically resume its starting stance,
17. The process must not change the shape of the contrivance or tear away any part of the mechanism,
18. The mechanism should be powerful,
19. It should be easy and pliable,
20. It should last long.

Electrical Technology

Ancient Sanskrit terminology has several names for electricity obviously corresponding to different kinds of electrical energy. In that terminology the north pole is known as Mitra and the south pole is designated as Varuna. Both together are referred to as Maitra-Varuni. Oxygen was known as Praan Vayu and hydrogen as Udaan Vayu. Helium too is Sanskrit.

The Agastya Samhita describes a copper-zinc battery. The 19th March, 1955 issue of a monthly magazine titled Shilp-Sansar quotes an extract from a research article by K.V. Vaze regarding that battery. That extract gives one a peep into ancient Sanaskrit scientific and technological terms. An earthen beaker was known as Ghritachi, a water-tight vessel was called Apsara, and a battery cell was known as Kumbh. Consequently, anything where hundreds of cells or chambers are crowded together was appropriately known in ancient Vedic Sanskrit terminology as Shata-Kumbh, i.e. a hundred cells. It is that same word which is spelled in modern parlance as catacomb. There the [first] letter "c" should retain its alphabetical pronunciation as "see".

Ancient Vedic technologists knew of six kinds of electricity, viz:
1. Tadit—the one produced by friction from leather or silk,
2. Saudamini—that produced by friction from gems or glass,
3. Vidyut—produced from clouds or steam,
4. Shatakoti alias Shatakumbhi—that produced from a battery of hundreds of cells,
5. Hradini—that obtained from storage cells,
6. Ashani—the one emanating from a magnetic rod.

The above details suggest that the ancient world did possess a technology capable of manufacturing the numerous wonder missiles used in the Ramayanic and Mahabharat conflicts.

(To be continued)

1. Radio interview published in the March, 1945 issue of the Indian Concrete Journal. [return to text]

Vedic Scientific and Technological Texts/ WORLD SANKIRTAN PARTY