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30-Science in Ved-1
See also
Jyotish in Ved;
Numbers in Ved;
Science in Ved-2
For more details on Vaidik science the seekers of Vaidik knowledge can see
"Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics" for on line reading and even
taking print at no cost on Website
http://www,sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics /OR through search engine of
google.com, or yahoo.com, lulu.com.
Science in General
The Ved contain many revolutionary contents which have practically built the base
of modern science.
"Through astronomy, geography, and geology, go thou to all the different
countries of the world under the Sun. May thou attain through good preaching
to statesmanship and artisanship, through medical science obtain knowledge of
all medicinal plants, through hydrostatics learn the different uses of water,
through electricity understand the working of ever lustrous lightening. Carry
out my instructions willingly."
(Yajur Ved 6.21)
"O royal skilled engineer, construct sea-boats, propelled on water by our
experts, and airplanes, moving and flying upward, after the clouds that reside
in the mid-region, that fly as the boats move on the sea, that fly high over and
below the watery clouds. Be thou, thereby, prosperous in this world created by
the Omnipresent God, and flier in both air and lightning."
(Yajur Ved 10.19)
Pre-Rig Ved astronomers had explained such advanced concepts as the spherical
quality of the Earth (when most of the Western world believed that the Earth
was flat), heliocentricity (meanwhile and for quite some time afterwards,
Western scientists would still talk about the Earth being the center - geo-center) ;
the Pre-Rig Ved astronomers had provided an astronomical explanation for the
seasons. The earliest reference to the zodiacal signs can be found in the Rig
Ved.
"The Sun does never set nor rise, when people think the Sun is setting it
is not so). For after having arrived at the end of the day it makes itself produce
two opposite effects, making night to what is below and day to what is on the other
side. Having reached the end of the night, it makes itself produce two opposite
effects, making day to what is below and night to what is on the other side. In
fact, the Sun never sets."
(Aitareya Braahman 3.44)
Long before Isaac Newton, the Rig Ved stated that gravitation held the universe
together. The Aaryans believed in a spherical earth while the Greeks believed in
a flat one. As a matter of fact, the Maarkandeya Puraan (54.12) describes the
Earth as being flat at the poles, and bulging at the equator - not spherical but
closer to it's actual shape. Indians in 500 AD calculated Earth's age as 4.3 billion
years. The Maarkandeya Puraan states the phases of the Moon, the cause of twilight,
and the reason why the sky is blue (scattered sunlight).
(Maarkandeya Puraan, 78.8 and 103.9)
Not only did the Ved recognize the Sun as the source of light, life and warmth,
the center of creation and of the spheres, they also contemplated the idea of
multiple Suns (stars): "There are Suns in all directions, the night sky
being full of them." Two thousand years before Pythagoras, Indian philosophers
believed that gravitation was the force which held the solar system together,
and the most massive object (the Sun), must be at its center. "How is it
that though the Sun is not bound and is directed downwards, it does not fall?"
(a question repeatedly asked in the Rig Veda)
"Objects fall on the Earth due to one force. The Earth, planets, constellations,
Moon and Sun are held in orbit because of that one force." All things fall to
the Earth by the law of nature; for it is the nature of the Earth to attract and
keep things."
(Brahmagupt)
"Just as the beams of sunlight entering a room reveal the presence of innumerable
motes, so infinite space is filled with countless Brahmaand (solar systems)."
And on the atomic structure: "There are vast worlds, all placed way within the
hollows of each atom, multifarious as the motes in a sunbeam."
According to Kanaad of the Vaisheshikaa system the entire matter of this world
consists of atoms as many in kind as the various elements.
We find in the ancient literature descriptions of weapons that had a similar amount
of energy as the atomic bombs we use today.
"The atomic energy fissions the ninety-nine elements, covering its path by
the bombardments of neutrons without let or hindrance. Desirous of stalking the
head, ie. the chief part of the swift power, hidden in the mass of molecular
adjustments of the elements, this atomic energy approaches it in the very act of
fissioning it by the above-noted bombardment. Herein, verily the scientists know
the similar hidden striking force of the rays of the sun working in the orbit of
the Moon."
(Atharv Ved 20.41.1-3)
The Brahmaastra, described in the Vaalmeeki Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat, is a weapon
which is said to be a single projectile charded with all the power of the universe.
"An incandescent column of smoke and flame as bright as ten thousand Suns rose
in all its splendor: it was an unknown weapon, an iron thunderbolt, a gigantic
messenger of death, which reduced to ashes. The entire race of the Vrishni and the
Andhak, the corpses were so burned as to be unrecognizable. Their hair and nails
fell out; pottery broke without apparent cause, and the birds turned white. After a
few hours all foodstuffs were infected. To escape from this fire the soldiers threw
themselves in streams to wash themselves and their equipment."
Rig Ved, 1.72.2 and 8 mention that the greatest service to God is to spread
the spirit of Ved with honesty, straight-forwardness, without deceit of any kind,
for all to enjoy true and spiritual happiness. By understanding the philosophy,
metaphysics, knowledge and various social, ethical and divine models contained in
the Ved, we can perhaps find viable solutions to our present social, economic,
political and religious problems.
Subject: Vaidik Physical Sciences and Scientific Temper
The following observations of eminent/great scientists would appear as if Ved are
being retold.
JC Bose found with the help of gross instruments in the laboratory some kind of
"fatigue" in metal just like human beings. Gross atoms even in an
inanimate thing are born, develop and lose vitality and die. They have mind of their
own.
Einstein confirmed in the laboratory the Flux observed earlier by Vaidik Rishi of
yore Kanad and later by Buddha. According to Einstein most of the particles in
the sub-atomic world live for short period of a small fraction of a nano of a
second and change to other particles, while some of those behaving like waves
and wavicles. This Flux in atoms is a continuous process. Einstein also made
certain metaphysical observations like God does not play dice and in all probabilities
God has kept some "hidden variable" responsible for this activity.
Isaac Newton in spite of his so many discoveries relating to light, gravitation,
laws of motion, certain mathematical laws etc, was still having a feeling that
some thing was missing in his discoveries. He wrote in the "Optick " …
does it not appear that there is a supreme Being, incorporeal, living, intelligent,
omnipresent who in infinite space sees the things themselves intimately and thoroughly,
perceives them and comprehends them wholly by their immediate presence to
Himself."
Even now many scientists have a feeling that there is some thing beyond sub-atomic
particles in the atoms that make these tiny invisible balls to move at a great
speed.
The Ved combine science with metaphysics and clearly mention that it is God who
is the giver of knowledge of all sciences as "Sahastra sam" (Rig Ved,
1.10.11).
The scientists are advised to study cause and effect of all material elements and
also how the objects are produced and there after utilize these properly (Rig Ved.
5.47.3).
By following these guidelines they can alleviate much suffering of the people (Rig Ved,
5,77.4).
Without the knowledge and practical application of physical sciences, it is not possible
to eradicate poverty and attain prosperity (Rig Ved, 1,34.1-5).
In the Rig Ved the focal point is the human being and the knowledge about physical sciences
contained there in is for the welfare of the entire mankind. This knowledge also helps the
human beings to develop Scientific Outlook.
To get a feel of Vedic physical sciences, reference to a few hymns are given in the
very beginning.
The Sun never sets or rises and it is the earth, which rotates (Saam Ved, 121).
The gravitational effect of solar system makes the earth stable (Rig Ved, 1.103.2,
1.115.4 and 5.81.2).
The subtle axle of the earth does not get rusted and the Earth continues to revolve on
its axle (Rig Ved, 1.164.29).
The science of Time and its subtle nature is described in (Rig Ved, 1.92.12
and 1.95.8).
The need to study the properties of water, air and fire for discovering and manufacturing
aircrafts, ships and other vehicles capable of moving in the firmament, land and water are
mentioned in Rig Ved, 1.3.1-2, 1.34.1, 1.140.1 and many other
hymns.
Physical sciences relating to agriculture, medicine, astronomy mathematics particularly
algebra, toxicology etc. are described in Rig Ved, 1.71.9, 4.57.5, Saam Ved
121 and in many other hymns/Riks.
For a better appreciation of Vaidik sciences few terms used in the original Vaidik Bhaashaa
(language) as contained in the Mantra or Rik are mentioned. "Vimaan diye neshu"
for vehicles like aircrafts (Rig Ved, 1.34.1 and 9 and 1.85.7).
"Vaaj gatau" - very high-speed vehicles in the air (Rig Ved, 6.60.12).
"Rekha di Ganit Vidyaa Vigyaya" - the science of Algebra (Rig Ved, 1.19.1).
"Soorya Vidyau tau" - knowledge of the Sun and electricity.
"Indraaagni" - power, energy and electricity (Rig Ved, 6.60.12-13),
"Krishn Garbh" - knower of Algebra (Rig Ved, 6.75.2).
"Vidyamadibha vidyut vidyante yashate" - in which electric telegraph wires have
been arranged (Rig Ved, 1.88.1).
Many other terms and words relating to physical sciences can be found in these hymns like
Kanu, Anu, Bhoot, Mahaa Bhoot, Tattwa, Mahaa Tattwa etc., The other terms have been used
like Rath for vehicles moving in the firmament and middle region, on the surface of the
Earth and over the water, Ashvinau for scientists, Anu and Kanu for gross and subtle atoms,
Tanmaatraa for sub-atomic particles sponda for sound etc. Few other words are "Amritasya
nidhi" - ambrosia (Rig Ved, 1.186.3), Brahmaand Pind ie macrocosm and microcosm.
In Yajur Ved 18.24-25, many terms relating to addition, subtraction, division,
square, cube, square root, and cube root have been used.
Yajur Ved, 18.22 and Rig Ved, 6.22.2 also refer to certain other terms of the physical
sciences.
In Rig Ved, 1.3.4, scientists are described as men and women of absolute self-control,
truthful with scientific outlook and destroyers of miseries.
With the help of these scientists one could travel far on the earth and also in the
sky through conveyances, which run and touch the middle region (Rig Ved, 1.3.1, 6.22.2
and 1.22.2).
Such scientists from both the sexes go across to distance places quickly like the
mind and electricity (Rig Ved, 1.71.9).
In this hymn aircrafts and even space ships are hinted. These Ashwinee
twins should be
well versed in Physics, agricultural sciences
(Rig Ved, 4.57.5), medical sciences (Rig Ved, 5.74.3), astronomy
(Saam Ved, 121) and other sciences.
There is a mention of infrared rays, study of Algebra (Rekhaadi Ganit Vidyaa), sound as
a medium of knowledge for various sciences, diseases like bile, cough, jaundice and others
and their treatment etc. The relevant hymns in this regard are in Rig Ved, 1.185.2, 1.12.1-2,
1.22.1-4, 1.2.3, 1.95.1, 1.101.1 and many other.
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