An introduction to ancient Indian physics, medicine, & astronomy

1. Ancient Indian Science http://www.yogaschool.in An introduction to ancient Indian physics, medicine, & astronomy By Lauren Reykdal, Rajeev Stephens, Jacob Graf, &NakulMahna

2. Part One:Ancient Indian Physics http://www.silentmotionyoga.com Ancient Elements & Atomic Philosophers

3. Ancient Indian Physics • 3000 B.C. to 1000 B.C., Indians (Indo-Aryans) had classified the material world into five elements (aka PanchaMahabhootas): • earth (Prithvi) • fire (Agni) • air (Maya) • water (Apa) • ether (Akasha) • These five elements were identified with the various human senses of perception: • earth with smell • air with feeling • fire with vision • water with taste • ether with sound www.thisismyindia.com http://www.unitedindia.com/laws_of_atoms.htm

4. Indian Philosophers • Kanada (6th Century B.C.) • First Indian Philosopher • credited with having come up with the concept of atom for the first time • Kanada’s science and philosophy of the atomic theory of matter were written in sutras • Kanada’s atomic theory was advanced for his time • PakudhaKatyayana (6th century B.C.) • contemporary of Gautama Buddha • Like Kanada, proposed ideas about the atomic constitution of the material world http://www.harekrsna.com Kanada http://www.unitedindia.com/laws_of_atoms.htm

5. “ Ancient Indian theories were brilliant imaginative explanations of the physical structure of the world, and in a large measure, agreed with the discoveries of modern physics. “ - A.L. Basham, Australian Indologist http://www.unitedindia.com/laws_of_atoms.htm http://www.vedamsbooks.com

6. Part Two:Ancient Indian Medicine www.anantayurveda.com The History & Science of Ayurveda

7. What is AYURVEDA? • Ayurveda started in Ancient India approximately around 3000 B.C.E. • Originated from series of Ancient Hindu religious texts, the Vedas. • Stresses natural cures for health and mental problems; i.e. massage, herbal remedies, yoga, meditation, etc Ayurveda… “We’ve been doing this before Deepak Chopra made it cool.” ~R. Stephens

8. A Little History • Originated in approximately 3000 B.C.E in Ancient India. • Non-written records exist of Ayurveda before pre-Vedic times but became written word at 3000 BC • According to Hindu mythology, Dhanvantari is the founder of Ayurveda • Used during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) • Recently gained prominence throughout the Western world in the 1970s because of traveling Ayurvedic doctors. http://deshika.files.wordpress.com Dhanvantari: The Hindu God of Medicine

9. What makes Ayurveda different? • Ayurveda uses herbs and plants as medicinal treatment, stressing the “all natural,” as opposed to medicines that are made through the mixture of chemicals. • Ayurveda believes that physical problems may have a mental, or even spiritual, root and therefore Ayurvedic treatment will commonly prescribe treatments for the enrichment of your spiritual and/or emotional life. Common “prescriptions” are yoga, meditation, massage, even journaling. • Ayurveda commonly tries to solve the problem bothering the patient as opposed to just the symptoms • Ayurveda deals with the mind and body as opposed to just the body. … Or pills? Herbs… Ayurveda: It beats Oxycodone.

10. Ayurveda Today • The most recognized face in Ayurveda would be that of Deepak Chopra. • Dr. Chopra founded the The Chopra Center, which does seminars year-round around the world. • The Chopra Center is a very large reason as to why Ayurveda is so well-known and widespread today • However, there are many other Ayurvedic centers throughout the U.S. and Europe, as well as in many other countries. • Despite the prevalence of contemporary medicine in India, Ayurveda is still widely practiced within the country of its origin Deepak Chopra

11. Doshas • Ayurveda bases treatment off of biological humors called Doshas. The three Doshas are: • Kapha (water + earth) • Pitta (fire + water) • Vata (space + air) • Doshas are found byexamining your body structure, your facialfeatures, sleep patterns, and mental status. To achieve good health and well-being, doshas need to be in balance. Want to know your Dosha? Go here and take the quiz. http://doshaquiz.chopra.com/ http://www.ayurveda-music.com/

12. Part Three:Ancient Indian Astronomy http://helloji.files.wordpress.com History & Early Astronomers

13. Ancient Indian Astronomy History • Established in about 1st millennium BCE. • Astrological concept was developed from vedas – religious literature of India. • Indian languages described astronomy as Khagola-shastra. • Religion and astronomy were interlinked in early ages.

14. Astronomers in Early Period • Aryabhatta (476-550 CE) • Came up with celestial calculations. • Calculated earth rotation per solar orbit, days per solar obit, and days per lunar orbit. • Very Accurate information without early century sources. • Also calculated value of pi and solar year. • Brahmagupta (598 – 668 CE) • Wrote astronomical text, Brahmasphutasiddhanta(628 CE) • Consisted of 25 Chapter; explanation of astronomical and mathematics concepts. • Covered various topics such as conjunction of the planets and problems of diurnal rotation • Observed Earth is spherical and moving. • Justified the illumination of the Moon by the Sun • Defined zero as the result of subtracting a number from itself • Gave correct equation of parallax. Brahmaguptahttp://astronomos.net23.net

15. Astronomers in Early Period • Varahamihira (505 – 587 CE) • Studied various astronomy like Greek, Egyptian, Roman. • Recognized the force of object falling to the earth known as Gurutvakarshanin Indian terms. • Made close approach to the concept of heliocentric. • Bhaskara I (600 – 680 CE) • Wrote Siddhantasoramani, consisted of Goladhyaya (sphere) and Grahaganita (mathematics of the planets). • Calculated the time earth takes to orbit around the sun to 9 decimal places. • Mostly contributed to Indian mathematics defining the first Indian decimal system. Bhaskara Ihttp://www.ideofact.com

16. REFERENCES • Bhadra, Jayanta, 2008, Astronomy, Computer Science and Mathematics in Ancient India. University of Texas, http://www.cerc.utexas.edu/~jay/anc.html#ref. • Crystal, Ellie, 1995, Astronomy in Ancient India. Crystalinks, http://www.crystalinks.com/indiastronomy.html. • O'Connor, J.J. and Robertson E.F., 2000, Brahmagupta. University of St. Andrews, http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Brahmagupta.html. • Wikipedia article, updated 2010, Indian Astronomy. Wikimedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_astronomy. • http://www.thisismyindia.com/ancient_india/ancient-india-technology.html • http://www.ayurbalance.com/explore_articlethreedoshas.htm