Tulasi - The Wonder Herb

     Tulasi redeems us from all sins. Tulasi provides us with all the wealth. Tulasi and Indian families have symbiotic relationship. A house without Tulasi plant is like a temple without deity.

     Since ancient times in every Indian household, Tulasi occupies a prominent place. Every backyard of the Indian house is adorned with Tulasi Fort. (Structure that is built around tulasi). Indians believe Tulasi as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Indians worship the holy Basil (Tulasi) every day at a prescribed time.


There are many varieties of Tulasi. The popularly adopted Tulasi plants are 1. Krishna Tulasi. 2. Rama Tulasi. 3. Lakshmi Tulasi.
• Krishna Tulasi is widely used in preparing medicines. Tulasi and pepper powder are used to cure malarial fever. Tulasi and Ginger are made into juice and are used to alleviate the knee joint pains.
• Vomiting can be avoided by consuming curd or honey mixed with Tulasi seeds.
• For curing Asthmatic problems, the essence of Krishna tulasi leaf and black pepper combination works wonders.
• For skin disorders, paste made of Tulasi and Lemon can be applied externally.
• For soar throat, water is boiled along with Tulasi leaves and is consumed. Tulasi rasa reduces Kapha dosha and re-energizes the body.


Modern research:
1. It reduces glucose levels and is being used to cure Diabetics
2. It reduces cholestral levels
3. As a Cox-2 Inhibitor, it is being used as a pain reliever in cancer treatment
4. To store food grains


     Certain Vishnu devotees do not use Tulasi as a medicinal herb and consider it as a sacred plant. They consume Tulasi water (Tirtha) for purification of sins.


     Tulasi needs are used in Japa and Meditation. Garlands of fresh Tulasi leaves are offered to deities in temples every day. In Hindu temples, holy Tulasi water is given to devotees as Tirtha.


Tulasi is worshipped as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.


     During the month of Kartika, Tulasi Vivaha (Wedding of Tulasi) is grandly celebrated. Hindus consider that day as a very auspicious day.


     In Agastya Samhita it is said that, by planting Tulasi, watering Tulasi, worshipping Tulasi, rather touching Tulasi, one obtain moksha, the enlightenment.


     Hindus believe that Tulasi plant contain all the holy rivers, all the Vedas and all the deities. Persons on the deathbed are watered with "Tulasi Tirtha" by pouring a few drops into the mouth. It is believed that, Tulasi purifies them from sins and gives them better positions (circumstances) in the next life.


     Tulasi, the holy plant, the wonder herb, the sin redeemer is always with us from our birth to death, as an eternal companion.

Benefiting from the Cow

     On June 2003, American patent office had given patent to "Go - Muthram" (cow-urine) as an antibiotic in curing diseases like tuberculosis and cancer. This product had been patented by Nagpur NGO "Go-vignana Ansundhana kendram".


     This news had created sensation among medical community worldwide and debate, discussion and research got initiated in many medical universities throughout the world. Today a new science called "Cowpathy" is evolving.


     Ancient Indians had indepth knowledge of "Panchagavya chikitsa" including cow urine therapy. But, for centuries modern medicine had considered the cow urine therapy as a primitive practice of blind beliefs. Medical fraternity had woken up recently to the reality and started recognizing the potential therapeutic value of Cow products.

     Indians worship cow as holy mother. Indian Cow is respected as the embodiment of all divine forces. Gifting a cow is considered to be the greatest of all charities. During the performance of yagnas and yagas, Cow & Cow products are very essential. Indian culture has placed cow in the sacred position of "Kamadhenu" (the wish fulfilling holy Diety). Vedas, Puranas and Itihasas, all adore the sanctity and utility of cow in many ways. Holy cow and Indian life have a sacred bondage. Rigveda says that killing a cow is the greatest of all sins.


     In the Mahabharata, Anushasanaparva, Bhishma reveals about the greatness of Gowmati yaga and holy cow's importance. He further says, if anyone studies (any kind of subject) by staying near a cow, one grasps the essence of that study in no time, as cow always emits positive vibrations which keep the mind in a composed state.


     In modern times, the first Indian war of Independence (Sepoy mutiny) in the year 1857 had it's roots in the sacrilege made to Cow.


     In India, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras all worship and benefit from the cow in many ways. From giving milk, ploughing fields, performing yagnas and up to curing many diseases, Cow helps Indians; Cow protects them and nourishes them in every way. Lord Krishna being a cowherd is dear to millions and millions of devoted hearts.


Panchagavya Chikitsa:
In preparation of Ayurvedic medicines, the Pancha Gavyas (Five cow products) are used very extensively. The Panchagavyas are 1. Cow Milk 2. Curd. 3. Ghee. 4. Urine. 5. Cow Dung.


     In the famous Ayurvedic texts like Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbatta Samhitas, Pancha Gavyas are used to cure skin diseases, urinary problems, kneejoint pains and ulcers.


     In Indian agriculture, Cow's role can never be de-linked or belittled. Cow dung is natural manure, being used by Indians since ancient times. Cow urine and neem leaves are mixed together and used as a pesticide. Many NGOs are working in furtherance of research in this regard.


     Treatment with Pancha Gavyas had obtained prominence and importance after WHO started recognizing the traditional health remedies worldwide. In America and Africa, Pancha gavya is being used and tested for curing AIDS and clinical results seem to be encouraging.


Modern medicine is accepting these cow products as anti-biotics and bio-enhancers.


     Normally environmentalists raise their voice about adverse green effects and pollution of burning firewood. Interestingly, the fire obtained by burning cow-dung cakes had cleaned the atmosphere instead of polluting it. The holy process of Agnihotra is becoming popular throughout the world for it's miraculous cleaning effects.


     When Bhopal gas tragedy struck, a household, where there was regular practice of the ritual of Agnihotra, was not affected, where as the neighboring households had to run amuck in fear of poisonous hazards that the gas leak had created. The research findings point to the Agnihotra Fire, which was created by burning cow-dung cakes. That fire had protected that small family by cleaning the atmosphere that night.


     It is our duty to protect Cow. Today, many Go-rakshana samitis had been formed at many places to protect cows. In these cow - protection movements Gujaratis, Marwaris and some voluntary & spiritual organizations had taken a lead role and are doing their best to spread the awareness.


     Indian agriculture and Indian lifestyle are intimately linked to the cow. As we protect the cow, so does the cow protect us.

Test Tubes Babies

     In the year 1978-80, modern medical knowledge had claimed that it had achieved a miracle in the history of human race. Female ovum and male semen had been fertilized in a test tube and was transferred into uterus. Thus, the first test tube baby was born.

     Is this for the first time in the history of mankind such miracles have happened? No, ages ago, many such instances had occurred on Indian soil.

     Let us first refer to Rig Veda; Sage Agastaya's birth is not from the mother's womb. He had been fertilized in a pot. (Refer Rig Veda 7.33.13)

In Mahabharata, there are a few instances of childbirth similar to today's test tube babies,
• Let us look into the episode of Drona, the guru of Pandavas and kauravas. He was said to have been born only from the semen of male, without the female ovum in a vessel called "Droni" under the technical guidance and supervision of sage Bharadwaj. Hence he had become famous by the name Dronacharya.
• King Drupada had performed a yagna to bring forth Draupadi and her brother Drushtadyumna. The methodology referred therein, resembles the cloning concepts of today.
• Sage Gautama had created twins Kripa and Kripi by using certain vessels rather instruments. Hence they became famous  by those names resembling the shape of the vessels.
• We are all aware of the famous episode of the birth of Kauvara Queen Gandhari had undergone self-abortion, sage Vyasa collected the foetus and preserved it in one hundred pots and thus could produce 100 Kaurava Brothers and one sister Dussala.

     All these frequent references are not figs of imagination, but were the instances of the then prevailing knowledge about the birth of babies, that are not from the mother's womb.

Hridayam - for Healthy Heart Beats

     William Harvey, (1628AD) a British scientist, had found that heart is essential for blood circulation, but could not describe how blood reaches the heart and flows from it. In the year 1669 a scientist named Marcello Malphigi clearly described how blood flows into Heart and comes out of it.


     Now, let us hear the echos of ancient Indian heartbeats and it's hearty revelations.
Satapatha Brahmana of Yajur Veda, had defined Hridayam (the heart) as under,
"Hru" means "barinay" (that receives)
"Da" means "daanay" (that gives)
"Ya" means "enngathow" (that circulates)
That which receives (blood), gives and circulates is called Hridayam.
Niruktha sastra had defined Hridayam as follows

haraterdadāterayaterhrdayaśabdah (Niruktham)


Sushruta says,


kapha pittāvaruddhastu māruto rasa mūrcitahhrdisthah kurute śulam uccvāsārodhakam param


कफ पित्तावरुद्धस्तु मारुतो रस मूर्चितः
ह्रुदिस्थः कुरुते षुलम् उच्च्वासारोधकम् परम् |


"Heart diseases are caused because of "kapha" and "Pita" doshas (defects) and thus thickening and narrowing of coronary arteries resulting in acute pain in the Chest and difficulty in breathing."


Charaka says,


tanmahattā mahāmūlāh taccaujah pariraksatā
parihāryā viśesena manaso duhkhahetavah

(Charaka Samhita Sutrasthanam 30/13)

तन्महत्ता महामूलाः तच्चौजः परिरक्सता |
परिहार्या विषेसेन मनसो दुह्खहेतवः |||


hrdyam yat syādyadaujasyam srotasām yat prasādanam
tattat sevyam prayatnena praśamo jñānameva ca

(Charaka Samhita Sutrasthanam 30/14)

ह्रुद्यम् यत् स्याद्यौजस्यम् स्रोतसाम् यत् प्रसादनम् |

तत्तत् सेव्यम् प्रयत्नेन पषमो ञ्णानमेव च || 

     "Those who want to preserve "Ojas" and maintain heart in good condition should be away from mental worries and should exhibit self-restraint in diet and should consume the medicines that increase vital principle (ojas) and blood circulation." For healthy Heartbeats, meticulous efforts are to be made to obtain tranquility with awareness & wisdom.

     Indian traditional medical knowledge had rightly recognized the preventive measures for the Heart diseases ages ago and advised suitably to exercise self-restraint and adopt moderate food habits and a composed mindset. If these suggestions are followed today, one can avoid heart surgeries and expenditure.
     The Rasa is the energy produced from well-digested food. It is stored in the Heart. From the heart entering through the 24 arteries, 10 going upward 10 going downward and four horizontal, it satisfies, grows and maintains the entire body every day by an invisible force or cause. Blood is carried from heart to the entire body through them. (Ref: Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthanam, adhyayah 14 para - 3).
     It has been mentioned in the book, "Nighantu Ratnakara, that "grind" medicinal plant Teeminalia Arjuna (Arjuna tree) is used to cure heart diseases".


Contributed by Prasanna.

Ayurveda - A Therapeutical Treasure

     Knowledge of Ayurveda had descended from Lord Brahma to Prajapati to Ashwini Kumars, from them to Indra to Bharadwaj, from him to Atreya, and to his disciples Agnivesha, Khela, Harita and others. Over a period of time it got divided into two schools of thought 1. Atreya Parampara 2. Dhanvantari Parampara.

      In Atreya parampara, kaya-chikitsa (medicine/bodily treatment) is given prime importance. The famous text of this  school of thought is Charaka Samhita, named after the famous physician, Charaka.
 

      In Dhanavantari parampara salya-chikitsa (Surgery) also had been dealt with. In the line of surgery Sushruta is considered to be an authority and the famous treatise is Sushruta Samhita, written by him.

      Apart from the above two schools of thought, Siddha medicine founded by sage Agastya is famous, even today in South India. In the yogic text Yoga Vashishta, it has been said that diseases first orginate in mental plane, slowly descend to pranic plane and then affect various nerves, arteries and veins, which in turn result in the bodily aliments etc.

     Indian medical science had linked human thoughts to human health and evolved the therapeutical knowledge ages ago; the Purer and positive the thoughts, the better the health.

     Today, modern medicine is slowly accepting the psychosomatic reasons for the advent of diseases. For this reason Yoga, Ayurveda and Naturopathy are becoming popular as alternative medicine to Allopathy. Our seers who had bequeathed us this knowledge had to be thanked, adored and worshipped.

Charaka Samhita, talks about a healthy person in the following lines
 

samadosah samāgniśca samadhātu malakriyah
Prasannātmendriya manāh svastha ityabhidhīyate |

सम्दोसः समाग्निश्चा समाधातु मलाक्रियाह

प्रसंनात्मेंद्रिता मनः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते  |
 

     In whom there is a balance of three doshas like vata, pita, kapha seven dhathus like lymph, blood, flesh, fatty tissue, bone, bonemarrow and semen and malakriya (proper balance excretion of fasces, urine and sweat) and who has self control of sense organs and mind, such a person has been defined as healthy person.
 

Even from Vedic times the knowledge of Ayurveda had been divided into eight parts.
1. Kaya chikitsa - General medicine & therapeutics
2. Kaumara-bhritya - Paediatrics & obsterics
3. Shaky tantra - Surgery
4. Shalakyatantra - ENT, ophthalmology
5. Bhutavidya - Psychiatary & Para psychic studies
6. Vishatantra - Toxicology
7. Rasayana - Rejuvenation therapy
8. Vajikarana - Virilification therapy 

Medicinal plants:
 

     "Nature is bestowed with suitable and necessary medicines for all kind of diseases" says Charaka. In his Charaka Samhita around 582 kinds of medicinal plants have been mentioned. Similarly in Sushruta Samhita around 496 medicinal plants have been described. From them many meedicinal preparations like powders, tonics and distillations are prepared.

Alchemy & Medicine:

      Acharya Nagarjuna and Vagbatta had used many chemical preparations including metals and alloys as medicines. Many of the Alchemy's methods were adopted by Arabs and from the Europeans.

Panchakarma treatment (Methods of Internal Cleaning):

      Charaka Samhita - sutrasthana (chapter 16- verses 17-21) describes about Pancha karma treatment. The concept of Pancha karma is to keep the stomach clean from toxicities and impurities (Tridoshas). If the stomach (the internal furnace within the body for all metabolic reactions) is clean, the person would be free from many kinds of diseases.
1. Vaman - Emesis (through vomiting doshas are cured)
2. Viraychanam - Purgation
3. Basti - enema
4. Nasya - administrating medicines through nose
5. Raktamoksham - Bloodletting

      After Panchakarma treatment, the sense organs work efficiently. Colour of the skin becomes bright. Person obtains enough strength and would not appear aged. In Raktamoksha therapy usage of leeches is popular. Today it is being called as Leech therapy. Sushruta Samhita "Sutrasthana" (13 & 19 paras) clearly describes the usage of leeches in the therapy. Kudos! To knowledge that has used mother's milk for therapeutical usage in 70 diseases. For example it is said, that milk of women of black colour can cure many eye diseases.

Famous  Ayurvedic Texts Available today:
1. Rig Veda & Atharva Veda
2. Charaka Samhita (600BC)
3. Sushruta Samhita (500BC)
4. Ashtanga Hridaya (vagbhatta - 600AD)
5. Sarangadhara Samhita (1200AD)
6. Bhava Prakashaka (1600AD)
7. Madhava's Nidana sastra (700AD)

 Contributed By Prasanna.

Pioneering the Surgery - World's First Surgeons

     Ayurveda is the treasure house of Indian medical knowledge & Surgery. It is worshiped as Upaveda to Rigveda and in Atharvaveda many verses deal with the Ayurvedic knowledge.
     This "knowledge-chest" is a gift to world from the great seers of yore like Bharadwaj, Atreya, Agnikaya, Charaka, Dhanvantari, Sushruta and many others. In fact, it is an eternal gift of India to the world.
     In Rigveda the verses (1.116.14&15), mention that, a woman warrior called "Vischala" the queen of king Khela, had been fitted with an artificial Iron leg by the Ashwini physicians, when she lost her leg in the war. These physicians were adored for eye transplantation in the next verse.
Indians pioneered surgery ages ago, Sushruta (500B.C) was the World's earliest Surgeon. He learned the skills of surgery from Dhanvantari (considered to be God Vishnu) and wrote a treatise on surgery and Ayurveda called "Sushruta Samhita" which had stood the test of time and is even now being followed.
In his text he had divided the methods of surgery into eight parts
1. Chedya - cutting
2. Lekhya - separating
3. Vedhya - removing the toxic objects from the body
4. Ishya - probing the blood capillaries for finding the cause of disease.
5. Aharya kriya - eliminating the production of harmful elements in the body.
6. Visradavya - removing water from the body
7. Civya - suturing
8. Bedhya kriya - making holes and performing surgery

     We find the mention of advanced level of surgery, the plastic surgery mostly Rhenoplastary in Sushruta Samhita. These surgeries were performed to reconstruct the noses and ears. He performed many eye surgeries. There are many referances about Caesarean operation. Indians not only performed surgeries, but also studied the human Anatomy by dissecting dead bodies. In Sushruta Samhita, we find many methods of preserving dead bodies for dissection. Sushruta had mentioned about 125 surgical instruments in his treatise.

      In Bhoja Prabandha (927AD), it had been mentioned that king Bhoja had undergone a surgical treatment, for getting a tumor removed from the brain. King had been administered Anesthesia called "Sammohini" while the surgery was being performed.
      Gautham Buddha's physician called Devaka had performed many surgeries. Buddhistic texts mention about them. "Vinaya Pitika" a buddhistic text reveals that germs in the brain were removed by perfoming a surgery.
      Ayurvedic knowledge adopts surgery as a last measure in treatment, but it focuses mostly on prevention than cure. It laid stress on bio-medical remedies though aware of chemical pharmacology and surgical interventions. All the books like "Charaka Samhita", "AstangaHridaya", and "Bhavaprakasa" including "Sushruta Samhita" mention about medicinal plants. Today, Western world had understood it's potentiality and has become crazy after medicinal plants. Madhava's "Nidana Sastra" contains diagnosis of various diseases by observing human gestures and smells that emit from the body.

-Contributed by Prasanna.

Comets

A train of light rarely appears in the sky. It is called "Dhuma-ketu" by ancient Indians. Today we call it, Comet. The word "Comet" in Latin means the one that has long hairs. The Western world never had knowledge about these comets till Edmond Halley in the year 1759 pioneered the study about the comets. He propounded that once in 95 years, these comets visit us, One of the comets had been named after Halley.


The ancient Indian Astronomical texts dealt with the knowledge of comets very extensively. They are
1) Bṛihat Vimana śăstra written by Bharadwaja
2) Agastya's śakti tantra
3) Jaimini's Keta sarvasva


In "Vimana Sastra" in the chapter "Kriya Sara Tantra" we find mention of Dhuma-ketus. It had been mentioned in that text, that there are 3,07,30,221 Comets in space. Among them around eight thousand of them are powered with electrical currents. Twelve of them are very fierce, powerful and dangerous.

In Agastya's śakti tantra, the names of the Twelve Comets are given. It had been mentioned that during rainy season the potency of comets would be very high.


Vimana Sastra says that the Comets are formed because of Sun burning certain objects in it's vicinity; please do not forget the word "Dhuma" in Sanskrit means smoke and gases. The modern knowledge about the comets also concurs with that. Modern science explains that because of the proximity of certain celestial objects to the sun, the gases in them get combusted and become a stream, which appears as a tail or train of light.

Jantar Mantar, a place for monitoring Heavens

At least in the field of ancient Indian Astronomy, we are left with certain classical Astronomical texts. Thanks, to the efforts of ancient Indian Astronomers.

Aryabhattiyam, śiddhanta-śiromaṇi,Bṛihat-samhitā, Surya-siddhantā, Brahmaspuṭa-siddhantā, śiśyādhivridhida, etc are the texts that stand today as credentials of advanced Astronomical findings and at many instances they excel the present day knowledge.

To perceive astronomical facts, one requires certain special instruments. What were the instruments that were used by ancient Indian Astronomers? If they had used instruments, what happened to them today? Do they exist today? If they had disappeared with elapse of time, do we, at least have suitable references about their usage?

Most of the Indian Astronomical Instruments might have been destroyed during various foreign invasions on India. Today, we get the glimpses of their usage from the ancient astronomical texts. For example, Aryabhatta, the renowned Astronomer lived near Kusumpura during Fifth centaury AD. He was monitoring heavens from an observatory called "khagola" kha means space, gola means spherical instrument. Some believe that Indian astronomy hot it's name khagola-sastra from the observatory of Aryabhatta.

Lalla, a famous Astronomer wrote a text "śiśyādhivridhida". In that text he explains twelve kinda of astronomical instruments called yantras. They are 1) Gola yantra, 2) Bhagan yantra, 3) Chakra yantra 4) Dhanus yantra 5) Gati yantra 6) Sankhu yantra 7) Shataka yantra 8) Khathari yantra 9) Pita yantra 10) Kapala yantra 11) Shalaka yantra 12) Yasthi yantra.

Bhaskaracharya's text çiddhanta-çiromaëi describes about Nadivalaya yantra and other yantras, which were used to calculate planetary motions and determine time.

In recent times, the person who had revived the lost knowledge about our Indian Astronomy and reconstructed the Astronomical yantras or instruments was none other than Raja of Jaipur, Sawai Jaising-II.

Raja Jaisingh was a vassal king of Moghul Empire. During 1724-1727. he established Astronomical observatories called "Jantar-Mantar" and hoisted the Flag of Indian talent. He founded them in five cities namely Delhi, Jaipur,Mathura, Ujjain and Varanasi. Among them except Mathura all the remaining four observatories exist today.

Jantar-Mantar, Delhi.

These Observatories exhibit not only astronomical excellence but also architectural splendor and Engineering Ingenuity. The Sundial of Jaipur is the biggest existing Sundial of the world today. It observes various movements of Sun and the angles of other celestial objects.

"Sasthamsa yantra" can easily calculate the diameter of sun ."Jayaprakash yantra" can study the night-sky and stars. "Kapala yantra" a bowl shaped instrument had been used to determine the latitude and longitude and thus enabled astronomers to depict the picture of celestial space. "Ramayantra" had been constructed in cylindrical shape to record the movements of Astronomical Objects.

A few modern historians are of the view, that Jaisingh was influenced by Arabic and Persian Astronomy. But the instruments that were built by Jaisingh in his observatories had been mentioned in ancient Indian astronomical texts. Alburni, the Arab historian says, Indian Astronomy, Chemistry, Mathematics and Medicine influenced Arabia and Persia in many ways.

Measuring The Speed of Light

Ancient Indians knew about the speed of light. In fact they calculated it accurately. But the western world says that , “Romar” has first estimated it in the year 1675. To substantiate the Indian version, let us observe the sāyanācārya's commentary on Vedas, which was written in 14th century A.D.

तरणिर् विष्वदर्षटो ज्योतिस्क्रदसि सूर्य विश्व्मा भासि रोचनम् ।

(Rigveda 1.50.4)

For the above Rig Vedic sloka/verse he has written an explanation , revealing the speed of sunlight.

योजनानम् सहस्रम् द्वे द्वे शते द्वे च योजने
एकेन निमिशाधेन क्रम माण नमोस्तु ते ॥

It means that the sunlight travels 2202 yojanas in half a nimisha. Here yojana means 9.11 miles. According to traditional Indian calculations in one fill day (including night) there are 8,10,000 half minutes. That means for one second there are 8/75 half minutes.

Then the speed if light should be 2202 x 9.11 /(8/75) = 1,88,064 miles per second.

The above calculation is very close to the modern value estimated by the 20th century scientists Michealson and Morley I.e 1,86,300 miles per second. The above fact had been clearly mentioned in Maxmullar's compilation of Rigveda,(1890), as he had taken Saayana Bhashya as authority for his work of translating Vedas. Maxmullar had referred to the manuscript of Säyanäcärya's commentary (1395 AD) copy of which is now available in Baroda library for reference.

Note: Yojana according to Arthasastra is equal to 9.11 miles, which is equal to 8000 dhanus. One dhanu is equal to average man's height that is six feet. But Indian Astronomers like Aryabhatta, Brahmagupta had considered one yojana as equal to four krosas, which is equal to five miles.

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Seven Colours of Sun Light

Seven colours mix together to become. An intense glow of white rays of the Sun. Sir Isaac Newton;the renowned scientist of 16th centuary had been accredited with this Discovery. World believes this with all fanfare.

Ages before Newton,the ancient Indian Vedic knowledge had revealed that the sunlight consists of seven colours.

Sapta tvaa harito rathe vahanti deva surya shociksesham vicaksana
ava divastaarayanti sapta suryasya rasmyah

(Rigveda 1.50.9)

(Atharvaveda 17-10-17-1)

Sun's seven coloured rays are making a day.

Does that means sun has only seven rays? No, sun emits millions of rays. But each ray of light has seven colours embeded in it. The Vedic terminology often refers to word "saptha ashva ruda". It actually means seven coloured white sunrays. The Vedic meaning of word "ashva" also means "light rays".

The Taittriya aranyakam says "eko-ashva vahati sapta namah".

(Rigveda 1-164-2)

It means sun Light is one(white) but called as seven,figuratively the above sloka can be expressed as sun being carried by one horse called with seven names.

Interestingly in Chandogya Upahishad there is a sloka(8-6-1),it says that sun's ray has three colours;they are blue,yellow and red. Infact lhis is also true in the sense that three colours are the.basic colours,which become other colours.

Who goes around whom, Earth vs Sun?

Who goes around whom, Earth vs Sun?

Heliocentric theory of our solar system was first propounded by Copernicus in 1453. He propounded that the Sun is the center of our universe and all planets revolve around it. As it was against the views of the holy Bible, he had been prosecuted. Afterwards in the year 1632 Galileo, supported this view and became sinner in the eys of Church.

But, Indian perception about our solar system is clearly stated in Vedas and other oriental Astronomical texts.

Ancient Vedic knowledge is very lucid in its expression about Sun being the center of our Universe(Solar system).

Let us analyze few Vedic verses in this regard,

mitro daadhaara prthavimutyam mitrah krstih

(Rigveda 3.5.59.1)

Sun, with his attracting force is holding this earth and other celestial bodies.

Trinabhicramajaramanarvam yenemaa visva bhuvaanitastuh

(Rigveda 1.164.1)

All the celestial bodies (planets) are moving in elliptical orbits.

आयम् गौः प्श्निरक्रमीत् असदन्मातरं पुरः पितरं च प्रयन्त्स्वः।

(Rigveda 10.189.1)

Moon being the sub planet of Earth, is revolving around its motherly planet earth and earth is revolving around its fatherly planet Sun.

Sun never sets or rises ,because of earth's movements , it appears to us as sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

(Rigveda- Aitareya Brahman)

Aryabhatta, had clearly explained this phenomenon with a logical principle called, “Laghu-Guru Nyaya”(लघु गुरु न्याय). Laghu means small or light weighted object, Guru means big or heavy object . It implies that a small object revolves around a big object, like a disciple going around a Guru or Teacher.

He had also stated that Moon gets Light from the Sun and so shines. He is the first person to propound that each planet moves around itself and he had accurately calculated the time taken for Earth's rotation around itself and Earth's revolution around Sun.

In the Indian view, the Sun and the moon were also considered to be “Graham” (The meaning of the word should not be mistaken for Planet). “Graha” in Sanskrit means that which influencesor which gets influences.

Many Astronomical and Astrological calculations of various Indian Astronomers were based on the relative positions of various celestial bodies. Hence these calculations should not be interpretted as “Earth centered Universe”. There ws a crystal clear clarity among Indians that Sun is the center of Universe. The Vedas, and the above-referred Indian Astronomical texts, substantiate this fact.

(Source: Ancient Indian Science & its relevant to modern world P-27; Published by Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeth, Tirupati).

Many Apples had fallen before Newton's Gravity Laws

Yes, many apples , especially many Indian apples had fallen down before Newton had discovered Laws of Gravitation. Ancient Indian Astronomical texts are replete with Gravitational laws. It is not fair to say that Newton had discovered them first without giving due recognition to great Indian Astronomers.

Let us get into the facts....

• Surya Sidhantha, the classical Indian Astronomical text says “because of the dhāraņātmika śakti, Earth is standing firm in the without falling away”

madhye samanatāņdasya bhūgolo vyomni tiśţhati

bibhraņah paramām śaktim brahmaņo dhāraņātmikam

(Surya Sidhantha 12^th Ch - 32^nd Sloka)

• Varahamihira (6^th Century AD) had said “it is an experience of everyone that on any part of the earth, that the flames of the fire go up and the objects that were thrown up fall down.

gaganamupaiti śikhiśikha kşiptamapi guru kincit

yadvadiha mānavām a surāņam tadvadevājghaĥ

(Pancha Sidhanthi, 13^th Ch - 4^th sloka)

• Bhaskaracharya (11^th century AD), the famous Indian mathematician in his text “Leelavathi” explains, “Earth has guruthvākarśņa śakti (Gravitational force). Due to mutual attraction between the planets , they (planets) are able to hold themselves firmly in space.”

• In his other text “Siddhantha Shiromani”, Bhaskaracharya reveals that, “Earth naturally attracts every object in the space towards itself. Because of this attracting force, all objects fall on the earth. When there is balance in attraction among planets where would they fall?”

  ākŗşţa śaktiśca mahī tayā yat svastham guru svābhimukham svaśaktyā

  ākŗśyate tatpatatīva bhāti same samantat kva patatviyam khe

  (Siddhaantha Shiromani, Bhuvanakosa, 6^th sloka)

  Brahmagupta (7^th century AD), renowned Mathematician in his famous text “Brahma Sputa Siddhantha” discloses “like water having natural downward flow, Earth also has similar attraction power, because of which all objects get attracted towards it.”

• Jagad Guru Sri AdiSankara in his commentatary on Prasna Upanishad said, “ as earth attracts the up going (thrown up) objects, so do the ever elevating Pranasakti in the body, is being pulled down by the Apanasakti.

  tathā pŗthivyāmabhimānini yā devatā prasidtha saişā

  puruşasya apāna vŗttimavaşţabhyā kŗşya vaśikrithyādha eva

  apakarşena anugraham kurvatī vartata ityarthaħ

  anyathā hi śarīram gurutvāt patet sāvakaśe vodgacchet

  (Commentary od AdiSankara for 3Ch-8^th sloka of Prasnopanishad)

  Many Indian texts had similar references about Gravity Laws. All these facts were revealed centuries before Newton.

Spherical Earth – who knew it First?

Who had discovered that Earth is a sphere?

Our books teach us that it was Kepler, Copernicus, and Galileo. They all belong to 16^th & 17^th century AD What was ancient India's Knowledge in this regard? Don't they know that earth was round? Yes, they do . Indians knew this fact for ages, even from ancient times.

Here are a few references to substantiate this fact...

The renowned Indian Astronomer Aryabhatta (476 AD) had said

• “Bhūgolaħ sarvo vŗttaħ” - the earth is round from all sides

  (Aryabhattiyam, Golapada, sixth sloka)

  He had also accurately calculated the diameter of the Earth.

  (Aryabhattiyam, Chapter 1-sloka five)

  Another Indian Astronomer Varahamihirä (6^th century AD) in his text “Pancha Sidhanthika” said as under

• Paňca mahābhūtamayastrārāgaņa paňjare mahigolah

  (“Pancha Sidhanthika” 13Chapter – sloka1)

The “Spherical” Earth that is made up of Pancha Bhutas (five elements) is hanging in the space studded by twinkling stars like an iron ball hanging in a cage.

Let us observe this Vedic Mantra of Rigveda.

• Cakrācāsaħ pariņaham pŗthivyā (Rig veda 1.33.8)

It says “people who reside on the surface of the Earth's circumference”

There are many Vedic verses ; many of them proclaim the spherical shape of the Earth.

Surya Sidhantha, an ancient Indian Astronomical text reveals that

• Madhye samantāņđasya bhūgolo vyomni tisthati (12^th Ch- 32 Sloka)

“ In the midst of Universe (Brahmanda), the spherical earth stands firm in the space.”

Bhaskarachrya(11^th Century AD), the famous Mathmatician, in his book “Leelavathi” answers a question posed by the little girl Leelavathi.

• “What your eyes see is not reality. Earth is not flat as you see it. It is a sphere . If you draw a very big circle and look a the one fourth of its circumference, you see it as a straight line. But in true sense it is a circle. Similarly earth is spherical in shape.”

Aryabhattiyam the book written by Aryabhatta had been translated into Latin during 13^th century. This book would have influenced the Western Astronomers. Aryabhatta had explained in his book the reason for eclipse.

• Chādayati śaśi sūryam śaśinam mahati ca bhūchhāyā

  (Aryabhattiyam, Golapada, sloka 37)

“When moon shadows the sun , solar eclipse occurs, when earth shadows the moon, lunar eclipse occurs.”

He had also calculated the accurate occurrences of the eclipses; number of days Earth takes to revolve round the Sun(365 days six hours 12 minutes and 30 seconds) and number of hours that earth takes to revolve around itself (23 hours, 56minutes,4.1 seconds).

Even today in most of the Indian languages the term “Geography” means BHUGOLA SASTRA. The very word “Bhugola” means sperical earth. This shows that ages ago Indians knew that earth was sperical in shape.

Hinduism Predates Christianity: The Archeological Proof

Hinduism Predates Christianity: The Archeological Proof

By Stephen Knapp

Sometimes there are comments and even controversies amongst those who are less informed regarding whether Christianity or Hinduism came first. Some people point out that the devotional elements within the Vedic tradition, especially in regard to the Bhakti movements, must have come from Christianity first and then appeared in the Vedic Vaishnava tradition, the followers of which exhibit much love and devotion to Lord Krishna and Vishnu and His other incarnations. But there is an archeological proof that the Vaishnava tradition of devotion to Lord Vishnu existed many years prior to the appearance of Christianity.

Not far from the Buddhist site of Sanchi in Central India, we take a 45-minute ride on the very bumpy road to Vidisha or Besnagar where we find the Heliodorus column, locally known as the Khamb Baba pillar. This was erected by Heliodorus, the Greek ambassador to India in 113 B.C. Heliodorus was sent to the court of King Bhagabhadra by Antialkidas, the Greek king of Taxila. The kingdom of Taxila was part of the Bactrian region in northwest india, which had been conquered by Alexander the Great in 325 BC. By the time of Antialkidas, the area under Greek rule included what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Punjab.

Heliodorus writes on the stone pillar the time it was erected and the fact that he had converted to Vaishnavism, or the worship of Lord Vishnu. The inscription on the column, as published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, says:

This Garuda column of Vasudeva (Vishnu), the god of gods, was erected here by Heliodorus, a worshiper of Vishnu, the son of Dion, and an inhabitant of Taxila, who came as Greek ambassador from the Great King Antialkidas to King Kasiputra Bhagabhadra, the Savior, then reigning prosperously in the fourteenth year of his kingship. Three important precepts when practiced lead to heaven: self-restraint, charity, conscientiousness.

This shows that Heliodorus had become a worshiper of Vishnu and was well versed in the texts and ways pertaining to this religion. It can only be guessed how many other Greeks became converted to Vaishnava Hinduism if such a notable ambassador did. This conclusively shows the Greek appreciation for India and its philosophy.

It was General Alexander Cunningham who was doing an archeological survey in 1877 who first took notice of the significance of the column. However, he did not attend to the inscription that was on it because it was covered with vermilion. This was because the pilgrims who worshiped had a custom to smear the column with vermilion.

It was only in January of 1901 when a Mr. Lake uncovered the paint from what he thought was some lettering. Once the ancient Brahmi text was translated, the historical significance fo the column became ever more apparent.

The British Sanskritists, due to their superior views of themselves, had developed the idea that much of the Vedic traditions and legends of Lord Krishna had to have been incorporated from the Bible and the stories of Jesus. However, this Heliodorus column was the archaeological discovery that proved to the disappointed British that knowledge of Krishna and the Vaishnava tradition predated Christianity by at least 200 years. The column indicated that the Indians did not adopt legends of Christ to put in their Puranas to be used for the stories of Krishna as the British had hypothesized since this gave proof that knowledge of Krishna predated Jesus by almost 200 years.

Another point to consider is that if a Greek official was so impressed with the philosophy of Vaishnavism that he converted to it in 200 B.C., then it means that Vaishnavism and the element of spiritual devotion to God, as found in the bhakti tradition, had to have been developed several hundred years if not several thousand years earlier. So this is a serious historical site to see. The Heliodorus column also indicates that the Vedic tradition accepted converts at that time. Only after the difficulties between Hindus and Muslims was there a hesitancy on the part of Hindus to accept converts to the Vedic tradition.

This evidence further shows that Greece was but a part of Vedic culture and repeated what it and its philosophers had learned from the Vedic sages rather than being a source of the higher levels of philosophy as some people think. Furthermore, this evidence bears witness to the fact that the Christian tradition and its main element of devotion or bhakti to God was found in Vedic culture long before it appeared within the confines of Christianity. In fact, much of the deeper spiritual philosophy in Christianity is but a repeat of what had been previously established and much more deeply developed in the older Vedic tradition. So to fathom the deeper aspects of the different levels of devotion to God, one can investigate the Vedic and Vaishnava tradition to learn the finer details. [For more evidence and analysis of this see articles of Stephen Knapp, "Christianity and The Vedic Teachings Within It," "Jesus Taught Bhakti-yoga," and "Bible Teaches Chanting God’s Names."]

Below are two views of the Heliodurus Column as found in Vidisha, India from the author's collection who personally visited the place in August of 1991. The left view is the complete column, while on the right we see a close up of the inscription.

Great Indians who did Great Things

Here are some short reviews of of some great Indian masters who made great contributions to world development.

ARYABHATT (476 CE) MASTER ASTRONOMER AND MATHEMATICIAN

Born in 476 CE in Kusumpur ( Bihar ), Aryabhatt's intellectual brilliance remapped the boundaries of mathematics and astronomy. In 499 CE, at the age of 23, he wrote a text on astronomy and an unparallel treatise on mathematics called "Aryabhatiyam." He formulated the process of calculating the motion of planets and the time of eclipses. Aryabhatt was the first to proclaim that the earth is round, it rotates on its axis, orbits the sun and is suspended in space - 1000 years before Copernicus published his heliocentric theory. He is also acknowledged for calculating p (Pi) to four decimal places: 3.1416 and the sine table in trigonometry. Centuries later, in 825 CE, the Arab mathematician, Mohammed Ibna Musa credited the value of Pi to the Indians, "This value has been given by the Hindus." And above all, his most spectacular contribution was the concept of zero without which modern computer technology would have been non-existent. Aryabhatt was a colossus in the field of mathematics.

BHASKARACHARYA II (1114-1183 CE) GENIUS IN ALGEBRA

Born in the obscure village of Vijjadit (Jalgaon) in Maharastra, Bhaskaracharya's work in Algebra, Arithmetic and Geometry catapulted him to fame and immortality. His renowned mathematical works called "Lilavati" and "Bijaganita" are considered to be unparalled and a memorial to his profound intelligence. Its translation in several languages of the world bear testimony to its eminence. In his treatise " Siddhant Shiromani " he writes on planetary positions, eclipses, cosmography, mathematical techniques and astronomical equipment. In the " Surya Siddhant " he makes a note on the force of gravity: "Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. Therefore, the earth, planets, constellations, moon, and sun are held in orbit due to this attraction." Bhaskaracharya was the first to discover gravity, 500 years before Sir Isaac Newton . He was the champion among mathematicians of ancient and medieval India . His works fired the imagination of Persian and European scholars, who through research on his works earned fame and popularity.

ACHARYA KANAD (600 BCE) FOUNDER OF ATOMIC THEORY

As the founder of " Vaisheshik Darshan "- one of six principal philosophies of India - Acharya Kanad was a genius in philosophy. He is believed to have been born in Prabhas Kshetra near Dwarika in Gujarat . He was the pioneer expounder of realism, law of causation and the atomic theory. He has classified all the objects of creation into nine elements, namely: earth, water, light, wind, ether, time, space, mind and soul. He says, "Every object of creation is made of atoms which in turn 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 . Kanad has also described the dimension and motion of atoms and their chemical reactions with each other. The eminent historian, T.N. Colebrook , has said, "Compared to the scientists of Europe , Kanad and other Indian scientists were the global masters of this field."

NAGARJUNA (100 CE) WIZARD OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE

He was an extraordinary wizard of science born in the nondescript village of Baluka in Madhya Pradesh . His dedicated research for twelve years produced maiden discoveries and inventions in the faculties of chemistry and metallurgy. Textual masterpieces like " Ras Ratnakar ," "Rashrudaya" and "Rasendramangal" are his renowned contributions to the science of chemistry. Where the medieval alchemists of England failed, Nagarjuna had discovered the alchemy of transmuting base metals into gold. As the author of medical books like "Arogyamanjari" and "Yogasar," he also made significant contributions to the field of curative medicine. Because of his profound scholarliness and versatile knowledge, he was appointed as Chancellor of the famous University of Nalanda . Nagarjuna's milestone discoveries impress and astonish the scientists of today.

ACHARYA CHARAK (600 BCE) FATHER OF MEDICINE

Acharya Charak has been crowned as the Father of Medicine. His renowned work, the "Charak Samhita", is considered as an encyclopedia of Ayurveda. His principles, diagoneses, and cures retain their potency and truth even after a couple of millennia. When the science of anatomy was confused with different theories in Europe, Acharya Charak revealed through his innate genius and enquiries the facts on human anatomy, embryology, pharmacology, blood circulation and diseases like diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, etc. In the "Charak Samhita" he has described the medicinal qualities and functions of 100,000 herbal plants. He has emphasized the influence of diet and activity on mind and body. He has proved the correlation of spirituality and physical health contributed greatly to diagnostic and curative sciences. He has also prescribed and ethical charter for medical practitioners two centuries prior to the Hippocratic oath. Through his genius and intuition, Acharya Charak made landmark contributions to Ayurveda. He forever remains etched in the annals of history as one of the greatest and noblest of rishi-scientists.

ACHARYA SUSHRUT (600 BCE) FATHER OF PLASTIC SURGERY

A genius who has been glowingly recognized in the annals of medical science. Born to sage Vishwamitra, Acharya Sudhrut details the first ever surgery procedures in " Sushrut Samhita ," a unique encyclopedia of surgery. He is venerated as the father of plastic surgery and the science of anesthesia. When surgery was in its infancy in Europe , Sushrut was performing Rhinoplasty (restoration of a damaged nose) and other challenging operations. In the " Sushrut Samhita ," he prescribes treatment for twelve types of fractures and six types of dislocations. His details on human embryology are simply amazing. Sushrut used 125 types of surgical instruments including scalpels, lancets, needles, Cathers and rectal speculums; mostly designed from the jaws of animals and birds. He has also described a number of stitching methods; the use of horse's hair as thread and fibers of bark. In the " Sushrut Samhita ," and fibers of bark. In the " Sushrut Samhita ," he details 300 types of operations. The ancient Indians were the pioneers in amputation, caesarian and cranial surgeries. Acharya Sushrut was a giant in the arena of medical science.

VARAHAMIHIR (499-587 CE) EMINENT ASTROLOGER AND ASTRONOMER

Renowned astrologer and astronomer who was honored with a special decoration and status as one of the nine gems in the court of King Vikramaditya in Avanti ( Ujjain ). Varahamihir's book "panchsiddhant" holds a prominent place in the realm of astronomy. He notes that the moon and planets are lustrous not because of their own light but due to sunlight. In the " Bruhad Samhita " and " Bruhad Jatak ," he has revealed his discoveries in the domains of geography, constellation, science, botany and animal science. In his treatise on botanical science, Varamihir presents cures for various diseases afflicting plants and trees. The rishi-scientist survives through his unique contributions to the science of astrology and astronomy.

ACHARYA PATANJALI (200 BCE) FATHER OF YOGA

The Science of Yoga is one of several unique contributions of India to the world. It seeks to discover and realize the ultimate Reality through yogic practices. Acharya Patanjali , the founder, hailed from the district of Gonda (Ganara) in Uttar Pradesh . He prescribed the control of prana (life breath) as the means to control the body, mind and soul. This subsequently rewards one with good health and inner happiness. Acharya Patanjali 's 84 yogic postures effectively enhance the efficiency of the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive and endocrine systems and many other organs of the body. Yoga has eight limbs where Acharya Patanjali shows the attainment of the ultimate bliss of God in samadhi through the disciplines of: yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahar, dhyan and dharna. The Science of Yoga has gained popularity because of its scientific approach and benefits. Yoga also holds the honored place as one of six philosophies in the Indian philosophical system. Acharya Patanjali will forever be remembered and revered as a pioneer in the science of self-discipline, happiness and self-realization.

ACHARYA BHARADWAJ (800 BCE) PIONEER OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY

Acharya Bharadwaj had a hermitage in the holy city of Prayag and was an ordent apostle of Ayurveda and mechanical sciences. He authored the " Yantra Sarvasva " which includes astonishing and outstanding discoveries in aviation science, space science and flying machines. He has described three categories of flying machines: 1.) One that flies on earth from one place to another. 2.) One that travels from one planet to another. 3.) And One that travels from one universe to another. His designs and descriptions have impressed and amazed aviation engineers of today. His brilliance in aviation technology is further reflected through techniques described by him:
1.) Profound Secret: The technique to make a flying machine invisible through the application of sunlight and wind force.
2.) Living Secret: The technique to make an invisible space machine visible through the application of electrical force.
3.) Secret of Eavesdropping: The technique to listen to a conversation in another plane.
4.) Visual Secrets: The technique to see what's happening inside another plane.
Through his innovative and brilliant discoveries, Acharya Bharadwaj has been recognized as the pioneer of aviation technology.

ACHARYA KAPILA (3000 BCE) FATHER OF COSMOLOGY

Celebrated as the founder of Sankhya philosophy, Acharya Kapil is believed to have been born in 3000 BCE to the illustrious sage Kardam and Devhuti. He gifted the world with the Sankhya School of Thought. His pioneering work threw light on the nature and principles of the ultimate Soul (Purusha), primal matter (Prakruti) and creation. His concept of transformation of energy and profound commentaries on atma, non-atma and the subtle elements of the cosmos places him in an elite class of master achievers - incomparable to the discoveries of other cosmologists. On his assertion that Prakruti, with the inspiration of Purusha, is the mother of cosmic creation and all energies, he contributed a new chapter in the science of cosmology. Because of his extrasensory observations and revelations on the secrets of creation, he is recognized and saluted as the Father of Cosmology.