India’s contributions to science and technology are among the most ancient and influential in the world. In mathematics, the decimal place value system with zero as a numeral, used universally today, owes its origin to India. The science of Ayurveda, which has been practised for millennia in India, is now gaining wider acceptance even as many ancient remedies are turned into modern drugs. Indian astronomical computations, ritual geometry, brick technology and metallurgical innovations have been among the finest achievements in the world of science and technology.This Encyclopaedia of Classical Indian Sciences is an attempt to provide an authentic account of natural science, technology and medicine as practised by Indians and other South Asians. It also includes biographical articles on many ancient Indian scientists, and some articles (polemic in nature) on the history of Indian science and technology, such as the essay on the effects of colonialism. All articles are contributions of acknowledged authorities on their subject drawn from across the world.
Helaine Selin is the Science Librarian and a Faculty Associate at Hampshire College, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. She is the editor of several books on science in many cultures and teaches courses on Non-Western and Complementary Medicine. Roddam Narasimha, formerly Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, is currently Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore. He has written several essays on the epistemology of classical Indian science, and chairs the Indian National Science Academy’s Research Council for the History of Science.
Preface Acknowledgements
Agriculture Alchemy Algebra: Bijaganita Arithmetic: Patiganita Armillary Spheres Aryabhata Astrology Astronomical Instruments Astronomy Astronomy in the Indo-Malay Archipelago Atomism Atreya Bakhshali Manuscript Baudhayana Bhaskara I Bhaskara II Al-Biruni Brahmagupta Bricks Calculus Calendars. Candrasekhara Samanta Caraka City Planning Colonialism and Science Combinatorics in Indian Mathematics Decimal Notation Desantara Devacarya Dyes East and West East and West: India in the Transmission of Knowledge from East to West Eclipses Environment and Nature Epilepsy Ethnobotany Forestry Geography Geometry Gnomon Haridatta Irrigation in India and Sri Lanka Jagannatha Samrat Jai Singh Jayadeva Kamalakara Knowledge Systems: Local Knowledge Knowledge Systems Lalla Lunar Mansions in Indian Astronomy Madhava of Sangamagrama Magic and Science Magic Squares in Indian Mathematics Mahadeva Mahavlra Mahendra Suri Makaranda Maps and Mapmaking Mathematics Medical Ethics Medicine: Ayurveda Medieval Science and Technology Metallurgy: Bronzes of South India Metallurgy: Iron and Steel Metallurgy: Zinc and its Alloys: Ancient Smelting Technology Meteorology Military Technology Munisvara Narayana Pandita Navigation Number Theory Observatories Paksa Parameswara Paulisa Physics Pi in Indian Mathematics Precession of the Equinoxes Putumana Somayaji: Rainwater Harvesting Ramanujan Rationale in Indian Mathematics Rockets and Rocketry Salt Sailkara Variyar Satananda Science as a Western Phenomenon Sexagesimal System Sphujidhvaja Sridhara Sripati Sulbasutras Suryasiddhanta Susruta Technology and Culture Textiles Time Trigonometry Vakyakarana Values and Science Varahamihira Vatesvara Weights and Measures in the Indus Valley Western Dominance Wind Power Yavanesvara Yoga Yuktibhasa of Jyesthadeva Zero Zij Zodiac