Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

Ancient Concepts, Sciences & Systems

Date

Scientific and Technological Developments

Remarks

Rugviniscaya of Madhava; emphasis on diagnostic methods.

Also called Madhavanidana; translated into Arabic under the title Badon

.

Use of the Persian water-wheel ( araghatta )

Astangahrdaya of Vagbhata; an authoritative compilation

Rendered into Arabic under the title

Astankar

of the Ayurvedic knowledge based on the earlier works.

Ganitasarasamgraha of Mahavira operations-involving zero and summation

9th-

Flourished in Mysore

10th C A.D. of n terms of Geometrical Progression. Krish-Parasara and Vrkasayurveda.

Manuals on agriculture and botany

Alchemical practices; Rasahrdaya of Govinda Bhagavat

As part of tantrik practice

Siddha system of medicine.

Mostly followed in Tamilnadu; use of mainly mineral medicines

Munjala's elucidation of the procession of equinoxes

As against the earlier libration concept

Sridhara's method of solving quadratic equations.

11th - 12th C A.D.

Siddhantasiromani of Bhaskara II: astronomical and mathematical work in 4 parts; cakravala method for rational integral solutions of the indeterminate equation of the second order; geometric proof of the Pythagorean theorem;

Influenced later astronomers and mathe-

maticians; a number of commentaries

followed; represents the height of Indian

root idea of differential calculus; further elaboration of epicyclic-eccentric

astronomy & mathematics.

theories for planetary motions; analysis of the motion of the sun by consider- ing longitudinal changes. Manasollasa of Somadeva; alchemical ideas; iron casting; perfumery

Encyclopaedic work

Knowledge of paper-making

Derived possibly from Nepal and Arabia

Unani Tibb.

Incorporation of Persian, Arabic medical

Metal stirrup; introduction of paper.

& Ayurvedic knowledge from Central Asia.

Sarangdhara Samhita: opium in its materia medica, urine and pulse exam-

13th -

Foreign influences

15th C A.D. nation for diagnositic purpose

Skill in complex chemical processess

Rasastra texts: Rasarnava, Rasartnakara; Rasaratnasamuccaya, etc.; classi- fication of alchemical and iatrochemical substances, details of experimental techniques.

Narayana Pandita: further refinement of arithmetic and algebraic operations.

Belonged to Kerala family of astronomers

Paramesvara, a prolific commentator on earlier astronomical and mathematical works.

Nilakantha Somasutvan: elucidation of astronomical ideas

Of the Aryabhatiya school

Pyrotechnics

Production centres in the south

16th C A.D. Ganesa Daivajfia, astronomical and mathematical commentator; Divakara family of astronomers and mathematicians.

Maharashtra school

More Rasashtra texts; use of mercurial and non-mercurial compositions as

Iatro-chemistry became established

internal medicine becomes widespread. Bhavaprakasa; extensive materia medica; treatment of syphilis.

Gunpowder and guns.

Largely used during the Mughal period.

'Ain-i'Akbari: astronomical ideas; crafts; agriculture and animal husbandry;

perfumery; pyrotechnics.

Publication of Garcia's Colloquies (1565)

Advent of the Portuguese physician Garcia da Orta, introduction

of new economic plants.

Note : For Chronology of Scientific and Technological Developments from 17th C -1900 Refer Sec. S Science & Technology — S 15-16