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Ancient Rishis of India - Great Founder
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."
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.
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 CHARAKA
(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 an 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 SUSHRUTHA (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 ," 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.
VARAHAMIHIRA (499-587 CE)
EMINENT ASTROLOGER AND
ASTRONOMERA
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 BHARADWAJA (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.
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