Early Rudiments of Science in Ancient Indian Culture

Though the evidence is of a somewhat rudimentary nature, the contents in the Vedic texts give us not only a mere idea of the development of literature in the ancient period but also the level of scientific knowledge attained by the people during this period.

The religious worship of the Vedic people involved a certain familiarity with astronomy. The Indians of he Vedic age were not only familiar with the Sun and the Moon, but also were aware of the existence of other planets and indeed that of the whole constellations. Their calendar was elaborated in detail and laid down with precision. The year was divided into twelve months and each of which had thirty days.

The Vedic texts also show the mathematical knowledge that had been achieved in that distant age. Of particular interest to us here are the 'rules of the cord' which outlines sets of rules for measurement. These texts lay down methods for measuring altars, the construction of various geometrical figures and elaborate systems of calculations.

The Science of medicine had reached a relatively high level at this stage. The Indians were familiar with many human diseases and forms of treatment involving herbs, special ointments, water treatment and others. To judge by early Vedic writings, there were already in existence of professional healers. The Adharva Veda (one of the four Vedas) is particularly rich in contents relating to medicine. It contains a large number of incantations to wad of disease. Along with the mythological concepts, it contains many rational observations also which are very relevant even today.

The Indians of the Vedic age, linked man's diseases with the wrath of the gods and recovery was considered as a sign of their good will. Special hymns were dedicated by divine healers to Sun and Soma who were considered to be 'the kings' of medicine.

During this period, magic played an important role in the treatment of diseases, but the properties of herbs and methods of their medical application were also already known. The texts show that healers of that time were familiar with diseases of the eyes, heat, stomach, lungs and skin. They also mention the names of close to three hundred or more different parts of the human body.

The findings of archeologists and written sources provide us some idea of the material culture of that period and also of the every day life of the ancient Indians of the Vedic age.