Bharat’s 8 great contributions to science
1. Atomic Theory: Maharishi Kanada provided the atomic theory (Vaiśesika-sutra) in 6th century BCE. Markandaya-Purana defines the size of the atom as 2.9*10 to the power -9 which is strikingly close to the actual value.
2. Time: According to puranas, age of the universe is 8.64 billion years long. The smallest unit of time documented in vedix text is of the order 10-4 (10 to the power -4)
3. Metallurgy: Zinc was extracted as early as 3rd century BCE. The famous Iron pillar in Delhi is not rusted yet. Damascus steel was another miracle.
4. Mathematics: Base-ten number system, zero, solution to quadratic equation, Fibonacci sequence, value of pi, trigonometry and Pythagoras theorem were known way before the rest of the world discovered it.
5. Surgery: Sushruta, in his Suśruta-samhitā, describes more than one hundred medical surgical instruments and same number of medical procedures including hernia, amputation, cataract, plastic surgery for nose and caesarean section.
6. Medicine: In Bharat 20000 medicinal plants are recorded and 25000 effective plant-based formulation. Ayurveda considers mind-body approach towards medicine which was way ahead of it's time.
7. Astronomy: Rishis had carefully mapped the entire sky and assigned motion to earth. They believed in Heliocentric Solar system, diurnal motion of earth. Śatapatha-Brāhmana mentions the spherical shape of the Earth.
8. Yoga: The ultimate self-development tool is now known and practised world wide. Probably the most important gift to the world, especially in the current context.
