India’s science in ancient times includes far more than just zero and Ayurveda. Within classical literature, temples, and archaeological evidence, one will find many discoveries that science today is just starting to recognize fully. Inventions were made in ancient India that were not simply spiritual or philosophical; rather, they were based upon careful observation and experimentation, as well as meticulous documentation. Everyone honors scientific advancements made by the Greeks and Romans, and later the Europeans, but fewer recognize that much of the influences on modern sciences derive from or were transformed or subtly adapted from Indian innovations that had continued through the centuries in understated and/or continuous forms.
Another lesser-known invention is the Makara Yantra, an ancient Indian navigational tool. Sailors would use this device to calculate the latitude of their position when sailing across the Indian Ocean. The device was used long before the magnetic compass became universally accepted as the major device in world navigation, with Indian mariners tracking celestial denotation of position through the use of the yantra. The use of celestial navigation was instrumental in identifying India as a maritime trading superpower. Even today’s navigation satellites still utilize the same principle of locating coordinates through celestial reference as the ancient Indian naval instrument makers developed with simple hand-crafted navigation devices.
An additional alluring example is ancient Indian water management engineering, which was clearly ahead of its time. Step wells, like Rani ki Vav and Chand Baori, were not merely beautiful architecture; they were climate adaptation technologies to store enormous quantities of water underground, to keep water cool and prevent evaporation in hot climates. Today, nations experiencing climate change and drought are exploring ancient water conservation systems. And engineers are now restoring step wells in Rajasthan, Gujarat and parts of Africa.
There is also evidence of early vaccination in ancient Indian literature, centuries before Edward Jenner’s smallpox vaccine. Traditional healers in Bengal used “variolation” or the introduction of a mild strain of smallpox into the skin of a patient to gain immunity to smallpox. European doctors in the 18th century documented their observations of variolation in India and brought that knowledge back to the West, where it became influential in the development of vaccination and subsequently modern immunology. Even though this practice and subsequent discovery of vaccination are attributed to Europe, vaccination finds its early roots in Indian medical traditions.
Another hardly thought of contribution is sound-based architectural design in buildings, particularly temples such as the Sun Temple at Konark, and the Vittala Temple in Hampi where simply tapping stones generates musical notes. It was not by chance– Indian architects were aware of vibration resonance, harmonic frequencies, and the acoustics of various materials. And there are current studies being conducted by musicians and acoustic engineers at these temples in order to implement natural sound-amplifying methods and principles to modern concert halls and performance auditoriums that do not rely on heavy electronic amplifying equipment.
These instances serve as a reminder that ancient Indian science was not primitive; it could be seen as a high form of advanced ethics derived from patience and experimentation, and close association with nature. By rediscovering and understanding these lost innovations, contemporary science gains knowledge, not only fascinating knowledge, but also knowledge that is a necessity today. India’s scientific past is not only something to reflect on for its greatness; it is the basis of ongoing transformation, sustainability, and human advancement.