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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http : / /books . qooqle . com/ The positive sciences of the ancient Hindus Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google THE POSITIVE SCIENCES OF THE ANCIENT HINDUS BY BRAJENDRANATH SEAL, M.A., Ph.D. LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS 1915 Digitized by Google nUDTD BY WILLIAM CLOWtt AWD BOWS, LIOTTKD, M'll mSVT, ITAMPORD irtUT, I.B., A*D OMAT WIXDMILL BTUKT, W. Digitized by Google FOREWORD The following pages comprise a series of monographs on the Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus. In the present state of Indian chronology it is not possible to assign dates to the original sources from which the materials have been drawn. Practically the main body of positive knowledge here presented may be assigned to the millennium 500 B.c.—500 A.D. Colebrooke's account of Hindu Algebra, and Hoernle's of Hindu Osteology, have made it unnecessary for me to write separate monographs on these subjects. The former, however, requires to be brought up to date. The progress of Indian Algebra (mainly in Southern India) after Bhaskara, parallel to the developments in China and Japan, is a subject that remains for future investigation. The chapter on the "Mechanical, Physical, and Chemical Theories of the Ancient Hindus " appeared in Dr. P. C. Ray's Hindu Chemistry (Vol II.), and that on the " Scientific Method of the Hindus " as an appendix to the same work. My direct aim in the present work is to furnish the historians of the special sciences with new material which will serve to widen the scope of their survey. The Hindus no less than the Greeks have shared in the work of constructing scientific concepts and methods in the investigation of physical phenomena, as well as of building up a body of positive knowledge which has been applied to industrial technique; and Hindu Digitized by Google iv FOREWORD scientific ideas and methodology (e.g. the inductive method or methods of algebraic analysis) have deeply influenced the course of natural philosophy in Asia—in the East as well as the West—in China and Japan, as well as in the Saracen Empire. A comparative estimate of Greek and Hindu science may now be undertaken with some measure of success—and finality. These studies in Hindu Positive Science are also intended to serve as a preliminary to my " Studies in Comparative Philosophy." Philosophy in its rise and development is necessarily governed by the body of positive knowledge preceding or accompanying it Hindu Philosophy on its empirical side was dominated by concepts derived from physiology and philology, just as Greek Philosophy was similarly dominated by geometrical concepts and methods. Comparative Philosophy, then, in its criticism and estimate of Hindu thought, must take note of the empirical basis on which the speculative superstructure was raised. I have not written one line which is not supported by the clearest texts. The ground trodden is, for the most part, absolutely new. Fortunately, the Sanskrit philosophico-scientific terminology, however difficult from its technical character, is exceedingly precise, consistent, and expressive. I may add that I have occasionally used (perhaps with a questionable freedom) scientific terms like isomeric, polymeric, potential, etc., in a broad sense, as convenient symbols to express ideas nearly or remotely allied. Brajendranath Seal. Digitized by Google — CONTENTS CHAPTEE I. THE MECHANICAL, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL THEORIES OF THE ANCIENT HINDUS. The SAnkhya-Patanjala System. pages Prakrtti, the Ultimate Ground—The Original Constituents and their Interaction — The Starting-point — Be- ginning of Evolution—Formation of Wholes or Systems—Collocation of Reals—The Formula of Evolution—The Conservation of Energy (and of Mass)—The Transformation of Energy—The Doctrine of Causation, a Corollary from the Conservation and Transformation of Energy—The Principle of Colloca- tion—The Storing-up and the Liberation of Energy —Chain of Causation—Fixed Order—Time, Space, and the Causal Series—Space as Extension and Space as Position—The Causal Series—The Dissipation of Energy (and of Mass)—Their Dissolution into the Formless PrakWti—The Evolution of Matter—The Genesis of the Infra-atomic Unit-potentials and of the Atoms—Cosmo-genesis, a Bird's-eye View—Chemical Analysis and Synthesis—Elements and Compounds . 1-56 Chemistry in the Medical Schools of Ancient India. Physical Characters of the Bhutas—The Maha-Bhutas— Mechanical Mixtures—Qualities of Compounds—The extant Charaka and Susruta—Succession of Medical Authorities—Preparation of Chemical Compounds Chemical Compositions and Decompositions—Organic Compounds — Poisons — Formation of Molecular Qualities in Chemical Compounds—Chemistry of Colours — Parinama-vada versus Arambha-vada — Measures of Time and Space—Bhaskaracharyya, a Precursor of Newton in the Conception of the Differential Calculus and its Application to Astronomy —Measures of Weight and Capacity—Size of the Minimum Visibile (Size of an Atom) . 56-85 Digitized by — VI CONTENTS VbdIntic View. PAOBS Maya—Evolution of different Forms of Matter—Panchf- karana 85-92 The Atomic Theory of the Buddhists . 92-93 The Atomic Theory of the Jains. General Properties of Matter—Atomic Linking 93-98 The Nyaya-Vai8eshika Chemical Theory. Theory of Atomic Combination—Chemical Combination —Mono-Bhautic Compounds—Hetero-Bhautic Com- pounds—The Theory of Dynamic Contact (Vishtam- bha)—Oils, Fats, Milks—Mixtures like Soups, Solu- tions, etc.—Chemical Action and Heat—Light-Rays —Theory of Reflection, Refraction, etc.—Arrange- ment of Atoms in Space—The Foundations of Solid (Co-ordinate) Geometry—Three Axes of Vachaspati —Graphic Representation of the Constitution of a Bi-Bhautic Compound (with " complex contact ") 98-121 Conception of Molecular Motion (Parispanda) . 121-123 Addenda: Empirical Recipes of Chemical Technology. Searing of Rocks—Hardening of Steel—Preparation of Cements—Nourishment of Plants .... 124-128 CHAPTER II. HINDU IDEAS ON MECHANICS (KINETICS). Analysis of Motion—Motion considered in Relation to its Causes—Cause of Motion, or Force—The Concept of Vega—Causes of Pressure and of Impact—Illustra- tions of Combination of Forces—Composition of Gravity with Vega—Motion of a Particle in the Case of a Composition of Forces—Typical Cases of Curvilinear Motion—Vibratory Motion — Rotatory Motion—Motion of Fluids—Interesting Examples of Motion ascribed to Adnata—Measurement of Motion Digitized by Google —— CONTENTS VU PAGES Units of Space and Time—Component of Velocity Notion of Three Axes — Relative Motion — Serial Motion 129-152 CHAPTEE in. HINDU IDEAS ON ACOUSTICS. Analysis of Sound—Analysis of Vibratory Motion, e.g. of a bell (in air)—Echo—Pitch, Intensity, and Timbre Musical Sounds—The Notes of the Diatonic Scale: Determination of their Relative Pitch — Musical Intervals 153-168 CHAPTER IV.