Indian Vedic Science
The evidence of Indian Vedic science or Indian chemistry comes from the texts composed by Nagarjuna. History follows dates, but science does not follow dates. The work of these ancient scientists is their identity. When did these happen and when did they compose the texts, it is a matter of more importance that from what period the principles told by them have been making their mark in the practical world.
Story of Nagarjuna, An Indian Metallurgist and Alchemist
In fact, the work of Nagarjuna is also similar, marking the presence in the practical world. However, later there were some eminent thinkers with the same name, so there is confusion about the exact timing of Nagarjuna. Just as the tradition of Vedas and epics is alive in our country due to Shruti, Smriti and experts, similarly wonderful experiments of science are also safe in the form of these texts. From time to time scholars have been restoring these texts. One can check it in the texts like Rasaratnākara and Rasendramaṅgala, composed by Nagarjuna.
Nagarjuna’s work is important because it tells us that India had not only achieved extraordinary success in mathematics, physics and astronomy but in chemistry as well. The book “The History of Hindu Chemistry” by the great chemist of the present era, “Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray” represent in detail the rich ancient chemistry or Rasa Shastra of India.
In modern times, PC Ray works mostly on Rasaratnākara and Rasendramaṅgala. Very few copies of it survive now.
“Nagarjuna is the most renowned face of the ancient chemistry of India. Certainly, just as Agastyamuni is called Kumbhodbhava because of generating electricity from Kumbh, similarly there must have been scientists in the sage tradition who would have worked on chemistry.”
Nagarjuna refined his knowledge and composed these great texts. According to the information received, he was born in Mahakoshal, whose capital was Shripur (Sheopur), which is presently in Chhattisgarh.
In ancient times, Shripur was called the “City of auspiciousness, abundance, Lakshmi”. Recently, during the excavation there, evidence of ancient Buddhist viharas has also been found. The border of Vidarbha and Mahakoshal coincided with each other. It is important to know this fact because Nagarjuna had built his laboratory in present-day Maharashtra, there is also evidence of this.
By:-
Prakhar Sharma
Founder, Upgrading India
