Page 15 - Guidelines for Training/ Orientation of Faculty on IKS

Guidelines for Training/ Orientation of Faculty on IKS

Course 2: Refresher Courses on IKS based Chemistry and Metallurgy
1 Theoretical framework for the practice of science in ancient India (12 lectures):
 Sāṅkhya-Pātañjala system: (Prakṛti – The original constituents and their interactions;
conservation of energy and transformation of energy; the doctrine of causation; principle
of collocation, storing and liberation of energy; dissipation of energy and mass and their
dissolution into formless prakṛti, the evolution of matter; the evolution of infra atomic
unit; chemical analysis and synthesis; elements and compounds).
 Evolution of different forms of matter (Pañcīkaraṇa) from the Vedāntic view.
 The atomic theory of the Buddhists and Jains.
 Nyāya-Vaiseśika chemical theory: theory of atomic combinations; chemical
combinations, mono and hetero bhautika compounds, theory of dynamic contact
(Viśṭambha), chemical action and heat, three axes of Vācaspati (graphical representation
of the constitution of a bi-bhautika compound), conception of molecular motion
(parispanda)
2 Chemistry in practice as gleaned from the medical schools of ancient India (4 lectures):
 Physical characteristics of the Bhūtas, The Mahābhūtās, mechanical mixtures.
3 Qualities of compounds; formation of molecular properties in chemical compounds. (5
lectures)
4 Chemistry of colors, measures of weight and capacity, size of the minimum visible. (2
lectures)
5 Ideas of chemistry as in br̥hatsaṁhitā: making of vajrālepa/vajrasamghāta; gaṁdhayukti.
(2 lectures)
6 Metallurgical heritage (12 lectures):
 Arthaśāstra as the earliest text describing gold, silver and other metals;
 Processing of gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, mercury and lead as mentioned in the Indian
texts in the ancient and Medieval period
 Bhasma; A nano-medicine of ancient India
7 Zinc distillation as mentioned in Rasārṇava and Rasaratnasamukāyā. (4 lectures)
8 Concepts of acid and bases in Indian chemistry from organic fruit, vegetable based. Acids,
plant-ash based bases to mineral acids of the medieval period. (4 lectures)

Reference Materials:

th
1 The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus; Brijendra Nath Seal; 4 Edition; 2016
2 Fine Arts & Technical Sciences in Ancient India with special reference to Someśvara’s
Mānasollāsa; Dr. Shiv Shekhar Mishra, Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi 1982
3 Mints and Minting in India; Upendra Thakur; Chowkhanba Publication; 1972
4 A Concise History of Science in India, ed. D M Bose, S N Sen and B V Subbarayappa;
INSA; 2009
5 Science and Technology in Medieval India - A Bibliography of Source Materials in Sanskrit,
Arabic and Persian by A Rahman, M A Alvi, S A Khan Ghori and K V Samba Murthy; 1982.
6 Science and Technological Exchanges between India and Soviet Central Asia (Medieval
Period), ed B V Subbarayappa;1985
7 Scientific and Technical Education in India, 1781-1900 by S N Sen; 1991
8 History of Technology in India , Vol. I, ed. A K Bag (1997); Vol III, ed. K V Mital (2001);
Vol-II by Harbans Mukhia (2012).

13