Advancements of Ancient India’s Vedic Culture

The Planet’s Earliest Civilization and How it Influenced the World

by Stephen Knapp

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        This book shows how the planet’s earliest civilization lead the world in both material and spiritual progress. From the Vedic culture of ancient India thousands of years ago, we find such things as the origins of mathematics, especially algebra and geometry, as well as early astronomy and planetary observations, many instances of which can be read in the historical Vedic texts. Medicine in Ayurveda was the first to prescribe herbs for the remedy of disease, surgical instruments for operations, and more.

        Other developments that were far superior and ahead of the rest of the world included:

*  Writing and language, especially the development of sophisticated Sanskrit;

*  Metallurgy and making the best known steel at the time;

*  Ship building and global maritime trade;

*  Textiles and the dying of fabric for which India was known all over the world;

*  Agricultural and botanical achievements;

*  Precise Vedic arts in painting, dance and music;

*  The educational systems and the most famous of the early universities, like Nalanda and Takshashila;

*  The source of individual freedom and fair government, and the character and actions of rulers;

*  Military and the earliest of martial arts;

*  Along with some of the most intricate, deep and profound of all philosophies and spiritual paths, which became the basis of many religions that followed later around the world.

*  Plus, the Aryan Invasion Theory, putting the final nail in the coffin of the idea that the Vedic Aryans came from outside India, only to write the Vedic literature once they arrived, and to realize by proper evidence that the Vedic Aryans were and had always been the indigenous people of ancient India, Bharatvarsha.

        These and more are the developments that came from India, much of which has been forgotten, but should again be recognized as the heritage of the ancient Indian Vedic tradition that continues to inspire humanity.

 

        This book is especially good for the Indian youth who may be forgetting or never knew of all the advanced developments that came out of the ancient Vedic culture of India, which is why they should be proud of their heritage. In fact, every person of Indian descent, and anyone interested in the Vedic tradition, should understand this information to see the numerous contributions and origins of many of the sciences that we take for granted today. This book is also especially meant for those who lecture at colleges or universities but need the information for a more cultural presentation rather than spiritual, but which can still show the advanced nature of Vedic culture in so many aspects of life.

        This book has loads of references and quotes to verify the information within. It also has 23 black & white photos to give a some illustrations to some of the topics.

 

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Contents
 

CHAPTER ONE 1
INTRODUCTION TO VEDIC CULTURE’S ADVANCEMENTS
The Advanced Nature of Ancient Indian Sciences * The Antiquity of Vedic Culture * Conclusion: The Greatness of India and Vedic Culture

CHAPTER TWO 13
THE EARLY DYNASTIES
Locations of the Early Vedic Dynasties * The Pre-historic Date of Vedic Beginnings * Date of Lord Rama * The Gotras * First Miscalculations of Vedic Origins

CHAPTER THREE 23
TIME LINE OF LORD KRISHNA AND
THE MAHABHARATA WAR
Time of Lord Krishna * When Lord Krishna Left this World * Time of Lord Buddha * Proof of the Existence of Lord Krishna * Establishing the Age of the Earth and Scheduled Times of Lord Krishna by the Manu Avataras

CHAPTER FOUR 38
DEVELOPMENTS IN WRITING AND LANGUAGE
Writing * Sanskrit Language * Sanskrit Grammar * The Vedic Texts

CHAPTER FIVE 53
DEVELOPMENTS IN MATHEMATICS
The Numerical System of India * Vedic Mathematics * The Shulba Sutras * The Great Mathematicians * Algebra and Geometry * Advanced Mathematics First Came From India * How Indian Math Systems Went West * How Indian Mathematics Entered Arabia * How Indian Mathematics Reached Europe * Alternative Dates for India’s Major Mathematicians

CHAPTER SIX 77
VEDIC ASTRONOMY
The Heliocentric Theory * Jyotish

CHAPTER SEVEN 85
VEDIC ARCHITECTURE AND TEMPLES
Architecture in Harappa * Vastu Architecture

CHAPTER EIGHT 90
THE VEDIC SYSTEM OF MEDICINE
Principles of Ayurveda * The Hippocratic Oath * Plastic Surgery * Inoculations * Embryology in Vedic Times * Dentistry * The Soma Plant * Expansion of Indian Medicine

CHAPTER NINE 106
DEVELOPMENTS IN TEXTILES IN ANCIENT INDIA
The Antiquity of Cloth Making * Dyes and Coloring Agents * Textiles Were a Major Factor in India’s Trade with other Countries

CHAPTER TEN 114
INDIA’S DEVELOPMENTS IN METALLURGY
Steel Making * Copper * Silver and Gold * Chemical Science and Additional Developments * Pottery * Lapidary Science

CHAPTER ELEVEN 125
INDIA’S AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
Botany * Agriculture * Water Conservation * Irrigation and Ancient India * Early Development of Rice in India

CHAPTER TWELVE 134
THE VEDIC ARTS
The Vedic System of Music * Vedic Dance * Theater * Vedic Art

CHAPTER THIRTEEN 143
ANCIENT INDIA’S MARITIME DEVELOPMENTS
Maritime Trade * The Indian Navy and Sea Power * How the British Killed the Maritime Industry of India * Conclusion

CHAPTER FOURTEEN 156
EARLIEST ADVANCED CITIES
Mohenjodaro and Harappa * Size of the Harappan Civilization * Lothal * Disappearance of the Indus Valley Civilization

CHAPTER FIFTEEN 165
INDIA’S EARLY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND UNIVERSITIES
Importance of Dharmic Education Today * The Early Universities * The Loss of Great Vedic Texts and the Attacks on the Universities

CHAPTER SIXTEEN 176
PRINCIPLES OF VEDIC ECONOMICS

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN 184
PRINCIPLES OF VEDIC ENVIRONMENTALISM

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN 188
INDIA AS THE SOURCE OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM
AND GOVERNANCE
Insights into the Purpose and Function of Leadership According to Mahabharata and Other Vedic Texts * Purpose of Government * How There Became a Need for a King * Anarchy Without a Proper Ruler * Who can Rule the Country * A Qualified King Must be Self Controlled * The Strengths and Characteristics Rulers Should Have * Further Descriptions of the Character and Duties of a King * A King Must Protect His Subjects * Taxes * Use of the Treasury * Defending the Country–Being Aware of the Enemy * Dealing With an Enemy * The Army * Duties of a King in Distress * A King Should Trust No One * A King Should Take Counsel * Character of the Legislators * The Need for Secrecy * Spies * A King Should Understand Characteristics of a Wise Man and Fool * Dealing With Criminals * Purpose of Punishment * Consequences for the Kings * Conclusion: Politics and Leadership in the Vedic Way

CHAPTER NINETEEN 225
DEVELOPMENTS IN MILITARY AND MARTIAL ARTS
Indian Martial Arts

CHAPTER TWENTY 230
AIRPLANES OR VIMANAS

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE 234
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENTS FROM ANCIENT INDIA
Vaisheshika Atomic Theory * Chess Came From India * Other Games

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO 237
THE EARLY HOMELAND OF HUMANITY
The Flow From the East to the West * Expansion of the Vedic People * The Persians * The Greeks * The Pre-Christian Religions in Europe

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE 246
THE ARYAN INVASION THEORY
The Development of the Aryan Invasion Theory * Max Muller Denies His Own Theory * The Damage Done by the Aryan Invasion Theory * Objections to the Aryan Invasion Theory * Misleading Dates of the Aryan Invasion Theory * The Sarasvati River in the Rig Veda * Proof of the Sarasvati River * The Demise of the Sarasvati River * Location of Vinashana * The Arguments of No Horse in Harappa * The Urban or Rural Argument * Deciphering the Indus Seals * Genetics Show an East to West Movement * Conclusion: There Never was any Aryan Invasion * Scholars who Believe in the False History of India are a Dying Breed

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR 286
HOW THE SCIENCES FADED FROM INDIA

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE 292
INDIA: HOME OF THE GREATEST PHILOSOPHIES AND SPIRITUAL CULTURE
The Real Treasure of India * Character of Hindus * Indians do not Appreciate Their Own Culture as Much as They Should

CONCLUSION 307
VEDIC CULTURE: AIN’T DEAD YET
Sanatana-Dharma: The Eternal Religion

GLOSSARY 317

REFERENCES 325

INDEX 332

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 340

 

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