Indian Knowledge Systems

ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ।।

Lead me from ignorance to Truth, from darkness to Light, from death to Immortality.

-Brhadaranyaka Upaniśad

The greatest contribution of India to the world is Her material and spiritual sciences. No other civilization has attained the level of sophistication in unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos as did the great sages and mystics of India. India's knowledge systems have undergone thousands of years of unhindered evolution in close association with Her Dhārmic philosophies that have always encouraged scientific inquiry and creative expression.

The pursuit of Knowledge is the supreme goal of Dharma. Indian rishis were sages as well as scientists; they had a deep understanding of the principles of cosmic creation and dissolution, space-time relativity and natural evolution. However their knowledge extended beyond the realms of objective science and mathematics into the world of the Brahman.

The primary distinction between Indian and western epistemology lies in the use of the intuitive dimension of the human mind - an area left unexplored by modern science and medicine. Since Indian seers were well established in the eternal laws of the universe, practical implementation of their ideas seldom required trial and error. This is what makes all applications of ancient Indian knowledge - be it Āyurvedic healthcare, Yoga, Samkhyā physics, Vāstu architecture, Tantra and Chakra systems, Nātya based dances and theatre and traditional agriculture - universal, environmentally friendly, sustainable, and holistic.

Unfortunately, due to western knowledge imperialism, destruction of ancient Indian texts and libraries by foreign invaders, and the colonial educational system practiced today, precious traditional knowledge has all but vanished from national consciousness. Indian discoveries such as those of calculus by Mādhavan, the decimal place value number system, calculation of the circumference of the earth by Āryabhata, methods of extraction of Zinc, invention of Wootz steel, invention of wireless radio by J.C.Bose and several others have either been ignored by historians or inaccurately credited to other civilizations.

Spirituality is the master key of the Indian mind. It is this dominant inclination of India which gives character to all the expressions of her culture. - Sri Aurobindo

Civilizations that lack a spiritual foundation often experiment with so called "modern" ideas and concepts that give rise to disharmony and eventually fade with time. In contrast, the Indian civilization and its knowledge base has withstood the test of time and the rigours of scientific validation.

In a world of ever-growing political turmoil, socio-economic uncertainity, and environmental destruction, it is our highest obligation to look back at time-tested alternatives rooted in India's own history for the peaceful and sustainable evolution of humanity. Communities such as Bhaarat.org and others are an attempt to rekindle the light of ancient India and share its glow with the world.