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Historicity of Indian Knowledge Systems

Historicity of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)

I. Challenges in Dating IKS

  • Oral Transmission: Most IKS was orally transmitted, unlike Western sources that are primarily literary and printed.
  • Dating Methodologies: Western methods for dating literary sources are inappropriate for orally transmitted knowledge.
  • Dating IKS: Contemporary dating of IKS is approximate and conservative, mostly relying on affilitation and technology enabled better dating of some astronomical references.

II. Using Technology for Dating

  • Astronomical References: IKS corpus contains astronomical data.
  • Planetarium Software: Computer software can plot the night sky from 3000-4000 BCE to 8000 AD.
  • Dating via Astronomy: This allows for better dating of some IKS texts based on astronomical observations.

III. Broad Historical Blocks of IKS

A. Before 3000 BCE ("Dark Ages" in Western Parlance)

  • Western Perspective: This period is called "Dark Ages" because Western civilization has limited historical data.
  • Indian Perspective: IKS flourished during this time, with the creation of much material.
  • Tools: Planetarium software allows examination of material produced during this time.

B. 3000 BCE to 500 CE (Sample set of ~20 works)

  • Timeline: Roughly from the beginning of recorded human history (according to Western metrics) to the fall of the Roman Empire.
  • Global Context: While other parts of the world focused on basic skills, Indian society developed diverse knowledge.
  • Key Contributions:
    • Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana: Core texts on code of living, Dharma and more.
  • Vedanga-jyotisa: Astronomy. * Manu-smriti and Sulba-sutras: Mathematics. * Buddhist Texts, Nyaya, and Vaisesika: Logic and Epistemology. * Maha-bhasya: Commentary on Sanskrit. * Rasaratnakara: Alchemy. * Amarakosa: Lexicography and linguistics. * Brhat-samhita: Encyclopedia with topics including Astronomy and Mathematics.

C. 500 CE to 1800 CE (Sample set of ~16 works)

  • Focus:
    • Strong foundations in Mathematics and Astronomy.
    • Continued contributions in these fields, building on earlier work.
    • Development of architecture, technology, and metal working.
  • Architectural Texts: such as Manasara, Mayamata, and Samarangana-sutradhara which also included science and technology
  • Nature: This period is a continuation and consolidation of earlier ideas with improvements.

IV. Historical Narrative

  • The historicity of this literature is all about consolidation of ideas, improvement and moving them forward

V. Uniqueness of Indian Knowledge System

  • All this understanding gives us the insight that Indian Knowledge systems are indeed unique in their own way.

VI. Conclusion

  • IKS has a rich and multifaceted history, as seen in these sample works.
  • The system's unique nature makes appreciation of the literature important.
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