Zero to Gravity: The Ancient Indian Roots of Modern Science.
Explore the 108 foundational concepts across mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and engineering..
PART 1: THE ROOTS OF MATHEMATICS
The Chakravala Method of Cycles – Solving the Monstrous Equations
The Concept The Chakravala approach is used to solve indeterminate quadratic equations, such as $Nx^2 + 1 = y^2$. These [...]
Permutations & Combinations – The Arithmetic of Choice
The Concept This is the arithmetic that determines how many possibilities exist. How many 3-scoop combinations can you make with [...]
Pascal’s Triangle (Meru Prastara) – The Staircase of Combinations
The Concept In this triangular array of integers, each number is the sum of the two directly above it. It [...]
Negative Numbers (Rina) – The Mathematics of Debt
The Concept Negative numbers (-1, -5, and -10) are less than zero. They are useful for demonstrating debt, temperatures below [...]
The concept of infinity (Ananta) – Embracing the Endless
The Concept Infinity indicates that a number has no end. It is a means to understand the limitations of mathematics [...]
Quadratic Equations – The Color-Coded Math
The Concept Solving a quadratic equation ($ax^2 + bx + c = 0$) is necessary for determining the trajectory of [...]
PART II: THE ROOTS OF ASTRONOMY AND COSMOLOGY
Multiple Suns (Solar Systems) – The Multiverse of the Puranas
The Concept There are other stars, such as our Sun. Other stars in the cosmos are Suns and may have [...]
The Epicyclic Model (Manda and Shighra) – The Fluid Circles of Planetary Motion
The Concept The Surya Siddhanta uses epicycles (circles that travel on circles) instead of ellipses to explain why planets accelerate [...]
Latitude and Longitude (Deshantara) – The Global Grid of Antiquity
The Concept To create an Earth map, you'll need a grid: Longitude (East-West) and latitude (North-South). The Story Imagine trying [...]
Planetary Latitude (Vikshepa) – The 3D Dance of the Planets
The Concept Planets do not move in a straight line; rather, they move upward and downward. The Surya Siddhanta calculates [...]
Meteors vs. Stars (Ulka) – Decoding the Falling Stones
The Concept Stars are Suns that are located far away. Meteors, sometimes known as ‘shooting stars’, are rocks that burn [...]
Finding True North: The Gnomon – The Shadow Circle Geometry
The Concept To orient a temple or observatory in the appropriate direction, use True North rather than Magnetic North. The [...]
PART III: THE ROOTS OF PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
Indigo Dye (The Colour of India) – Weaving the Blue Gold
The Concept Natural dyes usually fade or wash off. Indigo (Neela) is a unique organic compound that requires a complex [...]
Rust-Proof Iron (The Delhi Pillar) – The Masterpiece of Corrosion Science
The Concept Iron rusts. Iron degrades when it comes in contact with air and moisture. To prevent this from happening, [...]
Wootz Steel (The Legendary Metal) – The Ancient Nanotechnology
The Concept Steel is iron with a small amount of carbon added. If there is insufficient carbon, it is soft; [...]
Zinc Distillation (The Metal that Evaporates) – Catching the Trickster Metal
The Concept Zinc is a tricky metal. When you heat zinc ore to melt it, the metal turns into gas [...]
Causality (Karya–Karana Bhava) – Where There is Smoke, There is Fire
The Concept There is a cause for every outcome. Things do not happen by coincidence; there is a chain of [...]
Standardised Measurement (Angula) – The Blueprint of Civilization
The Concept Standardisation is the key to civilisation. Engineering cannot function unless everyone uses the same ruler. The Story In [...]
PART IV: THE ROOTS OF LIFE SCIENCES AND MEDICINE
Circulation of Blood (Rakta Dhatu) – The Continuous Wheel of Life
The Concept Blood is always moving; it flows from the heart to each cell and back again. It carries nutrients [...]
Inoculation (Vaccination) – The Early Science of Immunity
The Concept Vaccination is based on the idea that giving a healthy person a small, weak dose of a disease [...]
Cataract Surgery – Clearing the Clouded Vision
The Concept A cataract develops when the eye's natural lens becomes obscured, which can cause blindness. Surgery can either push [...]
Plastic Surgery (Rhinoplasty) – The Indian Flap Technique
The Concept Plastic surgery is the practice of reconstructing body parts. Rhinoplasty (nose repair) involves taking a skin flap from [...]
PART V: THE ROOTS OF ENGINEERING AND CIVILISATION
Suspension Bridges – Swinging from the Sky
The Concept A bridge that swings from cables rather than pillars allows it to cross deep gorges where pillars cannot [...]
Hydraulic Engineering (The Grand Anicut) – Taming the Shifting Sands
The Concept Engineers face difficulties when building a dam on a sandy riverbank because the sand drifts and damages the [...]
Stone Lathes (Turning Granite) – Machining the Hardest Rock
The Concept A lathe rotates a workpiece while a stationary tool cuts it, producing objects that are perfectly round or [...]
Fractal Architecture – The Geometry of the Infinite
The Concept A fractal is a pattern that repeats itself on smaller and smaller scales; it is ‘Self-Similar’. Nature uses [...]
Ice Making (Ancient Cryogenics) – Freezing the Summer Night
The Concept By applying ‘Radiative Cooling’ to the dark night sky, you can create ice even when the ambient temperature [...]
Precision Drilling (The Diamond Drill) – Mastering the Micro-Bead
The Concept To drill a hole in a stone, you will need a substance tougher than the stone itself, such [...]
