INDIAN TECHNOLOGICAL HERITAGE

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INDIAN TECHNOLOGICAL HERITAGE

Technology of  Glass and Ceramics

 

 

USE OF  GLASS AS   PART OF INSTRUMENTS

 

Selective quotations and descriptions are given below to show that  tailor made

glasses and glass instrument parts were made in India for specific purposes. 

Bhardvaja’s Vymanika thanthra is a unique compilation of the description about

the  components used for many instruments.  Another important  tool noted is

the Bharadvaaja’s dvantha pramapaka yanthra, which is spectrophotometer, said

to be used for measuring the ultra violet , infra red, visible  and heat rays

..  Detailed  study  has  been carried out on this instrument even by 

fabricating the same.

 

The above instrument is described in the Yanthra sarvasva book of Maharshi   

Bharadvaaja, as  the 109th instrument   ‘which is the dvaantha pramaapaka

yanthra used for measuring the intensity of the UV, IR, visible  and heat

radiations’.

 

Dhvaantha pramaapakam yanthram navotthara sathaathmakam .  Dvaathrimsathanga

samyuktham  thamobheda pradarsakam.  Uktham hi   yanthra sarvasve  

Bharadvaajena dheemathaa.  Thasya thrayodasaangena pramaathum tamaso

bhaveth......

 

The dvaantha pramaapaka yanthra is the 109th instrument having 32 components

which can split and analyse the tamas  (invisible radiations).  This instrument

is described by the genius sage Bharadvaaja in the Yanthra sarvasva.  Using the

13 component of this instrument the radiations  can be measured.

 

In this instrument a variety of  glass rods , varying in  length, diameter and 

hight are used as the  important parts for fixing the  components.  The

dimensions of the  glass rods are thus explained:

 

Chathurangulamaayamam shadvithasthyunnatham thathaa.  Itharaangaissamahrutha

vidyut thanthryaadibhiryutham.  Svamaddhyaadantha paryantham

vithasthyekaantharam yathaa.   Randhra thrayena samyuktham

silaakaachavinirmitham. Merusthambhaakhya sankum thanmaddhye samsthaapayeth.

 

A central pillar made of glass known as the merusthambha having 4 angula ( ~6.5

cms) diameter and 6 vitasthi height  with electrical wiring is fixed on the

base plate.  This pillar has three holes at a distance of 1 vithasthi  each

from the centre to the top.  The height of the first hole from the bottom is

about 3 vithasthi  and above that each hole is 1 vithasthi apart.

 

Further description given is as follows:  

Paschath thrutheeya randhrasya paarsvayorubhayorapi. Drudam dasaangulaayaamam

kramaath shashtyangulonnatham............

 

After that, on the either side of the third hole of the cental pillar, two glass

rods are fixed.  The height of each rod is   60 angula and diameter is 10

angula........

 

Further, in the instrument it is explained that sets of pulleys are fixed on the

bottom of the glass rods:

 

........thathaa sandhaarayettheshu dandaani threeni yathaakramam. Poorvoktha

thanthribhiyuktha chakrakeelaanyathaavidhi. Dandaanam mooladese sandaarayeth

parsvayo: kramaath

 

.........on the foot of these glass rods, as mentioned earlier, suitable pulleys

with strings   are fixed.....

 

The archeological evidences on the production of variety of glasses from

different part of India and the literature evidences on the use   glass  as

important parts of the instruments gives us the supporting data to understand 

that India was in forefront in the production and utilisation of  glass in

ancient days, as it is in modern period.  An in-depth study may reveal more

information on  novel composition, product  and use of glass existed in India,

which might even  be unknown to the  modern scientists and glass manufactures !

 

         To be continued…

 

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our duty, privilege and responsibility to learn,teach and spread our Heritage.

 

Compiled by

Indian Institute of  Scientific Heritage

Ushus, Estate Road, Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 018, Kerala,India.

Ph. 0471-490149, www.iish.org