Indian Astronomy: From Vedas to Space

[Guest guest]

Indian Astronomy: From Vedas to Space

By Jagdish Wagh

 

It is inborn and instinctive in Satish Nayak, a young dedicated

amateur astronomer to take a deep dip into space through the

application of mind. Interestingly, this Star Gazer is an excellent

coach and does a lively commentary to enthuse the old and the young

alike on mysteries in the skies.

 

Working with the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), Satish ensures

your interest in stars and the study of heavens. When we look at the

sky, we have a conception to infinity, cleanliness and orderliness

and a grandeur, which is purifying for us.

 

Satish stole the limelight when he put up his knowledge exhibits —

"An Astronomy in India — From Vedas to Space" a visual experience of

7000 years of Indian astronomy and the occasion was felicitation of

Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, India's Director General of Council of

Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and a top scientist in the

world today, in the distinguished company of Dr Vijay Bhatkar,

country's leading technocrat and the principal architect of the

Indian Super Computer.

 

What did Satish do? It was not a show of paintings. This was a

chronology with visuals and explanatory notes depicting India's

ancient science which deeply looked into the space over a period of

years. The exhibition provided a detailed account of the Indian space

heritage, a well conceptualised theme with a touch of personal

creativity.

 

Dr Mashelkar, alongwith his close friend, Dr Vijay Bhatkar was

visibly thrilled and wrote in the remarks book: "Such an exhibition

should move around the nation charging the young and the old alike

about our great heritage and instill a sense of pride."

 

And the second pat came from Dr Bhatkar which reads: The most

remarkable depiction of India's timeless heritage in astronomy. This

visual depiction should manifest into permanent exhibition across

India, sharing India's profound contributions to science in general

and astronomy in particular. Satish Nayak, the nation will remain

grateful to for this wonderful creation, Dr Bhatkar added.

 

Now what is the visual experience? The Atharva veda says "Scale the

heights of earth, reach for the effulgent skies, delight in the

divine radiance of the cosmos." Satish covers vedic astronomy

(ancient to 1500 BC). The awesome vedas cover the ideas of our

ancients on creation, its creator, time, stars, sun, earth, seasons

and eclipses. The post-vedic astronomy (1500 BC to 19th century) this

period saw the developments of Vedanga and Siddhanta, and astronomy

became important and governed our day-to-day life from celebrations

of festivals to making of almanacs.

 

Although, Aryabhatta was the emperor of the astronomers, Satish says,

scores of others have contributed to space science right from pre-

vedic Dirghatamas to Dr Jayant Naralikar of our times. Among the

Indian observatories, the most innovative is the Jantar Mantar of

Delhi of the medieval times. We have state of the Art Observatories

covering branches like Observational, Optical, Solar and Radio

Astronomy. The other great luminaries were Varahamihira (505 AD), who

composed enclycolopaedias of scientific knowledge and wrote Made Easy

Manuals.

 

Brahmagupta, 598 AD made contributions on geometrical astronomy,

Kanakah, 775 AD travelled to Baghdad to propagate Indian astronomy.

The golden tradition has continued to modern times with stars like S

Chandrashekhar, Meghanand Saha, Govind Swarup and Vainu Bappu. India

has not lagged behind in the space race. The Indian space technology

today covers manufacture and launching of a galaxy of satellites,

launchers and sounding rockets. The Indian Space Research

Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Space, together are all set

to take India into the deep void of space.

 

For Satish Nayak, the launching pad has been the Association of

Friends of Astronomy and the Public Astronomical Laboratory, the

brain child of Percival Noronha, a former Goa government bureaucrat

and an aging-young activist. The state Governor, Kidar Nath Sahani

has evinced keen interest in the work being done by Satish. It really

augurs well. Ashwini, Satish's wife, a qualified and competent

Montessorian is a part of the space shuttle. And Satish has a silent,

behind the curtain associate dedicated to the cause of star gazing.

He is tall and energetic Govind Potekar.