Mathematics
The science of mathematics starts from counting of numbers. The present versatile system of decimal numbers needed two fundamental discoveries: the concept of zero and the principle of place value in powers of the radix. And both of these were discovered in India. The place value system made the sexagesimal numbers of Babylonians obsolete (its only remains are 1 hour=60 minutes, and 1 minute=60 seconds). And now the Roman numbers are also getting gradually replaced by Arabic numerals on the place value pattern. The present numerals are called Arabic not because they were invented in Arab but because Indian things had to go via Arabian countries to Europe.
Similar to these two concepts, there is a very fundamental concept of infinity. In modern mathematics, infinity has been taken as an infinite extension of large numbers. In India, the concept of infinity was given deep attention in ancient times. It was found that infinity is not just a number but it is as tangible as any reality of general experience, and many of its properties were enumerated. In mathematical language, it can be defined as a universal set which is a proper subset of its every proper subset. Modern mathematics may enrich itself by working out the implications of such a definition of infinity.
Phonetics
Very extensive work was done in the science of phonetics in ancient India, and finer shades of sounds produced in the pronunciation were standardized. The entire Panini’s Shiksha and most of his grammar is phonetics only. However, in the West, the science of phonetics came up only recently. The application of sound recording systems and techniques of observing vocal organs in action through X-rays, have given a good deal of clarity to its concepts. The Indian ancient phonetics can benefit significantly if it employs some modern concepts and terminology. For example, many ancient Acharyas struggle with words to define what is Udatta vowel, and Un-Udatta vowel. Their round- about definitions do not accurately communicate what they intend. Following modern terminology, we can define simply that Udatta is high frequency vowel sound and Un-Udatta is low frequency vowel sound.
Similarly in Shastriya Sangeet, the relations of Saptak and the change of sound from sa to ni can be more clearly explained as ascending frequency in geometric progression; and the various Tals can be described as chrono-patterns of sound pulses with partial symmetry. Such applications of modern scientific terminology, instead of the vague and round-about old descriptions, can simplify the comprehension of this valuable Indian ancient art which also has scientific foundations.
The unification of Indian ancient science of Phonetics with modern information theory and the binary computer logic has led this author to evolve the Phonetic Number System of radix 128 with mono-sound numerals and word-like numbers. Based on this system, a merely six digit self-checking Phonetic Code, pronounced though six soft sound characters, can identify about 6000 crore population, uniquely and perpetually.
Metaphysics and Philosophy
In modern times, the subject of philosophy is considered to be speculation into the unseen and mostly unknown or unknowable. It has very little concern with tangible things of relevance. But in ancient India, philosophy (Darshan) was treated at par with science. Its study was supposed to give clear vision of life and nature as a whole, leading to a more coherent theoretical knowledge and harmonious practical living. The culmination of Indian philosophy is said to be Vedanta. Its sources are Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and the voluminous book Yoga Vasishtha. Vedanta claims to have reached such a high state of unification of nature beyond which no further unification is possible.
In physics, unified theories, with tremendous efforts, have got only partial success in unifying some forces of nature. In this background, it may be asked if the ideal of Vedanta, the highest state of unification, is ever achievable. Such an objection can be circumvented by redefining Vedanta, that it is Asymptote to Knowledge. It describes that most fundamental concept towards which all the basic concepts of various branches of knowledge approach and meet at infinity. But that state of unification can be intuitively grasped in a finite life-span. It is like the asymptote to an open curve which is tangent to the curve at infinity but remains at a finite distance from the origin.
Much of the confusion in Vedanta, employing mostly contradictory statements, can be removed by developing it as an axiomatic theory starting from a single postulate. In respect of its relation with the empirical world, Vedanta is supported by Sankhya. It represents the practical limit of unification in terms of two basic elements: Consciousness (Chetan) and Inertness (Jada). These two concepts make it possible to design binary computerizable models of basic physical or metaphysical entities.
The interrelationship of these concepts has a good deal of analogy with the modern field theory. There is one basic abstract field of the ultimate entity which has two states, consciousness and inertness. These different states behave as two distinguishable entities. Their interplay has dispersed as well as localized aspect. Its dispersed aspect is mind, and the localized aspect is body-consciousness. The system is incessantly dynamic and is represented by repetitions of many processes. Analogous to this is the electromagnetic field which has two kinds of forces: electrical and magnetic. Its dispersed aspect is undulations of wave and localized aspect is photon which is always dynamic. Now arises a question, whether photons have consciousness? However, experiments done in the University of Denver, Colorado, to test this have remained inconclusive.
Life Sciences
According to the Indian ancient science, in the field of consciousness, there are many levels. Every material system,whether apparently living or non-living,is at some level of consciousness. The so- called inanimate matter occupies the lowest level at which there is a very small zero point consciousness. The direction of evolution is towards higher and higher freedom. Its manifestation starts from freedom of movement, and culminates in the freedom of selection of one’s own destiny.
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