India’s contributions to science and technology are among the most ancient and influential in the world. In mathematics, the decimal place value system with zero as a numeral, used universally today, owes its origin to India. The science of Ayurveda, which has been practised for millennia in India, is now gaining wider acceptance even as many ancient remedies are turned into modern drugs. Indian astronomical computations, ritual geometry, brick technology and metallurgical innovations have been among the finest achievements in the world of science and technology. This Encyclopaedia of Classical Indian Sciences is an attempt to provide an authentic account of natural science, technology and medicine as practised by Indians and other South Asians. It also includes biographical articles on many ancient Indian scientists, and some articles (polemic in nature) on the history of Indian science and technology, such as the essay on the effects of colonialism. All articles are contributions of acknowledged authorities on their subject drawn from across the world.

Preface
Acknowledgements

Agriculture
Alchemy
Algebra: Bijaganita
Arithmetic: Patiganita
Armillary Spheres
Aryabhata
Astrology
Astronomical Instruments
Astronomy
Astronomy in the Indo-Malay Archipelago
Atomism
Atreya
Bakhshali Manuscript
Baudhayana
Bhaskara I
Bhaskara II
Al-Biruni
Brahmagupta
Bricks
Calculus
Calendars.
Candrasekhara Samanta
Caraka
City Planning
Colonialism and Science
Combinatorics in Indian Mathematics Decimal Notation
Desantara
Devacarya
Dyes
East and West
East and West: India in the Transmission of
Knowledge from East to West
Eclipses
Environment and Nature
Epilepsy
Ethnobotany
Forestry
Geography
Geometry
Gnomon
Haridatta
Irrigation in India and Sri Lanka
Jagannatha Samrat
Jai Singh
Jayadeva
Kamalakara
Knowledge Systems: Local Knowledge
Knowledge Systems
Lalla
Lunar Mansions in Indian Astronomy
Madhava of Sangamagrama
Magic and Science
Magic Squares in Indian Mathematics
Mahadeva
Mahavlra
Mahendra Suri
Makaranda
Maps and Mapmaking
Mathematics
Medical Ethics
Medicine: Ayurveda
Medieval Science and Technology
Metallurgy: Bronzes of South India
Metallurgy: Iron and Steel
Metallurgy: Zinc and its Alloys: Ancient Smelting Technology
Meteorology
Military Technology
Munisvara
Narayana Pandita
Navigation
Number Theory
Observatories
Paksa
Parameswara
Paulisa
Physics
Pi in Indian Mathematics
Precession of the Equinoxes
Putumana Somayaji:
Rainwater Harvesting
Ramanujan
Rationale in Indian Mathematics
Rockets and Rocketry
Salt
Sailkara Variyar
Satananda
Science as a Western Phenomenon
Sexagesimal System
Sphujidhvaja
Sridhara
Sripati
Sulbasutras
Suryasiddhanta
Susruta
Technology and Culture
Textiles
Time
Trigonometry
Vakyakarana
Values and Science
Varahamihira
Vatesvara
Weights and Measures in the Indus Valley
Western Dominance
Wind Power
Yavanesvara
Yoga
Yuktibhasa of Jyesthadeva
Zero
Zij
Zodiac

List of Contributors
Index