Top 10 Ancient Indian Scientists & Their Contribution

By Nida Naaz Sat, 13 May 2023

The Indian science tradition is one of the world's oldest scientific traditions. Science rose to prominence in India around five thousand years ago. The evidence from the Indus Valley excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro reveals the people's scientific vision and use of scientific instruments. Discoveries made in the fields of astronomy and mathematics made a significant contribution to medical science in ancient times. Their discoveries are still being used in some capacity.

  1. Charaka

 

Charaka was a major contributor to Ayurveda, a medical and lifestyle system developed in Ancient India. He is best known as the compiler or editor of the medical treatise Charaka Samhita. Charaka has been identified as a Kashmiri. The treatise compiled by Charaka is considered one of the foundational treatises of classical Indian medicine and is one of the Brihat-Trayee (the Greatest - trio) of Ayurveda.

  1. Aryabhata

 

Aryabhata was the first major mathematician-astronomer from the classical period of Indian mathematics and astronomy. His works include the Aryabhatya (which states that he was 23 years old in 3600 Kali Yuga, 499 CE) and the Arya-siddhanta. He also qualifies as a major early physicist due to his explicit mention of the relativity of motion.

  1. Sushruta

Sushruta, or Suruta, was an ancient Indian physician who wrote the treatise The Compendium of Suruta. The Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic text, depicts him as Vishvamitra's son, which corresponds to the current recension of Sushruta Samhita. According to Kunjalal Bhisagratna, it is reasonable to assume that Sushruta was the name of the clan to which Vishvamitra belonged. He is one of several people referred to as the "Father of Surgery" and "Father of Plastic Surgery."The Sushruta Samhita is a foundational text of Ayurveda and one of the most important surviving ancient treatises on medicine. The treatise covers all aspects of general medicine, but the translator G. D. Singhal dubbed Suruta "the father of surgery" on the basis of his translation.

  1. Varahamihira

 

Varahamihira was a Gupta Empire-era Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer. He is best known for his contributions to trigonometry and the study of planetary motion and eclipses.

 He is credited with several important astronomical works, including the Pancha Siddhantika, which describes the five major astronomical systems of the time. He is also known for his contributions to mathematical astronomy, such as calculating eclipse times and forecasting future celestial events.

  1. Brahmagupta

Brahmagupta, who was born in 598 CE, was an Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived during the Gupta Empire, which ruled India from the 4th to the 6th centuries.

 He is regarded as one of ancient India's most important mathematicians and astronomers, and he made significant contributions to the study of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Brahmagupta's work on the concept of zero was one of his most notable contributions. He is credited with being the first person to recognize zero as a number in and of itself, rather than just a placeholder.

  1. Panini

Panini, the father of linguistics, was an ancient Indian linguist and grammarian. He lived in the Indian subcontinent during the 4th or 5th century BCE and is known for his work on the Sanskrit language, including the creation of the language's first known grammar, the Ashtadhyayi.His work on the Sanskrit language was one of Panini's most notable contributions to the field of linguistics.

 He is credited with developing the language's first known grammar, which was a comprehensive and systematic description of its structure and rules. Linguists still study and refer to this grammar, known as the Ashtadhyayi. Panini's work on the Sanskrit language had far-reaching implications for the study of linguistics in general.

  1. Patanjali

Patanjali was an Indian philosopher and yogi best known for his contributions to yoga and the Hindu spiritual tradition. He lived in the Indian subcontinent in the second or third century BC and is credited with writing the Yoga Sutras, a key text on yoga practise. Patanjali's work on yoga was one of his most notable contributions to philosophy. He is credited with authoring the Yoga Sutras, a text that outlines yoga's principles and practises. The Yoga Sutras are still studied and referenced by yogis and spiritual seekers today and are regarded as a primary source of information on yoga practise.

  1. Bhaskara II

Bhaskara II was an Indian mathematician and astronomer who contributed significantly to the fields of calculus, trigonometry, and algebra. He was born in Vijjadavida in 1114 and is best known for his work on the concept of infinitesimals and his approximation of the value of pi. Bhaskara's work on calculus was one of his most notable contributions to the field of mathematics. He is credited with being the first to develop the derivative concept, which is a fundamental tool in the study of calculus.

  1. Pingala

Pingala was a linguist and mathematician from India who made significant contributions to the study of binary numbers and the concept of code-based languages. He lived in the Indian subcontinent in the second or third centuries BC and is credited with developing the first known binary numeral system.Pingala's work on binary numbers was one of his most notable contributions to mathematics. He is credited with developing the first system of representing numbers with only two digits: 0 and 1. This system, known as the binary numeral system, is at the heart of modern computing and technology. Pingala is well-known for his contributions to the study of binary numbers, in addition to his work on binary numbers.

  1. Kannada

Kanada was a philosopher and scientist from India who is regarded as the founder of the Vaisheshika school of Indian philosophy. Kashy, his real name, was born in modern-day Gujarat. He lived in India in the sixth or seventh centuries BC and is best known for his contributions to atomic theory and the principles of matter and motion. His work on atomic theory was one of Kanada's most notable contributions to science. He is credited with being the first to propose atoms as the fundamental building blocks of matter. He proposed that all matter was made up of atoms, and that the characteristics and properties of these atoms determined the properties of the substances they formed.