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Ancient Indian Texts

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Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#61

//Ancient India was a land of sages, saints and seers as well as a land of scholars and scientists. Rishis were the sages who built our great culture. They devoted their life, energy and experience for the welfare of people. They wrote Vedas - the manual of vibrations. Following this many field of science evolved in India. // This is typical hindutva propaganda, where they claim that anything and everything originate…

Yup, that link is definitely not propaganda.

Ambedkar was one of the primary drafters of the Indian Constitution - usually not something you entrust to a fount of bias.

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Numerology doesn't exclude calculations. "Root" makes it sound like the purpose of building the very nice step well is to prove a mathemathical point. I'd venture to say its primary purpose had something to do with water. Patterns and repetition is what I see beyond that, which are fairly prevalent in art and architecture exactly because you can get to them by simple experimentation.

> I'd venture to say its primary purpose had something to do with water. Got it. I volunteer to move out of this discussion because you could have as well said that primary purpose of stairs had something to do with going up or down? Most architecture around the world from Eiffel tower to Pyramids to Angkorvat has something to do with proving a point. Usually the point is that 'we have achieved this engineering marve…

That's really not the conclusion you should be getting if you apply (my?) logic.

Of course math is involved. But those things were not built for the sake of math, their "roots" are in their respective functions (building something impressive, something religious, or crossing a bay).

Edit: I just checked your [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam%27s_Bridge reference. You seem to be saying that this geological formation ("transoceanic bridge") is about mathematics too, implying it's man-made. If that's the case, we're playing by different rules of what "logic" means, and our discussion is completely pointless, no offense intended.

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Math has to be at the root of it. Numerology is just as likely of a root.

All right, scepticism taken. Look at these images: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qzhiolzuxsw/UK0HEPH7x4I/AAAAAAAAH8... http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7UIHnAfmH0/UK0Ga-RmigI/AAAAAAAAH5... http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/chand-baori.html http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/chand-baori.html This is just an example. What do you think has higher probability of being used to build this? 1. Math and calculations or 2. Numerol…

Just found out that the Dark Knight (Batman) was shot at Chand Baori (http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/chand-baori.html)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chand_Baori

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#64

I pass no comment on the site, but on assertions here about hindutva as hindu religious propaganda/nationalism. This is incorrect, hindutva does not proscribe or prescribe any religion. Veer Savarkar's pamphlet on which modern notions of hindutva are based on can be read at [1] Sarvakar includes all Indian religions in the term "Hinduism" and outlines his vision of a "Hindu Rashtra" (Hindu Nation) as "Akhand Bharat"…

Please enlighten us on Savarkar's reaction to Ambedkar wanting to convert Dalits away from Hinduism.

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#65
post #40
post #23

You may have picked up on the author's not-so-subtle self-congratulation in the use of the phrase: "our great culture". There is a lot of wonderful material to be absorbed in the ancient texts of India, but the text of that page has a strong Hindu religious nationalist tone (which in Indian languages is called "Hindutva", or "Hindu-ness"). The vast (in time and space), and diverse Indian culture that produced these w…

"our great culture" Do you mean cultural heritage? I wouldn't call the culture so great now with the corruption in politics, etc.

how does politics get to be a part of culture ?

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'd venture to say its primary purpose had something to do with water. Got it. I volunteer to move out of this discussion because you could have as well said that primary purpose of stairs had something to do with going up or down? Most architecture around the world from Eiffel tower to Pyramids to Angkorvat has something to do with proving a point. Usually the point is that 'we have achieved this engineering marve…

That's really not the conclusion you should be getting if you apply (my?) logic. Of course math is involved. But those things were not built for the sake of math, their "roots" are in their respective functions (building something impressive, something religious, or crossing a bay). Edit: I just checked your [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam%27s_Bridge reference. You seem to be saying that this geological formati…

a society where math is common might build such structures without thinking too much about math. like the bridges or dams we build today.

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'd venture to say its primary purpose had something to do with water. Got it. I volunteer to move out of this discussion because you could have as well said that primary purpose of stairs had something to do with going up or down? Most architecture around the world from Eiffel tower to Pyramids to Angkorvat has something to do with proving a point. Usually the point is that 'we have achieved this engineering marve…

That's really not the conclusion you should be getting if you apply (my?) logic. Of course math is involved. But those things were not built for the sake of math, their "roots" are in their respective functions (building something impressive, something religious, or crossing a bay). Edit: I just checked your [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam%27s_Bridge reference. You seem to be saying that this geological formati…

[deleted]

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#68
Indian culture was always inclusive in nature right from its point of origin.but now we only see it becoming exclusive and narrow concentrating only on the Hindu side of the culture.

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'd venture to say its primary purpose had something to do with water. Got it. I volunteer to move out of this discussion because you could have as well said that primary purpose of stairs had something to do with going up or down? Most architecture around the world from Eiffel tower to Pyramids to Angkorvat has something to do with proving a point. Usually the point is that 'we have achieved this engineering marve…

That's really not the conclusion you should be getting if you apply (my?) logic. Of course math is involved. But those things were not built for the sake of math, their "roots" are in their respective functions (building something impressive, something religious, or crossing a bay). Edit: I just checked your [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam%27s_Bridge reference. You seem to be saying that this geological formati…

No offense taken.

Yes, there isn't a proof that the bridge in question is man-made. I deliberately put it up there. GSI claims it 'may be man-made' but it stops at that. Here is something you might want to look at: Search about 'floating rocks of India' (Pumice rocks) that have specific gravity lower than sea water.

Once you dig deep into some of it, read through Ramayana and also dive into history of Sri Lanka, I am sure you'll find something really interesting. That's why in the parent comment I wished someone undertook the journey to capture and record "everything" that needs to be explored of history over there.

Re: Ancient Indian Texts

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The site has a page on "Vimanika shastra"[1] ("Science of Flying Machines"), which is known to be a bullshit text from the 20th century[2]. Definitely a Hindutva site. [1] https://sites.google.com/site/ancientbharat/aeronautics [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaim%C4%81nika_Sh%C4%81stra

>>> Definitely a Hindutva site. And, your point is? That site also has collections about works of legit ancient Indian mathematicians, Vedas etc. So, you are going to disregard them because they're Hindus? If somebody mentions about these things, then they're said to be peddling this so called Hindu propaganda. Now, THAT'S a real propaganda.

It is really pathetic to see how people try to defend their fundamental beliefs without any substance. People are brainwashed to believe that vedic scriptures are full of knowledge (I was a victim too. I used to recite some parts of the scriptures like purusha suktam). In reality, the scriptures are filled with filth like procedures of sacrificial, bestiality and orgy rituals, calls upon gods to slaughter their enemies (who have stolen their herds), etc.

Ambedkar was very diplomatic in his criticisms towards them. Osho was not so kind. See: http://www.osho.com/library/online-library-rigveda-tulsidas-...

You can also see that the site claims that Jyotish is astronomy but it actually means astrology.

Here is the description of Saturn in one of the texts "Parashara Hora Sastra" http://archive.org/stream/ParasharaHoraSastra/BrihatParashar...

29. [Saturn] has an emaciated and long physique, has tawny eyes, is windy in temperament, has big teeth, is indolent and lame and has coarse hair.

What is legit or scientific about it?

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