Patanjali: ancient scientist
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Astronomy
Anil K Rajvanshi, June 14, 2023: The Times of India
Patanjali was a true scientist, who gave the first knowledge about the control of human thought and mind, and about universal laws that govern time and space. His Yoga Sutras have gems of scientific knowledge buried in them. He also talked about stars.
There are 195 sutras in Patanjali’s book, divided in four sections. Only three sutras in the third section, Vibhuti Pada, are directly connected to stars, that is sutras 3:27-29. And in these very precise sutras, Patanjali talks about space and the movement of planets. There might have been more sutras on stars and planets, but somehow, they have been lost with time.
In Vibhuti Pada, sutra 3:27, Patanjali says that by doing Sanyam on sun, one obtains knowledge of the Universe and Akash, celestial spaces. Sanyam, according to Patanjali, is a combination of focus, contemplation, and samadhi. The verse presents an interesting concept, since the focus of Akash is far removed from the life-giving rays of the sun, which come in various frequencies. Besides, the sun also emits other cosmic rays and particles. Maybe Patanjali conjectured that the knowledge of the sun and how it produces energy may tell us everything about atomic energy, plasma physics, gravity, and other deep sciences and, hence, the focus on the Universe in this sutra.
It can also be conjectured that he may have meant space-time continuum or gravity, since what pervades in all space is gravity and if sanyam is done on the sun, the greatest gravity source in our solar system, then we may understand space-time continuum, or the nature of gravity.
In Indian mythology, the sun occupies an important place. Quite many temples are dedicated to Sun God. Rig Ved also has many hymns about the sun and Usha, dawn. Both play an important role in the Vedic system. Interestingly, the Gayatri Mantra, one of the oldest and the most revered mantras from the Rig Ved, is about the homage to the mighty sun that lights up the celestial spaces and the disciple prays that it should illuminate her intellect with its effulgence.
After all, the whole life on this planet earth came because of solar energy, and it is but natural that the ancient rishis worshipped and thought deeply about the sun. But this deep sutra of Patanjali about how space-time continuum can beunderstood by doing sanyam on sun is a remarkable testimony to the scientific understanding of Sage Patanjali. He also talks about the moon in verse 3:28 and says that by doing sanyam on moon, a yogi gets knowledge of the arrangement of planets. Newton discovered gravity by thinking how the moon goes around the earth, and the falling apple from the tree gave him the idea of gravity and about the motion of planets.
Similarly, Patanjali talks about the Pole star, verse 3:29, and says that sanyam on it will help a yogi understand the movement of all stars and planets. The Pole star through ages has been used not only for navigation on this planet earth but also to map the skies. It is unbelievable that in three short sutras Patanjali talks about the Universe, celestial space, and movement of planets and this was much before the time of Socrates, Plato, Copernicus, and Newton.
See also
Adi Shankara/ Sankar(a) (ancient philosopher)
Indian Philosophy: Mîmâmsâ Philosophy
Indian: Philosophy: The Kapila And The Pâtañjala Samkhya (Yoga)
