Engineering Philosophy of Ancient India

Engineering Philosophy of Ancient India A compendium of articles by Late G. G. Joshi

Translated & edited by Dr. A.S. Nene

Prologue Part A-Introduction A01-Life sketch sketch of G.G. Joshi A02-Planned but unpublished book of G.G. Joshi Part B- Mile ston stones es B01-Shilpakalanidhi-Ra B01-Shilp akalanidhi-Raoshaheb oshaheb K. K.V V.Vaz Vaze e B02-Shilpashatra B02-Shilp ashatra Terminology of K. K.V V. Vaz Vaze e B03-- Dr B03 Dr.. Achary Acharya a and his his contr contribu ibutio tion n

Part C- Ten branc branches hes of Enginee Engineering ring C01-Krushi C01-K rushishast shastrara- Biolo Biological gical Scie Sciences nces C02-Jalashastra-Water resource Engineering C03-Khanishastra-Mining and Metallurgy C04-Water & Surface Transportation Engineering C05-Ratha C05-R atha ShastaShasta- Surfa Surface ce Transportatio Transportationn Engineering Engineering C06-Vimanshastra-Air / Space Transportation Engineering C07-Vastushashtra-Habitations C08-Prakars C08-P rakarshastra hastra- Ancien Ancientt Warfa Warfare re C09-Na C09 -Nagar gar Rachana Rachana- Tow Townn pla plannin nningg C10-Yantrashastra-Machine & Mechanisms

Partt DPar D- Lib Librar rary y Sourc Sources es D01-Tanjore from Shilpashastra point of view D02-Adyar Library Chennai D03-Sources for procuring Shilpashastra Books D04D04 - Lis Listt of Sanskr Sanskrit it books books D05-Modern References D06-Index of Narada Shilpashastra D07-Exhibition of Shilpashastra literature

Partt EPar E- Gen Genera erall Articl Articles es E01-Na E01 -Narad radaa- A divine divine Enginee Engineerr E02-Scientific Attitude of ancient India E03-Extent E03-E xtent of Indian Indian Shilpash Shilpashastra astra as per per Bhrugu Samh Samhita ita E04-Vishvakarma Sect and its followers E05-Shilpashastra Preachers of ancient India Part Pa rt F- Ann Annex exur ure e F01F01 - Ski Skills lls of Shilp Shilpash ashast astra ra F02- Follow F02Followers ers of G.G. G.G. Joshi Joshi F03F03 - Lib Librar raries ies and Book Book Selle Sellers rs F04F04 - Sam Sample ple hand handwri writin tingg

Prologue

•Shilpashastra - The engineering Philosophy related to a

particular subject comprising different techniques skills or arts. •Shilpasamhita –A compilation of rules and procedure related to

a partic icuular science. •Vidya –A techniques related to creation or execution of a

Shilpa. •Kala - An art or skill acquired by practice and experience.

Even a blind of deaf person can master any particular skill.

Chronology of References Text (B.C.) VedasVed as- 150 15000 00 to 1000 10000 0 B.C. B.C. Pura Pu rana nass - 10 1000 000 0 to 50 5000 00 B. B.C. C. BrihatBri hat-Sam Samhita hita- 500 5000 0 B.C. B.C.

Text

Hayash Hay ashirs irshap hapanc anchar haratr atra a 4th Century Samara Sam aranga ngana na Sut Sutrad radhar hara11 a11th Century Aparajitprichha – 12th Century

Mahabh Mah abhara aratata- 300 3000 0 B.C B.C..

Mana Ma naso soll lla as- 11 1131 31 A.D .D..

Shatap Sha tapath athbra bramha mhanana- 150 1500 0 B.C.

Shuusr Sh srut utaa- 12th Century

Krushi Kru shipar parash asharar- 130 1300 0 B.C. B.C. Shilpashashtra-800 to 200 B.C. Arthshashtra-300 B.C. Amarkosha-300 B.C.

(A.D.)

Ratna Ra tnasa samu much chch chya ya- 13th Century Mana Ma nasa sara ra- 13th Century Tantra Tan trasam samucc uccaya aya-142 -1428 8 A.D A.D.. Shilpadipak-15h Century Rajjvallabha Ra ha- 1433- 1468 A.D.

Shilpashastra Journey

•1833- A thesis entitled as  “Essay  on architecture of the  Hindus”  by

Ramaraja, was submitted to Royal Asiatic Society of London. •1876 - Rev. J.E. Kornas translated a Sanskrit text “Mayamat Shilpashastra”. •1920- Madras manuscript library was established. •1900-

A.V.Tyagraj Ayyar

compiled a

book entitled   “Indian

architecture or the Shilpashastra of  India” •1927- Dr Prasanna kumar Acharya compiled 3000 pages encyclopedia

named as “Manasara -an encyclopedia of Hindu architecture. Six more books were added by him to the Manasara series.

Shilpashastra Journey

•19 1930 30-1 -195 9500-Ma Many ny an anci cien entt te text xtss we were re ed edit ited ed an and d pu publ blis ishe hed. d. T. T.Ga Gana napa pati ti

Sthapati, Dr. Dixitar, Dr.Raghawan, Dr.Madayya,  Raosaheb K.V.Vaze and Shri G.G.Joshi are few prominent names. Of editors. editors. •1950-2000-

Publishing

houses

such

as

Chaukhaba

Series,

Motilal

Bana Ba nara rasi sida das, s,Ta Tanj njor ore e Sa Sara rasw swat atii Ma Maha hall li libr brar ary, y, Ja Jaga gann nnat ath h Ja Jagu gust ste e et etcc published low cost books in regional languages. •2000 onwards- Government of India formed Digital libraries in different

parts of the country. Rest of the world is again attracted towards this subject.

A01-Life sketch of G.G. Joshi

1911 19 11 - 19 1992 92

Shri Gopal Gajanan Joshi- A Researcher, Guide and Curator of vast literature on Shilpashastra

Diploma of Civil engineering from Government Polytechnic Nagpur in 1933

•

Joined Public Works Department .

•

Came Ca me int intoo cont contac actt of Shr Shrii K. V. V. Vaze Vaze of Nas Nasik ik..

•

Decide Dec ided d to follo follow w Shri Shri Vaz Vaze e and to to finish finish his inco incompl mplete ete work work of

•

procurement of complete literature on Shilpashastra, After 50 years of untiring efforts he collected more than 5000 references

•

. Wrote many technical articles on Shilpashastra and these were published mostly in a weekly journal “Shilpasansar” , during 1955 -1957.

He arranged seven exhibitions of his rare collection at 5 cities.

•

•

His few followers formed a private trust named as “G.G. Joshi memorial

Shil Sh ilpa pa Sa Sans nshod hodha hann trust”.

A02-The planned but unpublished book by late Joshi Late G.G. Joshi wanted to acquaint young students about   “Ancient   Indian   Engineering”. In 1964 he planned to write a comprehensive Hindi book on this subject. Due to some reasons he could not complete the work. He gave a copy of introductory remarks and contents of his proposed book to the editor of this compendium. compendium.

B01-Life B01-Li fe and and Work Work of Shilpa Shilpakalanid kalanidhi hi Vaze

16/12/ 1869 – 31/2/1929

Obtained L.C.E. degree in 1891

•

Published 7 Marathi books on Religion

•

Published many articles in various daily newspapers,

•

magazines and gave lectures.

Vaze’s

contribution to Bhara Bharatiya tiya Shilpashastr Shilpashastra a

1. Sh Shiilp lpa a Sh Shk ksh shy yaN aNa ach che e Mah aha atv tva a (Ma Marrath thi) i).. 2. Pr Pra ach chin inHi Hin ndi Sh Shil ilpa pash shas astr tra asa sarr . 3. Kas ash hyap apas ash hil ilpa pam m (S (Sa ans nskr krit it). ). 4. Pr Prac achi hin n Hi Hind ndii Sh Shil ilpa pash sha atr traa-P Par artt-1. 1. 5. Ar Ary yas ashi hilp lpa a Yan antr tras asha hast strra. 6. Ary rya ash shil ilpa pa Vastu tush sha astr tra. a. 7. Aryashilpa Chitravidya . 8. Ar Ary yas ashi hilp lpa a Dh Dhan anuv uvid idy yaa-(M (Mar ara ath thi) i).. 9. Pr Prac achi hin n Hi Hind ndii Yud uddh dha avi vidy dya( a(Ma Marrat athi hi). ). 10. Pr Prachin achin Hindi Shilpa Shilpashas shastr tra a Part Part 4.

B03-Shilpashatra Terminology of K.V. Vaze

Vaze gave English meaning of more than 200 Sanskrit technical words frequently used in Shil Sh ilpa pash shas astr tra a te text xtss .

B04-Work B04-Wo rk of Dr.Prasa Dr.Prasanna nna Kumar Acharya

Dr. P.K. Acharya devoted over forty years of his life



to co comp mpil ile e a det etai aile led d an and d cr crit itic ical al st stuudy of an anci cien entt Indian engineering works and literature. He wrote seven volumes to explain and expound



“Manasara Vastushatra”  by means of a literal English

tran tr ansl slat atio ion, n, di diag agra rams ms,, pl plan ans, s, col color ored ed pl plate ates, s, gl glos ossa sary ry and

historical

continents.

evidence

Considered

spread as

the

reference on India Architecture.

over

different

most

important

Part CC- Ten branche branches s of Engineer Engineering ing Articles by Joshi on following branches branches

C01-Krushishastra- Biological Sciences C02-Jalashastra-Water resource Engineering C03-Khanishastra-Mining and Metallurgy C04-Naukashastra-Water Transportation Engineering C05-Ratha Shasta- Surface Transportation Engineering C06-Vimanshastra-Air / Space Transportation Engineering C07-Vastushashtra-Habitations C08-Prakarshastra- Ancient Warfare C09-Nagar Rachana- Town planning C10-Yantrashastra-Machine & Mechanisms

D01-Tanjore D01-Ta njore from from Shilpasha Shilpashatra tra poin pointt of view

Tanj njor ore e Sa Sara rasv svat atii Ma Maha hall Li Libr brar ary y

The world famous Saraswati Mahal library was established by King

•

Serfoji in 1856. The Library was started as a Royal Palace Library (1535-1673 A. D.)

•

In 19 1983 83,, th the e Li Libr brar aryy wa wass de decl clar ared ed as an In Inst stit itut utio ionn of Na Nati tion onal al

•

Importance. Out of 46,695 manuscripts 39,300 manuscripts belong to Sanskrit

•

language.

D02D0 2- Ad Adya yar r Li Libr brar ary y Chenn Chennai ai Tami Tamiln lnad adu u The first British officer, who took keen interest in setting up manuscript libraries, was Col. Mackenzie who was an engineer. Language English

Handwritten

Printed -

2700

34044

3067

Tamil

5790

1309

Telgu

4683

7 88 78

Kannad

2503

333

Malyalam

324

102

Urdu

835

60

1000

1000

Sanskrit

Marathi etc

D03-Sanskrit Literature on Architecture and Allied Subjects

Joshi compiled a list of 805 references from following main sources . •Contribution to a bibliography of Indian Arts and

Architecture by Haridas Mitra. •Dictionary of Hindu Architecture by P.K.Acharya. •Study in Vastu-Vidya by Tarapada Bhattacharya. •Hindi Shilpashastra (Marathi) Part 1 by K.V.Vaze

D04-Sources for procuring Shilpashast S hilpashastra ra Books

•

1.Trivendr 1.Trive ndram am San Sanskr skrit it Series Series,, 2.Oriental research institute Mysore, 3.Madras Govt. oriental series, Triplicane,Chennai. 4.Calcutta 4.Calcu tta Ori Orient ental al Boo Bookk ser series ies,, Panc Panchan hanan an Gho Ghosh sh lan lane, e, Kol Kolkat kata a 5.V.Ram 5.V.R amas aswa wami mi Sh Shas astra tralu lu & Sons Sons,V ,Vav avil illa la pr pres ess, s, Chen Chenna naii 6.Nagarii Pra 6.Nagar Pracha chariN riNiSa iSabha bha Ban Banara arass (De (Devv Pri Prize ze Se Serie ries) s) Bana Banares res 7.G.A.N 7.G.A .Nat ates esan an & Co, Co, Ex Expl plen ened ede e Ch Chen enna naii 8.Bharga 8.Bha rgava va Pu Pust stak akal alay aya, a, Ga Gaya yagh ghat at Ba Bana nare ress 9.NirNayas 9.NirNa yasaga agarr Pre Press, ss, 2626-27 27 Kolb Kolbhat hat str street eet,, Mumba Mumbaii 2 10.Choukham 10.Cho ukhamba ba Sansk Sanskrit rit Series Series,, Banaras, Banaras, 37 11.Gaikwad 11.Gai kwad Orient Oriental al Serie Series, s, Vadodar Vadodara, a, 12.S 12 .Say ayaji aji Sa Sahi hity tyam amal ala a Va Vado doda dara ra 13.Maha 13.M ahadev dev Ram Ramach achand andra ra Jag Jagust uste,B e,Book ooksel seller, ler,Aha Ahamad madaba abad d

D05-Modern References

Urdu Books-21

•

English Books-100

•

English Journals-10

•

Bengali Books-16

•

Marathi Books -15

•

D06-Narad shilpshastra

83 Sanskrit titles of chapters in the text related to engineering.

E01-Nara E01Naradd- The Shilp Shilpasha ashastra stra Preach Preacher er

•Narada is one of these eighteen divine engineers. •Narada has compiled a book on Music (Sangitshastra) and a

book NaradaSamhita on Shilpashastra. •Narada Shilpashastra is a rare Sanskrit text on

Shilpashastra. •Narada Samhita (1937) – a text on Astrology, •NaradPuraN •NaradNiti –  A book on policy •31 books are contributed by Narada.

E02-Science Worship in Ancient India

•

Joshi describes following aspect s of India’s Contribution

1-Gaint Hindu Tank near Kodaturu.TN 2-River Bhagirathi or a Man made Canal 3-Strategic importance of Ganga Canal 4-Town Planning of Kanjivaram-Unique in the world 5-Wizards of paintings-Cave Paintings of Ajanta

E03  – Extent Extent of Indian Shilpashastra as per Bhrugusamhita

Joshi explains the extent of Shilpashastra

Three volumes of Shilpashastra

•

Ten sub parts – Shast Shastras ras (S (Scie cience nces) s)

•

32 Techniques-Vidy Techniques-Vidyas as

•

64 Arts-Kalas

•

E04E0 4- Vis Vishw hwaka akarm rma a Sec Sectt and its fol follow lowers ers Vishvakarma is worshiped in India as a divine d ivine Engineer

•Mythological and traditional information about Vishvakarma •Descendents of Vishvakarma •Shilpashastra texts attributed to Vishvakarma •Vishvakarma One or More? •Conclusions of modern research on Vishvakarma

E05-- Shi E05 Shilpas lpashast hastra ra Preachers Preachers of ancient ancient India India 1. Aniruddha –  AniruddhaShilp  AniruddhaShilpa a 2. Atri- AtriSamhita, Atreta Shilpa , Atreyatilakam 3. Aushana nass- Aushanasshilpa , Aushanas Dhanurveda 4. Bh Bha ara radw dwaj ajaa- Bharadwaja-Shilpa,  Bharadwaja-Shilpa, BharadwajaDhanurveda,Bharadwaja- Arthashastra 5. Bhaskara-  Bhaskariyashilpa 6. Bh Bhoj oja a (K (Kin ingg of of Bho Bhopa pal) l) -   SamaranganaSutradhar 7. Bhrugu- Brugushilpasamhita, Bhrugumat 8. Bramha- Bramhiyashilpa , Bramhiyachitrakarmashastra 9. Bruhaspati -  Bruhaspatishastra, Bruhaspatiyam, BruhaspatiArthashastra 10.Chitrakarma –  ChitrakarmaShilpa

 FeruthakkarVastu 11.Feruthakkar- FeruthakkarVastu 11.Feruthakkar12.Hanumant- HanumatShilpa 12.Hanumant HanumatShilpa 13.Ishaan – IshaanShilpa, Ishaanshivgurudevpaddhati 14.KauNapdant- KauNapdant 14.KauNapdant KauNapdant Arthashastra 15.Kautilya- Kautilyiya 15.Kautilya Kautilyiya Arthashastra 16.Kumara –  Kumarashilpa, Kumaragama, Shilparatnam 17.Manasar- Manasaar 17.Manasar Manasaar 18.Mandan- VastuMandan, 18.Mandan VastuMandan, Kodandamandan, Vasturajvallabha, Prasadmandan, Roopamandan 19.Manu - Manutantra, Manusaar, Manusmruti, Manavsutra. 20.Ma 20 .Mark rkan ande deya ya - Markandeyashilpa

21.Munimaya- Mayamatam 21.Munimaya Mayamatam , Mayashastram ,Mayadipika, MayaSangraha, Mayamaya,Mayavidya, Mayaratnam 22.Na 22 .Nagn gnaj ajee eett - Nagnajeetshilpa, NagnajeetChitralakshyaN  Nalatantra, NalapakdarpaN 23.Nala- Nalatantra, 23.Nala24.Narada - Naradashilpa, -  Naradashilpa, Naradiya, Naradanitishastra* 25.PaNini –  PaNiniShilpa 26.Prabodha- PrabodhaShilpa, 26.Prabodha PrabodhaShilpa, Prayoga- PrayogaShilpa, 27.Prajapati – Prajapatishilpa 28.Prashuddha –PrashuddhaShilpa 29.Rhushimaya- RhushimayaShilpa 29.Rhushimaya RhushimayaShilpa 30.Rudrayamal –RudrayamalVastu

31.Sanatkumar- Sanatkumar 31.Sanatkumar Sanatkumar Vastushastra, SanatkumarGruhashilpa 32.Saraswata- SaraswataShilpa, 32.Saraswata SaraswataShilpa, Saraswatiyachitrakarmashastra 33.Shatrughna- Shatrughna 33.Shatrughna Shatrughna Shilpa 34.Shounaka – Shounakashilpa 35.Sukhanand- SukhanandVastu 35.Sukhanand SukhanandVastu 36.Twashtra- Twashtratantra 36.Twashtra Twashtratantra 37.Vajra- Vajrashilpa 37.Vajra Vajrashilpa 38.Valmika- Valmikashilpa 38.Valmika Valmikashilpa 39.Vashishtha- VashishthaShilpa 39.Vashishtha VashishthaShilpa 40.Vasudeva –  VasudevaShilpa

41.Vishalakshya-Vishalakshya 41.VishalakshyaVishalakshya Arthashastra 42.Vishva – Vishvashilpa 43.Vishvakarma-VishvakarmaPrakashshvakarmaVastushastra 43.VishvakarmaVishvakarmaPrakashshvakarmaVastushastra 44.Vishvambhar-VishvambharVastu 44.Vishvambhar -VishvambharVastu 45.Vishvamitra- Vishvamitrashilpa, 45.Vishvamitra Vishvamitrashilpa, VishvamitraDhanurveda 46.Wasudev- Wasudev 46.Wasudev Wasudev Vastushastra 47.Yama- Yamashilpa 47.Yama Yamashilpa

Annexure

F01-64 Skills of Shilpashastra Skills as per Jayamangal

•

Skills As per Shukracharya

•

F02-List of followers of Late G. G. Joshi F03-List of Library Sources in India F04-List of Book Sellers in India F06F06 - Sa Sampl mple e of Han Handwr dwriti iting ng of of G.G. G.G.

About the Editor of this book Dr. A.S. Nene •Professor & Dean (Retd), VNIT Nagpur, Geotechnical Consultant. •Recipient of Khosla Memorial Award (1987) by Roorkee University . •Nominated member of Tech. Committee TC-19 of International Society

of Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering ISSMFE on "Preservation of Historical Sites" •Re Rese sear arch ch

Topi To pics cs::

Anch An chor or

foun fo unda dati tion ons, s,

Geos Ge osyn ynth thet etic ics, s,

Soft So ftwa ware re

development, Mnemonics and Shilpashastra •Research Papers –More than 50 papers in National and International

 journals and conference proceedings. •Presentations –  More than 50 presentations on science and technology

in ancient India are available on web (search words –asnene OR ancient India). •Author of 4 Print books and 7 E Books on Shilpashastra.

This book would serve as a valuable reference text for Engineers and Architects.

Contact

For hard copy - nene_ashok@ yahoo.com Soft copy - [email protected]