India’s Contribution to World Wisdom
Nearly 5000-6000 years ago, the Indian peninsula came alive, much before the birth of Jesus Christ. Our ancient scriptures, the Vedas, Puranas, Tripitakas, the Ashtadhyaya, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata have delved deeply into the causes of the existence of man. They have also tried to delineate how a man should live, work create and finally leave this mortal world. The most intricate philosophies of life (and even death) were propounded by our sages and elite thinkers of the yore. They are relevant even today. The world recognizes them. For example, the Germans translated the Sanskrit scriptures and the Vedas into the German language. They adopted the rationale and scientific wisdom from these scriptures and used this knowledge base to become an advanced economy.
New avenues and thoughts have been given to the thinkers and leaders of the world by Indian philosophies. Some philosophies like Advaita. Vaishnavism, Aria Samaj, Vedic Culture, Shaivism. etc. have followers even today and are attracting more fan followings from the West. However, the major philosophy that attracted the attention of the world was the one given by Lord Krishna. He gave a sermon to Arjuna during the war of Mahabharata. He stated, “O Arjuna! You do your work (karma) with efficiency and zeal and leave the result (Pilate) to God.” This philosophy is the major landmark in the history of human civilization. We all are humans with our sets of karma. We shall get good results for good karma and bad results for bad karma. Other religious faiths also approve of this age-old philosophy.
Towards world wisdom, the second contribution of India is the philosophy of truth. Indian sages have always valued the power of truth. Guru Nanak, Mahatma Gandhi, and Gautam Buddha have preached the virtues of being truthful and pure at heart. The third piece of wisdom contributed by India was the family wisdom and the closely-knit society or sects. No other nation enjoys this chief characteristic of mankind.
In India, family norms and social values are revered even in the twenty-first century. The Western culture has made deep inroads into our culture but still, we love and respect our parents, look after our children, take care of our siblings, and are empathetic towards our society.
The Indian scientists also gave the laws of science and mathematics. We gave the modern numeral system (currently known as the Arabic numeral system) to the world. We Indians are responsible for the developments and researches carried out in the ancient era in the fields of astronomy, astrology, chemical sciences, and medicine.
In Charaka Samhita, we can read the types of medicines and other pathological processes in vogue in those times. Bhaskar, a famous mathematician, lived in India during the second century BC. His principles and philosophies are valid even today. Ayurveda, the trusted medical science developed by the rishis and sages of those times is thriving even today. Ayurvedic medicines are exported from India to the entire world. Some scientists have claimed that some preparations are able to cure even terminal ailments like cancer!
In the fields of construction, urban development, and perpetuation of civilizations also, the glaring proof of Indian wisdom can be seen. Dravida, the residents of Indus Valley, and the Aryans developed their own civilizations. The buildings, temples, and urban layouts of these civilizations can be seen even today. The archaeological remains at Harappa, Mohanjodaro, Kalibhangan, Dwarka (below the surface of the sea). Lothal and many places of Southern Indian prove that our ancestors were builders, architects, and planners of the highest order.
The Taj Mahal, the Jagannath Temple at Puri, the Red Fort, the Meenakshi Temple, the Harmandir Sahib, the Golconda Fort, etc. are the glaring examples in this context which demand close study. In terms of contents and size, Indian literature and arts are also very rich. Our litterateurs, dancers, and painters have given unique pieces of literature and art to the world. The world recognizes our famous dances, art forms, sculptures, and ancient literary works. These are our contributions to mankind to ensure its sustained mental growth. Thus, in order to enhance world wisdom, India can contribute to the fields of arts, sciences, architecture, literature, and spiritualism.
The modern base of today’s world is formed on the ancient ideas of traditional India. The ideas are old but the messages are touched with the innovative appeal. India has contributed significantly in the world’s wisdom. It can be experienced in the words of Max Mueller, a German scholar, who stated:
“If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India.”
India has significantly contributed in the various spheres of life. The contribution has gone a long way to enhance the lifestyle of mankind. They are visible in the field of mathematics, the formulae of medicine, the vibrant art, literature, and the list go on.
The doctrine of Upanishads
Max Muller, the German Scholar, stated one more quote on India which goes as:
"There is no book in the world that is so thrilling, stirring, and inspiring as the Upanishads."
Yes, he stated right. People always are confused with mysterious questions like what will be there after death, what is the real form of heaven, what is after-life, and so on. The answers to all these questions are found in the Indian philosophies. The books of literature provide a lightning way to the confused generation. One of the most famous philosophies followed by the world is the doctrine of the Upanishads. The Upanishads can be defined as a complete philosophy of life. It is an excellent form of work of the human mind. It is not a simple form of poetry but the divine presentation of spiritual thoughts. It translates the abstract truth into actions in practical life.
Art and culture
India is known for its unmatchable history of art and culture. India has shown its excellence with splendid works of literature. Their sculptures, the ancient paintings, the varied dance forms and the other form of literature have ruled the hearts of people. The affection and respect for the Indian art and culture are visible in the words of Keith Bellows, National Geographic Society who stated:
"There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won't go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds... I had been seeing the world in black & white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolor."
Vedas
The power of Vedas is not hidden from anyone. The people with great minds have stated Vedas as an illumination source full with no touch of sectarianism. It is the way to attain true knowledge. It reflects the pure form of the rich Sanskrit language. It contains the ancient scriptures conveying the divine message in the purest form.
Mathematics
The intellectual personalities of India have given the world the most significant concepts of Mathematics. They were the ones to come up with the principles of the decimal number system. The Arabic numerals can still be discovered on the rock edicts of Ashoka. The place value, Algebra, Algorithm, and Geometry all made their way into the world of Mathematics from India. The world cannot overrule the importance of zero. It was discovered by the famous Indian Astronomer Aryabhatta. India has remained two steps ahead of the West in Mathematics as well as Science. The knowledge is disseminated all over the world and has become the basis of many new concepts. The concept of the solar system, the earth’s circumference, eclipse occurrences, and many others are the outcome of India’s wisdom.
Medicine
India has given the world different forms of medicines. Ayurveda is one of the medicinal forms generated in India. It is the form of medicine that uses herbs to treat various forms of diseases. The other form is Homeopathy. Both forms of medicines can treat the complex diseases without any side effects. The cost of medicines is low and can be afforded by everyone.
Conclusion
India is a rare country with great human minds from different cultures. The world has got wisdom in various fields from India. Apart from it, the one message that is sent to the world from India is of love. India is a land of different religions, castes, and cultures. Still, it preaches the message of oneness and love. It proves the concept of unity in diversity and embraces people from all over the world.