During the ancient period in India, science and mathematics were highly developed and it had contributed a lot to the technical and scientific development of the human race. India has produced great ancient scientists who excelled in various fields like medical science, ayurveda, yoga, astronomy, astrology, etc. Here we will discuss five ancient Indian scientists and their achievements.

Aryabhata

Aryabhata was a great mathematician and astronomer who according to historians lived during the period 476–550 CE.

Aryabhata was an Indian mathematician and astronomer of the classical age of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy in the Gupta age. He is known for the invention of zero without which the human race could not have advanced in the field of modern technology. At the age of mere 23, he wrote a book on mathematics titled Aryabhattiya. The first satellite of India in space is named Aryabhata as a tribute to him.

Maharishi Kanad

Maharishi Kanad was a neuroscientist and philosopher in ancient India and it’s believed that he lived somewhere between the 6th century and the 2nd century BCE. 

Maharishi Kanad is the first person who much before the western scientists discovered that everything in this universe is made of invisible units known as atoms today and it can’t be divided further. He wrote a book titled Kanada Sutra where he gave a detailed theory on how atoms come together to form a compound matter and he also explained the atomic theory of matter.

Sushruta

Sushruta was a physician and a surgeon in ancient India who is believed to have lived somewhere between 800 to 700 BCE.

Sushruta is known today as the ‘Father of Surgery’ and ‘Father of Plastic Surgery’ as he invented and developed complex surgical procedures including plastic surgery. His achievements in the field of medical sciences are unparalleled and he wrote a book titled Sushruta Samhita, which had 186 chapters and comprises a detailed explanation of 1,120 types of illnesses, 700 medicinal plants, 64 types of medicines made from mineral sources, and 57 made from animal sources. It also describes surgery in detail and various instruments used during surgery.

Charak

Charak is known as the ‘Father of Medical Science’ and he was the royal doctor in the court of Emperor Kanishka.

Charak was a pioneer in the field of ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of curing people from various kinds of ailments using herbs and other natural things. In his book, Charak Samhita provided information about various types of diseases and their cures. Charaka was the first physician who discussed about topics like digestion, metabolism, and immunity.

Maharishi Patanjali

Maharishi Patanjali is regarded as the ‘Father of Yoga’ as he is the person who wrote about Yoga very systemically and how to perform them.

Even though Yoga was practiced in India for a long time, maybe from the period of the Harappa civilization, but it was Maharishi Patanjali who systematically described the process of Yoga and compiled 195 Yoga sutras. He also wrote about the ancient medicine system of India. He lived somewhere between the 2nd century BCE and to 5th century CE.