Notice: This is the official website of the All Empires History Community (Reg. 10 Feb 2002)

  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Date of Pingala - Origin of Binary Computation

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Date of Pingala - Origin of Binary Computation
    Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 04:02

Date of Pingala -

 

The Origin of Binary Computation in India

 

K.V. Ramakrishna Rao B.Sc., M.A., A.M.I.E., C.Eng. (I )., B.L.,

kopallerao@yahoo.co.uk

 

A paper during the first World Congress on Vedic Sciences held at Bangalore from August 9th to 13th, 2004 at VYOMA.

Published in the Proceedings of Vishwa Veda Vijnana Satram, Vijnana Bharati, Bangalore, 2005, pp.369-379.

 

 

Introduction: With the advent of Binary numbers, Binary computation and their application to logical circuitry in Computers have focussed importance to the history of Binary Numbers and modern scholars1 have traced them to Pingala, the ancient Prosody expert of India. Indian Prosody is not just versification or speech-rhythms, but the complete technology of poetry with metrics, metre with syllables, syllables with sound, sound with vibration, vibration with desired effect and the effect useful to man and the rules made thereof. At one side, Indians have been accused of lack of historical sense, not having script, not keeping historical records, and so on, but at other side, some times, they are also praised. Here, the basis of Prosody and its connection with music and mathematics and the evolution of binary numbers thereof are analyzed based on the Chanda sutras. As chronology is the connected factor, it is also linked with the evolution of Indian thinking, thought processes, philosophy, mathematical methodology adopted behind such operations. The English translation of Anunduram Borooah (1850-1889) of Pingala Chanda Sutras (1877) is used in this paper, wherever quoted and adopted2.

 

Language and Script: The concept of language and script is different and it is not necessary that a language should have a script for writing and write to learn language. Language is for speakers and script for writers. If a speaker is a speaker, he does not require any script, but a writer always requires a script. If a listener is a listener, he also does not require a script to record and read again. There are languages without script and scripts without languages. A script is used for more than one or several languages also. Therefore, age long usage of a language cannot be underestimated on the plea of scriptless language.

 

The Concept of Script: Indian system of writing is connected with the concept of Akshara, that is the one that cannot be destroyed, made to disappear or rubbed off. Thus, Aksharam is a word, syllable and number, always connected with eternity, completeness and absoluteness. Where, how, when, by whom and for whom such indestructible, unerasable or permanent writing can be invented, devised and written?

 

     Where the surface, place or medium should be there, where it could be written,

     how it has to be written by hand by some means of scribing - stylus, pen etc.

     when naturally, when requirement or necessity arises, writing must have been resorted to

     by whom who requires or wants it to be written, as otherwise, he may not be able to remember, recollect, recall, retrieve any data and information.

     and

     for whom for himself or others.

 

As during Vedic period, such contingency did not arise, how the Vedic people could have promoted, protected and preserved the Vedas for their progeny. As has been claimed, was it possible for them to keep sakas / groups of experts to recite particular hymns forever or continuously, so that the continuity could have continued without any break, change, deviation or distortion? When western scholars started gathering the manuscripts of Vedic Sciences, perhaps dating back to 16th century, they found out that the earlier ones belonged to first centuries, as the written documents were in the form of tala (palm) patra and other leaves. Therefore, the written manuscripts, because of their nature wilted away and new manuscripts prepared, just like 100 years old book getting wilted and reprinted. But, the Vedas recorded in the minds continued.

 

In the context of Chandas, a syllable is an Akshara, it may be a letter or letters. Accordingly, it may a vowel or vowel with consonant. A syllable may be Guru (heavy) or Laghu (light) depending upon such vowel-consonant combination. 

 

A syllable is be Guru (heavy) if it containes a long vowel or a short vowel followed by a conjunct consonant or visarga or anusvara, as the pronunciation is protracted in all such cases.

 

It is Laghu (light) if it contained a short vowel not followed by a conjunct consonant or visarga or anusvara, as the pronunciation is not protracted in all such cases.

 

While discussing about Jatis, two classes are mentioned as Matrachandah and Aksharachandah. Therefore, the written down script comes next, as more importance is given to matra / sound based Chandas.

 

Vedas are for Chanting: Vedic hymns are chanted as they are meant for intonation. It is just like transmission and reception.  In the case of Vedic hymns, the Language Experts have devised methodology to make the transmission and reception the same without any interference, distortion or deviation. There is a proverb, which asserts, the more you sing, the more the melody, that is repetition is emphasized for perfection avoiding or removing distortion. The same method is used in teaching and learning mathematics or music as all involve mode of thinking in tones / scales. 

 

Language is thinking in syllables and words. Mathematics is thinking in numbers and combination of numbers. Music is thinking in tones and scales. And all these three have the same fundamentals as common in working. In chanting Vedas all the are combined.

 

The processes involved are:

 

1.     Identifying the syllables / numbers / notes: In learning a language, mathematics or music, the single syllable is identified by listening to it from the speaker or teacher.

 

2.     Pronouncing them correctly: Pronouncing and repetition of pronouncement.

 

3.     Formation of combination of the syllables / numbers / notes: Adding one syllable to another, another to other with different permutation and combinations. Thus, possibilities of formations are understood.

 

4.     Vocalizing them: The different forms are also repeated continuously.

 

5.     Memorizing: Thus, repetition leads to memorizing without defects.

 

6.     After learning, following the timing: After the completion of learning process, the time scale is followed. In fact, that is already achieved in the earlier steps. However, as timings are specified, they are followed and systematized.

 

Learning Process involved Sound: Think about the learning process of a child. She learns through language, specifically, through speech, sound that is perfected. If she hears or listens to correct sound, she learns correct speech or language.

 

Syllables, Metres etc: In poetic context, the important words and expressions are defined as follows:

 

1.     Chanda Sastra / Chandoviciti / Chandah (chanda = metre) treats the laws of versification.

2.     Padhya / Kavita (poetry) is the expression of composition coming out spontaneously regulated by harmonious arrangement of syllables pleasing to the ear and reaching the heart of others.

3.     Such arrangements is known as Vrutta (rhythm).

4.     It depends on harmonious succession of syllables, combination of syllables (words) comfortable to pauses due to the flow of syllables. Such form of successsion is known as Chanda.

5.     Regulated verse combination is known as Jati (class).

6.     Accordiung to the flow of syllables, the metres   are classified as

 

v    Drutta = quick

v    Madhya = mean

v    Vilambit = slow

v    Druttamadhya = partly quick and partly slow.

v    Druttavilambit = partly mean and partly slow.

 

These are only illustrative.

 

In Chapter II, Pingala describes the number of metres:

 

1.     There are seven chandas (metres) Deivi, Asuri, Prajapatya, Yajushi, Samni and Arco.

 

2.     Each Chanda has number of syllables of Gayatri, Vusnika, Anustup, Bruhati, Padavti, Tristup and Jagati categories.

 

The table gives how many syllables, each chanda has:

 

Chanda

Gayatri

Vushnika

Anustup

Bruhati

Padavti

Tristup

Jagati

Deivi

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Asuri

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

Prajapatya

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

Yajushi

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Samni

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

Arco

18

21

24

27

30

33

36

 

The following table gives the details for Brahmi and Arshi metres:

 

<TR style="mso-yfti-irow:

Chanda

Gayatri

Vushnika

Anustup

Bruhati

Padavti

Tristup

Jagati



Edited by K. V. Ramakrishna Rao - 17-Feb-2007 at 04:05
History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 04:06

The Importance given to 2 by Pingala: Pingala in his rules to Sanskrit prosody has given undue importance to the number 2. Typically, he lays down that, Any power of two throughout divisible by two is equal to two raised to the power of two representing the number of twos the first power is divisible by two, i.e, 216 = 224, 232 = 225, 264 = 226 and so on (VIII.407).

 

In grouping heavies and lights, Pingala adopts a unique method.

 

If we take Heavy = H and Light = L, for two syllables, we get the combination, as follows:

 

1. 1H

2. 1L

 

There are two combinations.

 

For 3 syllables, we get,

 

1. 3 H

2. 2H, 1L

3. 1H, 2L.

4. 3L.

 

There are  four combinations.

 

For 4 syllables, we get,

 

1. 4H

2. 3H, 1L

3. 2H, 2L

4. 1H, 3L

5. 4L.

 

There are eight combinations.

 

For 5 syllables, we get,

 

1. 5H

2. 4H, 1L

3. 3H, 2L.

4. 2H, 3L

5. 1H, 4L

6. 5L

 

There are sixteen combinations.

 

Thus, this is the formation of Binomial Numbers, Triangle and Series. They are explained as follows:

 

(a + b)o = 1

(a + b)1 = a + b

(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2

(a + b)3 = a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3

(a + b)4 = a4 + 4a3b + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 + b4

(a + b)5 = a5 + 5a4b + 10a3b2 + 10a2b3 + 5ab4 + b5

(a + b)6  = a6 + 6a5b + 15a4b2 + 20a3b3 + 15a2b4 + 6ab5 + b6

                   1

                 1  1

               1   2   1

            1  3    3   1

          1   4   6   4   1

      1 10  5   5  10  5  1

  1   6  15  20   15    6   1

(a + b)n   = an + [n!/1!(n-1)!] a(n-1) b + [n(n-1)/2!(n-2)!] an(n-1) b2 + [n(n-1)(n-2)/3!(n-3)!] an(n-1)(n-2) b3 + [n(n-1)(n-2)(n-3)/4!(n-4)!] an(n-1)(n-2)(n-3) b4 ++ bn

 

This has been explained in the context of prosody and similar exposition has been made in Vedic literature about the chanting of mantras with time scale. However, the mathematical significance has to be noted here. This Binomial triangle can rightly be called Pingala Triangle and the series Pingala series. Indian mathematicians have identified the series and arranged the numbers in the form of a pyramid, which they called as Meruprasthana and depicted as follows:

 

                                             1                                          

                                         1     1

                                      1     2     1

                                                  1    3     3    1

                                                       1   4    6    4     1

                                                  1    5    10   10  5    1

                                               1   6    15   20   15    6   1

                                          1   7    21    35    35   21    7    1

                                       1   8    28   56    70   56   28   8    1

 1   9    36   84   126   126   84   36   9   1

         1  10   45   120  210  252  210  120  45  10   1

      1  11  55  165  330  462  462  330  165  55   11  1

  1   12   66  220  495  792   924  792   495  220  66  12   1

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

210

211

212

1

2

4

8

16

32

64

128

256

512

1024

2048

4096

 

The basis of writing numbers can be easily explained:

 

1. Write one in the first square.        

1

 

2. Draw two squares below, write 1 , 1

1

1

 

3. Draw three squares, write 1, 1 in the first and last squares.

1

2

1










Add the adjacent numbers of the above row and write intermediate numbers i.e, 1+1=2.

4. 1, 1+2=3, 3+1=3, 1                     

1

3

3

1

 

 5. 1, 1+3=4, 3+3=6, 3+1+4, 1

1

4

6

4

1












 

Like, this, the squares can be continued with added numbers. The following Pingala Triangle is formed for 12 layers and it is mentioned as Meru Prasthana in the literature.

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

2

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

3

 

3

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

4

 

6

 

4

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

5

 

10

 

10



Edited by Omar al Hashim - 17-Feb-2007 at 23:01
History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 04:10

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

2

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

3

 

3

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

4

 

6

 

4

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

5

 

10

 

10

 

5

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

6

15

 

20

 

15

 

6

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

7

 

21

 

35

 

35

 

21

 

7

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

8

 

28

 

56

 

70

 

56

 

28

 

8

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

9

 

36

 

84

 

126

 

126

 

84

 

36

 

9

 

9

 

 

 

1

 

10

 

45

 

120

 

210

 

252

 

210

 

120

 

45

 

10

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

11

 

55

 

165

 

330

 

462

 

462

 

330

 

165

 

55

 

11

 

1

 

 

1

 

12

 

66

 

220

 

495

 

792

 

924

 

792

 




Edited by Omar al Hashim - 17-Feb-2007 at 23:02
History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 04:13

This clearly proves the basis of two used in the Chanda sutras. However, it may have to be noted that, though 2 has been emphasized, 1 is used and zero adopted for obtaining such results.

 

In another method, the formation of unique numbers is obtained. With the usual notations of H and L, we continue: For a measure of six quantities can have

 

1.     3H, 2H, 2L

2.     1H, 4L

3.     6L.

 

The first and last can have only one variety.

The second gives  (4!/2!2!) = 6.

The third gives      (5!/3!)    = 5.

Adding, we get  2 + 6 = 5 = 13.

 

Similarly, 13 quantities can be arranged

 

1.     1L, 6H.

2.     3L, 5H

3.     5L, 4H

4.     7L, 3H

5.     9L, 2H

6.     11L, 1H

7.     13L

 

 

The possible varieties are

The first, 7!/6! = 7,

The second, (8!)/(3!5!) = 56,

The third, (9!)/(4!5!) = 126,

The fourth, (10!)/(7!3!) = 120,

The fifth,  (11!)/(9!2!) = 55,

The sixth, (12!)/(11!) = 12.

Adding we get, 7 + 56 + 126 + 120 = 55 + 12 + 1 = 377. This is exhibited as quantitative cone as follows. It is also called, Kandameru3 is represented as below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

1

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

1

3

 

 

 

 

 

1

3

1

5

 

 

 

 

 

3

4

1

8

 

 

 

 

1

6

5

1

13

 

 

 

 

4

10

6

1

21

 

 

 

1

10

15

7

1

34

 

 

 

5

20

21

8

1

55

 

 

1

15

35

28

9

1

89

 

 

6

35

56

36

10

1

144

 

1

21

70

84

45

11

1

233

 

7

56

126

120

55

12

1

377

1

28

126

210

165

66

13

1

610

8

84

252

330

220

78

14

1

987

 

The numbers in the last column are

 

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987 .etc.

 

The series is obtained starting with 1, writing 1 and then adding it with the first number (1 + 1 = 2), thus, next number is obtained (2), Again, it is added with the previous number (2 + 1 = 3), to get the current number (3) and so on.

 

1, 1, (1+1), (1+2), (2+3), (3+5), (5+8), (8+13), (13+21), (21+34), (34+55), (55+89), 

1, 1,    2,         3,       5,        8,       13,       21,         34,          55,           89,        144,.etc.

 

They are  known as Fibanacci Numbers in the Western world, as they were reportedly found by an Italian merchant and scholar Leonardo of Pisa, also known as Fibanacci (nickname) lived in 12th century CE. But, the Numbers are Pingala Numbers, as they were derived from the Pingala Triangle as shown above.

 

The syllabic cone similarly exhibits the formation of the various sub-classes of the syllabic metres. The number of any given sub-class is easily found by the formula (n!)/ [(n-r)! (r)!]. For example, the poissible numbervof varieties of metres of 20 syllables with two heavy and 18 light syllables, we get 20!/(18! 2!) = 190.

History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 04:14

As 2n represents the sum of all the varieties of all the sub-classes and as in considering all the sub-classes in which light or heavy syllables occur, we get the possibility,

 

S = n!/(n-1)! + [n!]/[(n-1)! 2!] + [n!]/[(n-3)! 3!] ++ n!/n! =  2n 1.

Incidentally, it may be noted the importance of zero given in the series summation. If we put n=0, we get, the series = 0 and n=1, S = 1.

 

Thus, the processes involved clearly prove the mathematical background of the Vedic recitation and the Chandas. There have been thousands of manuscripts from Halaudha (c.300 BCE) to medieval commentators on prosody, which give many interesting mathematical figures, number triangles and diagrams. In fact, the yantra-mantra-tantra and Siddha literature too have such figures and one has to research into to correlate the subjects.

 

There has been another Matrameruprastar4, evidently based on the syllable value attributed.

                                                                   1

                                                              1         1

                                                         2                  1

                                                      1            3           1

                                                  3                4              1

                                              1             6     5                  1

                                          4               10        6                  1

                                       1              10       15          7            1

                                    5               20         21          8                1

                                 1                15       35         28             9       1

                             6                35      56          36             10           1

                        1                 21       70         84             45       11        1

                     7                56        126        120              55       12          1

         1        28                  126         210          165                  66         13        1

         8        84                  252         330          220                  78         14        1

 

Decimal to Binary Conversion Method of Pingala: Pingala expounds the two properties of 2 as follows:

 

1.     Any power of two throughout divisible by two is equal to two raised to the power of two representing the number of twos the first power is divisible by two,

i.e, 216 = 224, 232 = 225, 264 = 226 and so on.

 

2.     Any other number is reducible to such a number plus some of the powers of two after which the number is not divisible by two.

 

About the first rule, the significance is already shown above. The second rule clearly points to decimal to binary conversion, which is dealt with as follows:

 

Taking 51, it is not divisible by 2 initially.

But on first and fourth division,

51/2 = 26 writing 0 and adding 1

26/2 = 13 writing 1 and continuing division

13/2 =   7 writing 0 and adding 1

  7/2 =   4 writing 0 and continuing division

  4/2 =   2 writing 1 and continuing division

  2/2 =   1 writing 1 and stop.

Divisor

Dividend

carry

2

51

0

2

26

1

2

13

0

2

7

0

2

4

1

2

2

1

2

1

 

 

So what we get is

 

010011

 

expressing in the multiples of 2,

 

010011     =  (0x20) + (1x21) + (0x22) + (0x23) + (1x24) + (1x25).

                 =      0     +      2    +     0     +     0     +     16   +      32

                 =  50

adding 1,  = 50 + 1 = 51.

 

Thus, it is clear evidence, that Pingala devises a method to convert decimal into binary.

History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 04:15

Pingala, what it Denotes: According to Dictionaries5, the word Pingala and its derivatives / forms have the following meanings:

 

1.     Pingala: reddish brown, yellowish, brown, tawny (Raguvamsa.12.71).

2.     Pingalah:

i.                 the tawny colour,

ii.               fire,

iii.             monkey,

iv.             an ichnemon,

v.               a small owl,

vi.             a kind of snake,

 

3.     Pingalah (Noun):

i.                 an attendant on Sun,

ii.               one of Kuberas treasures,

iii.             a reputed sage, the father of Sanskrit prosody. His work is known as Pingalachandasastra. Chando gnanna nidhim jadhana makaro velatate pingale (Pancatantra, 2.33,  Bombay).

 

4.     Pingalam:

i.                 brass.

ii.               Yellow orpiment.

 

5.     Pingalaa:

i.                 a kind of owl.

ii.               The Sisu tree (Simsapa).

iii.             A kind of metal.

iv.             A particular vessel of the body.

v.               The female elephant of the south.

vi.             N. of a courtesan, who became remarkable for her piety and virtuous life (the Bhagavata mentions how she and Ajamila were delivered from the trammels of the world.

 

6.     Pingalaksha: an epithet of Siva.

 

But, its connotation in the context goes beyond this general understanding.

 

In Yoga, Chakras and physiological studies, Pingala is an important nerve or nervous system.

 

When Samaveda is quoted, it is usually with the words: The Chandagos say, Chandagos means Chandas-singer, and chandas combines in itself the meaning Magic song, Sacred text, and Metre.

 

The fundamental meaning of the word must be something like rhythmical speech; it might be connected with the root chand = to satisfy, to cause, to please, allure, invite etc.

 

The different meanings attributed to the word Pingala proves its usage and popularity since the Vedic period. Of which, our Pingala is thus is a reputed sage, the father of Sanskrit prosody and author of Pingalachandasastra. He is also considered as the brother of Panini, the Sanskrit Grammarian. The date of Panini has been fixed differently based on different syncronisms ranging from 1000 BCE to 3rd cent.BCE.

 

Philosophy and Mathematics: The philosophical background of mathematics has been established one. Philosophy is closely associated with logic and metaphysics. The mathematical thinking flows through these thought processes, the moment they want to symbolize them for others. Philosophy is associated with thinking, thinking with mind, mind with body, body with psychosomatic processes, and they are in turn connected with hereditary and environmental factors.

 

With such mind setting, the Study of truth involves systematic view of a subject in analyzing the fundamental concepts and principles with reasoned doctrine to produce theory of knowledge. Conception, perception, evolution, and formation result in the establishment of a specific subject. Standardization, codification and application lead to acceptance by people.

 

In mathematics, the theory of numbers, the processes involved in the combination of numbers, representation of numbers and other processes are subjective and objective too.

 

The Chanting of Vedas proves the Music: The chanting of Vedas proves the best memory power with perfect ability of recollecting and remembrance. The group chanting authenticates the trained method of removal of imperfection, deviation and distortion. The music and metrics registers the knowledge of numbers and mathematics. A trained musician or composer would not perform like modern ones keeping the prepared notes. Indian tradition has been in such a way, they musician engrosses with the spirit of music and thus many times, they are seen singing closing their eyes. This is the state of merging of subjective and objective symbolism. If a child is told to tell tables and the teacher listens to, no script is required. In fact, Indians used to learn by writing on the earth, that, when it is required. The significance of Aksharabyasam is to be noted here. It is the initiation of the practice of writing. Kharavela dated near to Asoka had learned all arts by 13 years. How then, the learned Mahavira, Buddha and others learned to become Princes, conditioned to become sanyasis and get enlightenedment!

 

The Evolution of Chandas: That Chandas has acquired importance during Vedic period is proved by a rendering of Mundayoka Upanishad (I, I, 5)

 

Rigvedo Yajurvedo Samavedo Atharvanah|

Siksha kalpo vykarnam niruktam chando jyotisam||

 

It explains two forms of Knowledge

 

1.     Higher Knowledge  - The study about Imperishable Brahman.

2.     Lower Knowledge The study of Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana) and Vedandas (Phonetics, Ritual, Grammar, Etymology, Metrics and Astronomy) as mentioned. Thus, it has been recognized as one of the Vedangas.

 

Anunduram Borooah (1850-1889) has traced the origin, evolution and development of Chandas / prosody in the context of Sanskrit literature as follows:

 

1.     The Vedic Period6 Vedic Chandas: According to him, he noted that, Vedic hymns are composed without any knowledge of the law of rhythm7. This is based on the evolutionary concept. But, it has to be analyzed as to whether such composed poetry has a prosody is incidental or ancillary to the completion of the composition of Vedic hymns with Chandas is the crucial question. Satapata Brahmanas dealing with different chandas clearly proves that such codification had been there. The specific references to chandas by naming in Yajurveda, Taitreya Samhita, Chandogya Upanishad etc. also prove the fact8. This, he divided into three periods:

 

q      The Age of Even Metres: The age of even metres contained Anustup, Jagati etc., among which precedence is always given to Gayatri.

q      The Age of Uneven Metres: The age of uneven metres applied Usnik ans Bruhati.

q      The Age of Compound Metres: The age of compound metres used Atishakvari.

 

The Vedas, in original form has not been recovered so far. The available hymns have been compiled and codified and presented. Thus, the observation of the division of age of Chandas within Vedic period is only speculative and not definitive.

 

2.     Ramayana Period9 Valmiki Codifies Chandas: Valmiki discovered the common Anustup and rejected compound metres, thus he differentiated Vedic and common chandas. The broasd distinction between the Vedic and the common Anustup is that in the former the four feet are regulated by the same laws while in the latter the two odd feet materially differ. By any estimate, this could have happened c.3100 BCE, if Valmiki is placed before the Mahabharat period.

 

3.     The Age of Pingala: Anunduram Borooah meticulously recorded that, According to his own showing, pingala is not the first writer either of Vedic or of Classical prosody, but, he is among the first, if not the first, to minutely study the construction of both syllabic and quantitative metres.

 

4.     The Age of Kalidasa10: Kalidasa laid down simple rule for Anustup. The impact of Kalidasa on Indian literature has been well known.

 

The date of Kalidasa is placed from the range c.200 BCE to 400 CE confusing with Yavanas, Nine Gems, and so on.

 

5.     The Mauyan Period11: Though, Anunduram Borooah has not specifically mentioned this period, for chronological studies, the two periods are included here, because, according to western / modern scholars, Mauryan period was influenced by the Greeks (with a lot of apocryphal stories like Chandragupta Maurya seeing / meeting Alexandar, when he was a boy etc) for the introduction and development of all arts and sciences in India and the so called  Golden Gupta Period has been credited with the production of many works with florishing of many scholars, experts, engineers and scientists.

 

Though the Mauryan period is dated to c.300 BCE, now, it goes to c.1200-1000 BCE based on megalithic-Iron using culture of Karnataka.

 

6.     Medieval (Gupta Period)12: So naturally, Poets would have laid down rules of poetry with prosody following the preceding experts.

 

7.     Modern Period: With the vast coverage of available literature by the scholars, they identified and compiled the Chandas.

 

Date of Vedas and Pingala Sastra: The date of Vedas differs and varies from before 8000 BCE to 2500 BCE depending upon the different syncronisms, astronomical notings and above all the question of script and the development of language out of it and thereafter. If Vedas were dated to such widely differing periods or ranges, why the Vedic people should have taken 7500 or 2000 years to produce a treatise about the prosody around 500 BCE? That the Vedic hymns had already been there in such metric form proves the existence of such codified and established rules and regulations before Chanda Sastra i.e, before c.8000 to 2500 BCE period. The argument that literature should have been there and then only, grammar could have come, is not new one, but too what extent it is historically correct has to be analyzed. Therefore, with the above discussion, it is evident that the Chandas had been there during the Vedic period itself i.e, before 8000 BCE. Pingala himself has recorded its usage before him. Hence, the date of Pingala can be placed c.1500-1000 BCE.

 

Contradictions and Historicity: In Indian context, the scholars have been taking contradicting, self-denying, paradoxical stands during the last 100 to 150 years. Initially, they traced all origins to India praising India like anything. Then, they made sudden somersault denying all credit and started propounding that India derived everything from others, particularly after Alexanders invasion. Even in the case of decipherment of Indus script, they have not come to any conclusion, in spite of scientific attempts made. Imposing Aryan-Dravidian controversy over the research, they divided the Indian scholarship into perpetual warring groups. They have created enough barriers and hurdles for them to cross and come to any consensus.

 

Therefore, taking archaeological evidences, Indian historians have to come to conclusion as otherwise, it is absurd that the people of other civilizations were dealing with India, Indian goods etc., without Indians or

Indians with language without script,

literature without grammar,

numbers without mathematics,

philosophy without logic, geometrical figures (yagnasalas) without geometry,

weights and measures without trade,

ships without seafaring,

thousands of inscriptions without sense of history,

having different eras but without chronology

knowing planets and stars but without their names

and so on.

 

Thus, the available material evidences cannot be made contradicted evidences, negating the available evidences themselves. Negative evidence cannot be evidence, when corroborative and correlating evidences point to the existence of such denied evidence.

 

Conclusion: The modern method of constructing historical perspective of Indian civilization, taking only material evidence ignoring the non-material evidences like music, philosophy, logic, mathematics and their skill exhibited and preserved in the literature cannot be a correct one. As nothing comes from vacuum, such a refined literature with data and information could not have been produced by a hoard of barbarians, roaming nomads, itinerant bards, illiterate scribers, and others with their sheep and cows searching for the pastures and meadows, as has been projected by learned archaeologists and historians. This has been recorded in the minds of present-day Indian researchers and they have been proceeding in the same way ignoring the scientific study of development of mind, brain, body and their inter-related activities and processes, the ability of producing structured, systematic and standard literature, mention of such methodology in the literature itself, mention of psycho-somatic development and processes in the literature. These are the evidences, which cannot be produced without established, instituted material evidences. No scholar can ignore a field or subject, just because, it is beyond his comprehension or scope. Asserting that their methodology has been scientific, scientific evidences cannot be ignored. Thus, based on the above discussion, the following conclusions are drawn:

 

1.     The philosophical, psychological and logical development must have taken place before the advent of the Vedas, thus, the philosophical period goes back to c.8000-2500 BCE.

 

2.     The mathematical period comes thereafter with the established number system and their application to poetry and altars.

 

3.     The poetical / literary period follows.

 

4.     If the evolutionary scale is taken into account, archaeologically, Indian man could have achieved it after 30,000 to 20,000 YBP based on the Madhya Pradesh Cavemen, who drew the cave paintings and the Pallavararam Axe-man.

 

5.     Thus, the philosophical to mathematical to literary periods would have progressed in phased manner. Under the circumstances, the date of Chandasutras could be before c.2500 BCE period.

 

6.     Such civilized and advanced-minded people would have perished with the disappearance of Saraswati, IVC civilizations due to other natural catastrophes.

 

7.     Even the archaeological evidences obtained have been mixed one at several places. Wherever, geological evidences have been found dated to millions of years, archaeological evidences have not been correlated and studied. The literary evidences describing such antiquity is also ignored.

 

8.     Thus, the attempt of starting everything with Mauryan period is not tenable, as evidences are mounting (megalithic Iron users of Karnataka going back to c.1200-1000 BCE with Asokan inscriptions, Sri Lankan Brahmi script going back to c.600 BCE etc.) for the pre-Mauryan period, hitherto not explained by historians.

 

9.     The western scholars determined the dates of Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian and others only with astronomical methods and they are followed in spite of difference of opinion and contradictions. The later found archaeological evidences are only correlated and corroborated with such constructed chronology. Therefore, in the Indian context, scholars cannot take double standards in disparaging such methodology.

 

10.  As in the case of Indian astronomy, the works Sidhantas, Karanas are there covering three periods, the Vedic literature too must cover phased manner. Therefore, The Chanda Sutras must have been there before Vedic period and Pingala might have condensed into aphorisms for progeny during his period.

 

Notes and References

 

1.     There has been undue interest shown about Pingala by the westerners recently, because, his aphorisms talk only about mathematics, series, logical sequences, number diagrams and so on, that too, dealing with notes, vibrations and sound propagation along with prosody and music.

 

Ernerst G. McClain, The Myth of Invariance, USA,

Subash Kak, Indian Binary Numbers and the Katapayadi Notation, ABORI, Vol.81, pp.269-272.

B. Van Nooten, Binary Numbers in Indian Antiquity, Journal of Indian Philosophy, Vol.21, pp.31-50, 1993.

A.    N. Singh, On the Use of the Series in Hindu Mathematics, Osiris, Vol.I (The David Eugene Smith presentation volume), January 1936, pp.606-628.

 

2.     Anundoram Baorooah, Prosody, Publication Board, Guahati, Assam, 1975.

 

3.     Ibid, Stikam Vruttaratnakaram, Prastaradhyaya, p.79.

 

4.     Ibid, Stikam Vruttaratnakaram, Prastaradhyaya, p.78.

 

5.     V. P. Apte, Sanskrit Dictionary, etc.

 

6.     Vedic period According to different authorities, it is dated to c.10,000 BCE to 2500 BCE.

 

7.     Anundoram Baorooah, opt.cit, PREFACE, pp.i-v.

 

8.     Antiquity of Chandas The period ranges from c.200 to c.200 BCE.

 

9.     Ramayana Period It also varies from Tretayuga to the present current era i.e, from c.1,750,000 to 4430 BCE.

 

10.  C. V. Vaidya, The Pandyas and the Date of Kalidasa, Annals of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (ABORI), Vol.2, 1921, pp.63-68

K. G. Sankara, Mr. Vaidyas Date for Kalidasa, ABORI, Vol.2, 1921, pp.189-191.

P. K. Gode, The Word Atmabha and the date of Kalidasa, ABORI, Vol.I, 1920.

K. G. Sankara, MM. H. P. Sastris Date for Kalidasa, Quaterly Journal of Mythic Society (QJMS), Vol.II, pp.232-237.

D. R. Bhandarkar, Can we fix the Date of Kalidasa more accurately?, ABORI, Vol.8, 1927, pp.200-204.

B. S. Upadhyaya, The Date of Kalidasa, Journal of Uttar Pradesh Historical Society (JUPHS), Vol.XIV, 1941, pp.23-40.

C. Kunhan Raja, Kalidasa and Astronomy, JUPHS, Vol.XV, pp.5-23.

D. V. Ketkar, Date of Kalidasa, ABORI, Vol.365, 1955, pp.150-156.

Chattopadhyaya, The Date of Kalidasa,

H. A. Shah, Kautilya and Kalidasa, QJMS, Vol.11, pp.138-145 and Vol.12, pp.238-248.

 

The date of Patanjali differs from c.1000 BCE to 400CE.

 

K. B. Pathak, The Age of Panini and Sanskriit as a Spoken Language, ABORI, Vol.11, 1929, pp.59-83. He fixes the date to last quarter of 7th cen.BC i.e, c.675 BCE.

 

11.  Mauryan period. Scholars date to c.1400 BCE and c.300 BCE based on Megalithic / Iron evidences and Asokan synchronism.

 

12.  Gupta Period Here also one group dates to c.300 BCE and another to 3rd - 4th centuries.

History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 04:18
Mr. Moderator,
 
As suggested, I spilt it and posted the paper "Date of Pingala - The Origin of Binary Computation in India" in I to VI parts.
 
If possible, help me to get inn arranged in a single posting, so that it would be convenient for readers for discussion and debate with continuity.
 
Thanking you.
History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
Top Gun View Drop Down
Baron
Baron

Suspended

Joined: 19-Jan-2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 493
  Quote Top Gun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 05:25
do you think whe can unriddle it Confused
Back to Top
Omar al Hashim View Drop Down
King
King

Suspended

Joined: 05-Jan-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5697
  Quote Omar al Hashim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Feb-2007 at 23:08
As suggested, I spilt it and posted the paper "Date of Pingala - The Origin of Binary Computation in India" in I to VI parts.
 
If possible, help me to get inn arranged in a single posting, so that it would be convenient for readers for discussion and debate with continuity.

Wow. I actually meant multiple posts within the same thread. As in, for the first part you press the new topic button and paste in the first part, for the second part you press the post reply button and add the second part.
I have arranged it together into the same thread for you.
Back to Top
jayeshks View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 04-May-2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 281
  Quote jayeshks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21-Feb-2007 at 12:07
I find a lot of your research very interesting K.V. but the strawmen you keep putting up about 'Western historians' in your conclusions are rather tiresome.
The idea of the binomial theorem/Pascal's triangle manifesting itself in poetry is pretty cool and I thank you for your extensive research.  It'd be interesting to compare this representation with that in Chinese texts from the Song period. 

I came across a paper a while back which used Panini's grammar (the way it was written) as a model for stochastic programming which was also very fascinating.


Edited by jayeshks - 21-Feb-2007 at 12:09
Once you relinquish your freedom for the sake of "understood necessity,"...you cede your claim to the truth. - Heda Margolius Kovaly
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-Mar-2007 at 18:34
Omar al Hashim
Thank you for bringing all the postings here, but I would be more thankful, if you could paste it together in one posting for continuity and easy reading.
 
My earlier postings on Aryans, Dravidians, Indian Historiography, Pallava script etc are appearing full. Then, why can't this?
 
Otherwise, kindly, inform, how much characters / letters / bits, we can post in one entry?
History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
K. V. Ramakrishna Rao View Drop Down
Earl
Earl
Avatar

Joined: 06-Apr-2006
Location: India
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 287
  Quote K. V. Ramakrishna Rao Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-Mar-2007 at 19:38

Is it a coincidence that after mentioning by me the said papers are truncated and mutilated and now slowly, reappearing?

 
Really, I am feeling very sad about all these things.


Edited by K. V. Ramakrishna Rao - 04-Mar-2007 at 19:39
History is not what was written or is written, but it is actually what had happened in the past.
Back to Top
SpartaN117 View Drop Down
Samurai
Samurai
Avatar

Joined: 10-Dec-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 120
  Quote SpartaN117 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11-Mar-2007 at 00:34
Its funny to see people trying to solve this, when they cant solve the riddle of Pingalas origin.

i.e Not Indian. The guy was born in Pakistan. solve that.

PakHub.Info
Reclaiming Pakistans Identity
Join Us
Back to Top
Omar al Hashim View Drop Down
King
King

Suspended

Joined: 05-Jan-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5697
  Quote Omar al Hashim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11-Mar-2007 at 00:53
Thank you for bringing all the postings here, but I would be more thankful, if you could paste it together in one posting for continuity and easy reading.
 
My earlier postings on Aryans, Dravidians, Indian Historiography, Pallava script etc are appearing full. Then, why can't this?
 
Otherwise, kindly, inform, how much characters / letters / bits, we can post in one entry?

Is it a coincidence that after mentioning by me the said papers are truncated and mutilated and now slowly, reappearing?
 
Really, I am feeling very sad about all these things.

In theory, I don't think big posts should cause a problem. But in practice there is a technical fault in the software somewhere causing the problem. I don't know why your old posts are being disrupted, but I suggest in the future you post all long articles as they are in this thread (multiple posts one thread).
How many characters that you can have in a post is a very good question that I don't know the answer to at the moment. I recommend about the same approximate size as in this thread.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a [Free Express Edition]
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.219 seconds.