Environmental Eng. in ancient India

1. Environnement Protection Awareness
in Ancient India
Presentation By
Dr.A.S.Nene
Professor of Civil Engineering, (Retd.)
VNIT Nagpur

2. Engineering sciences were very advanced
in ancient India (3500 - 5000 BC).
More than thousand texts-(Shilpasamhitas)
on the various engineering sciences are
still available

3. Indian Sages gave the mankind
3 Tra
Mantra Tantra Yantra

4. 1.Mantra -Sanskrit hymns
Mantras are mystical arrangements of
sacred sounds
“ Water is mother of welfare, May our
mother show the way of prosperity
and imparts her strength to us “
Rig-Veda 10-9-1

5. 2.Tantra -Technology
Shilpa -The word Shilpa is derived from words Sheel
samadhou , which mean any thing that please the
mind. Sage Bhrugu has given a definition of Shilpa
Definition of Shilpa
Shilpa includes many articles (things), machines,
innovations, metals, and artificial means.

6. 3.Yantra -Machines
Arihatta = Rope +pots = Water Mill = Persian wheel

7. Ancient references
A Water-mill rotates continuously, as the sky
moves - Bhaskaracharyya
Pots of moving water-mill are empty, partially
filled or full, similar as destiny - Nitishastra
Water fountains, Water-mills and artificial rains
are wonders of water - Rajgruhanirman

9. Aitariya Upanishad gave the concept
of Panchmahabhotas
1)Earth – Prithwi
2)Water – Aap
3)Air – Vayu
4)Sky – Aakash
5)Light- Tej

10. 1- Prithwi-Earth
‘Earth is my mother, I am her son.'
Earth is not for the different races of men alone
but for other creatures also

11. Prayer of Motherland
Land, which contains oceans, rivers and canals; Whose
farmers produce food grains and live together; Where
each living persons works with vigor; Such our
motherland may nurture us with her juices.
Atharvaveda chapter 12

12. 2- Aapah- Water
Water occurs in five forms: Rain water, Natural
spring, Wells and canals, Lakes and Rivers
Waters are nectars
The only three precious things on the earth are
water, food and pleasing words.

13. Jala Shastra = Water Resources Engineering
Three Vidyas (Techniques)
Related to Water
• Sanchetan = Water Supply
• Samharan = Drainage
• Stambhan = Storage of water

14. 3-Vayu - Air
Air is nectar, it gives us long life. The pure air
which we inhale enriches good health.
Yadya is best sacrifice

15. Worship trees which gives us medicines

16. Trees save those, who saves trees
One tree is equal to ten sons.

17. Ghee and different types of wood and grasses were
offered to gods through Yadnya
It has been proved that Yadnya
• Kills the germs of T.B., measles, smallpox and
cow-pox.
• Lessens the effect of atomic radiation to a great
extent.
• Controls the air-supply and temperature
variation due to sacrificed substances of firewood
• Creates a pure, hygienic, nutritional and healing
atmosphere

19. A Sanskrit word "Paryavaranam" was
prevalent in ancient India
Thousand years prior to advent of modern science
The word "Paryavaranam" is
combination of four words
"Pari+ang+vru+lyut"

20. Kautilya (350 B.C - 283 B.C)
The Arthshashtra contains provisions meant to
regulate a number of aspects related
to the environment.
The fifth pillar edict of Emperor Ashoka
(269 BC to 231 BC)
also contains such regulations

21. All eighteen Puranas have a separate chapter
on site selection (Bhumipariksha)
A site is selected on the basis of
§ Germination Test
§ Flower Test
§ Lamp Test
To test the level of ground pollution

22. Nitisutras of Chanyakkya
Aphorisms - pithy sentences predicts;
God Vishnu and River Ganges would abandon this
earth after ten and five thousand years
(respectively), but only after twenty-five hundred
years the earth would be a barren land.
(Prediction of Global warming?)

23. Brihat Samhita of Varahmihir
Chapter 54 - Water divining
The prediction of
depth, quality and quantity of water on the
basis of surface features
§ Rock outcrop,
§ Types of trees and their foliage,
§ Presence of anthill,
§ Presence of hibernating animals

24. One who destroys wells, tanks or temples is a
wicked person.
The person who pollutes waters of ponds, wells
or lakes goes to hell. Padmapurana-96-7-8

25. One who renovates wells, tanks, temples gets
eight times results than that of constructing
new structures.

26. Waste Disposal -Bhrugusamhita
If ground is waterlogged, then the water should
be drained out by digging drains parallel to north
east and refilling the trenches by brickbats and
stones so that excess water drains out.

27. Water drains should be below ground,
The bottom surface should be smooth and sloping,
If such drain is not provided then the owner should be
fined (54 coins).
Bhrugusamhita

28. Waste disposal sites should be on north east side and
far away from residential areas. Kautilya Arthshashtra
Rivers, roads, agricultural fields, green lands,
sunshades and public places should not be
polluted (by urination or excreta) -
Vashishtasamhita

29. One should not excrete or urinate in
water, one should not spit or take bath
without any cloths on the body
Taittiriyaranyaka

30. Waste Disposal
Kautilya fixed Fines for
ØThrowing garbage on the streets - 2 coins
ØThrowing garbage in drains - 4 coins
ØThrowing garbage at religious places - 16 coins
ØThrowing dead animals – 48 to 96 coins
depending upon size of animal
ØCremation at unauthorized places -192 coins.

31. Noise pollution- Aapstamb Gruhyasutra
Students should observe silence from evening till the
stars appear in the sky.
The vow of silence (Mauna) is prescribed in various
rites and rituals.
Speech is restrained after the performance of
principal rites
The consequences of sound pollution were foreseen
by Vedic Seers

32. Pollution of space
Ø Effect of wireless communication on
birds.
ØEffect of mobiles on human health.

33. Conclusions
1. The term Environment was first well defined in ancient
Indian texts.
2. The residential sites were selected on the basis of
environmental factors such as land, trees and water etc.
3. Methods for pollution prevention were described in these
texts.
4. The ancient knowledge is consistent with modern
environmental engineering

34. References
1. Aitariya Upanishad
2. Arthshashtra (Kautilya)
3. Atharva Veda
4. Bhrugusamhita (Bhrugu)
5. Brihat Samhita (Varahmihir)
6. Manushyalayachandrika
7. Nighantu
8. Nitisutras (Chanyakkya)
9. Taittiriya Aranyaka
10.Vashishtasamhita (Vashishtha)
11.Vasturatnakar
12.Vishwakarma Prakash (Vishwakarma)

35. • King Bhagirath,world’s first irrigation engineer.
• Sage Kashypa reclaimed the water-logged land
of Kashmir (Land of Kashyapa)
• Varahmihir was the first hydrologist to predict
locations of aquifers.
• Sage Parashar developed astronomical methods
to predict rain fall.
• Ancient text “Kadambini" describes forecasting of
rains based on traditional methods.
• "Nighantu" mentions one hundred meaningful
names of water.

36. •Sage Vashishtha and Sage Bhrugu were
the first to describe properties of flowing and
steady water. (Much before Archimedes).
•Water mills were first developed in India
and then the technique was adopted in
Persia.
•Kautilya gave guidelines for construction of
dams, canal, wells, pollution prevention etc.