Maximizing Impact_ Nonprofit Website Planning, Budgeting, and Design.pdf
Ancient final
1. By in the following archaeological evidences, and references
to other published work on the topic, we have tried to throw
light on ancient India.
2. Chess originated in ancient India and was known as "Chatur-Anga"
Meaning 4 bodied, as it was played by 4 players. From this name
we have its current name "Shatranj”.
3. Kalaripayat from Keralawas
transmitted to China by
a sage named Boddhidharma
in the 5th century
The Chinese called him Po-ti-tama
He taught this art in a temple
This temple is today known as
the Shaolin temple
Thus Judo, Karate, Kung Fu &
other similar marshal arts
which are today identified
with the far-east actually
originated from India
4. Surprising though the popular game of cards originated in ancient
India and was known as Krida-patram in ancient India
These cards were made of cloth and depicted motifs from the
Ramayana, Mahabharata, etc
5. The Mandala was a blueprint for any Vastu (edifice) Vastu-
Shastra was an amalgam of architecture and theology
6. These huge Buddha statues were carved
out of this hillside in the 1st Century
under the patronage of the Kushana
emperor Kanishka. (These are the statues
which the Taliban has vowed to blow up)
The majesty of this grand temple complex
at Khajuraho has to be seen to be believed.
Boddhisattvas (Statues) at Bamiyan in
Afghanistan.
7. Borobudur in Indonesia is a temple complex
devoted to Buddha This complex was built
in the the 7th Century Borobud means "Big
Buddha"
This is a another Panel at Borobudur in
Indonesia Note that the carving looks
exactly Indian
8. Panel at Khajuraho--created in the 10th
Century in Madhya Pradesh in Central
India
Another panel from Khajuraho- Note the
intricate and fine outline of the figurines
carved.
The temples were completed over a period
of 200 years
9. The inter-locking dome of the Stupa was to be
the prototype for the domes(overMosques
and churches) that were built later by Romans
and Arabs
The dome over this Mosque at Istanbul
has borrowed the technique from the Indian
Stupa
10. In a queer way the concept of 'Zero' or Shunya
is derived from the concept of a void.
The concept of void existed in Hindu Philosophy
hence the derivation of a symbolfor it. The concept
of Shunyata, influenced
South-east asian culture through the
Buddhist concept of Nirvana
'attaining salvation by merging
into the void of eternity'
(Ornate Entrance of a Buddhist temple in Laos)
11. This method of graduated calculationwas documented in the Pancha-
Siddhantika(Five Principles) in the 5th Century But the technique is said to
be datingfrom Vedic times circa 2000 B.C.
12. The Buddhist Pagodas borrowed their
plan of construction from the geometric
grid of the Mandala used for constructing
temples in India.(A majestic Pagoda at
Bangkok )
Many motifs in Hindu temples and
Palaces display a mix of floral and
Geometric patterns.
14. An artist's impression of an operation being
performed in ancient India.
An artist's impression
of the great medicine
man Shushruta
An artist's impression of the
surgical tools used in ancient
India.
16. Coinage dating from the 8th Century B.C.
to the17th Century A.D. Numismatic evidence
of the advances made by Smelting technology
in ancient India.
The Makara (Spire) over Hindu
temples were always adorned with
brass or gold toppings (Kamandals).
The earliest reference to the advances
made in Smelting technologyin India are
by Greek historians viz,
Philostratus and Ktesias in the 4th
century B.C.
17. This image of Nataraja the God of Dance is
made of five metals (Pancha-Dhatu).
This technology of mixing two or more metals
and deriving superior alloys has been observed
and noted by the Greek Historian Philostratus
This exquisite mirrorwork
is inlaid on a base of gold and brass.
This dates back to the 12th century
18. This image of Buddha
from Kashmir dates back to the
8th Century.
Through Buddhism
and Hinduism Indian values
such as non-violence (Ahimsa),
renunciation (Tyaga),
piety (Shraddha),
charity (Dana and Dakshina)
influenced other cultures
especially early Christiani
19. The Nalanda University once housed
9 million books.
It was the center of education for
scholars from all over Asia.
Many Greek, Persian and Chinese
students studied here.
The university was burnt down by
pillaging invaders
who overran India in the 11th century
Varanasi or Kashi is one site where the
Kumbha Mela is held.
The dates for the Kumbha are derived
from
solar calculations and
are declared 12 years in advance
21. "This fascmile is from the Pancha-
siddhantika (Five Principles) dated
around the 5th century.
This text graphically shows how
eclipses are to be calculated.
Thus this text foreshadows what
Western astronomers propounded
nearly one thousand years later. "
22. This temple was dedicated to Surya - the
sun god
Surya was referred to,
in Vedic literature as the creator who
himself revolves
causing existence.
23. A panel found at Mohenjodaro,
depicting a sailing craft