Ancient Rishis as Scientists & Mathematicians

Introduction: Why We Don’t Hear These Names in School

When we hear the word “scientist”, many people immediately think of:

Newton
Galileo
Einstein
Edison

But very few think of:

Valmiki, Vyasa, Atri, Bharadwaja, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta, Bhaskaracharya, Patanjali, Panini, Charaka, Sushruta, Chanakya…

One major reason is that modern school syllabi in India were heavily influenced by colonial historians who often ignored or downgraded ancient Bharatiya contributions. Many students grew up believing all science came from the West, yet traditional texts show a very advanced intellectual culture, where rishis were not just spiritual people, but also observers, analysts, and system-builders.

Rishi, Maharshi, Brahmarshi – Like Degrees of Knowledge

You can roughly compare these to levels of academic study:

Rishi – Like a scholar or specialist.
Maharshi – Like a postgraduate-level master.
Brahmarshi – Like a PhD-level seer, deeply realized and highly learned.

Their ashrams and gurukulas worked like modern educational institutions. Students didn’t just learn “prayers”—they learned astronomy, mathematics, medicine, ethics, and statecraft. Yajña-kundas (fire altars) often functioned like early labs for observing the effects of various substances on health and the environment.

Our Blind Spot: Only Western Scientists in Textbooks

Typical textbooks highlight names like Kepler, Copernicus, and Mendel, but rarely talk about Kanāda, Kapila, Patanjali, Panini, or Sushruta. This creates a psychological problem, making people think Indians never contributed to science. Even if some specific claims are debated, the volume of technical literature from ancient India is undeniable.

Aryabhata – The Pioneer of Astronomy & Mathematics

Who was he? A great mathematician-astronomer and author of the text Aryabhatiya.

What did he talk about?

Earth rotating on its axis, explaining day and night.
Eclipses caused by shadows, not monsters.
The Moon shining with reflected light from the Sun.
Methods to calculate square roots, cube roots, and planetary positions.

He gave a value for π (pi) as 3.1416, remarkably close to the value modern math uses.

Varahamihira – Astronomy, Astrology & Earth Science

Varahamihira was a scholar who authored works like Brihat Samhita and Pañcha Siddhāntikā. He discussed:

Movements of the Sun, Moon, and planets.
Eclipses, comets, meteors, and earthquakes.
Early ideas about Earth as a globe hanging without support.
Descriptions of architecture, town planning, and agriculture.

Brahmagupta – Advanced Mathematics & Astronomy

Brahmagupta authored Brāhmasphuṭa Siddhānta, where he further developed arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Some traditions credit him with the earliest formalizations involving zero and negative numbers, representing a massive leap in mathematical abstraction.

Bhaskara (Bhaskaracharya) – Later Master

Bhaskara II wrote:

Lilavati (arithmetic)
Bijaganita (algebra)
Works on astronomy and calculus-like concepts.

He discussed planetary motions and advanced algebraic methods that showed extremely high-level mathematical thinking for his era.

Beyond Names: What Matters

Three key takeaways:

Methodology: Ancient Indian thinkers were scientific in their method—observing nature, building models, and recording results.
Awareness: Our problem is not a lack of heritage, but a lack of awareness of the texts that already exist.
Balance: Pride should be balanced with honesty. Not every claim is proven, but the depth of thinking is worth celebrating.

Conclusion

Ancient Bharatiya rishis were not just “priests.” In many cases, they were philosophers, observers, mathematicians, astronomers, and doctors—all in one. A wise attitude today is to respect the heritage, verify where possible, and revive what is valuable with fresh research and honesty.