Ancient ideas about the Universe and Earth
We see the moon and stars in the night sky today, and people thousands of years ago also watched them and thought. Indian geography began from the ideas they saw and wrote down.
Ancient Indian geographic knowledge is the knowledge about the Universe, Earth, time and seasons found in the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, philosophical works, Jain and Buddhist texts and records of foreign travellers who came to India.
Key idea 1 : Creation of the Universe — Indian texts describe that gases, space, the Sun, the Moon and other planets were formed in the creation of the Universe. In the Vedas the Earth is called ‘Pruthvi’ or ‘Dharani’. In modern science, as per the ‘Big Bang’ theory, the Universe is believed to have begun from the explosion of a very dense tiny point.
Key idea 2 : Shape of the Earth — Ancient Indian thinkers were aware that the Earth is round. As per the textbook, in the 6th century BC it was mentioned that the diameter of the Earth could be about 13,000 km. The Earth’s shadow falling on the Moon in an eclipse looks round, and this also showed it.
Key idea 3 : The word Bhugol and scholars — The word ‘Bhugol’ appears in the Indian text ‘Suryasiddhant’. Varahamihira, Kautilya, Kalidas, Aryabhata, Vijayanandi, Brahmagupta, Utpala and Bhaskaracharya contributed to the development of astronomy, mathematics, geography and cartography.
- Easy : What is the Earth called in the Vedas? — Pruthvi or Dharani.
- Medium : In which text is the word ‘Bhugol’? — Suryasiddhant.
- Exam-type : From which event was it known that Earth is round? — Lunar eclipse.
In the figure: Ancient Indian geographic concepts.
Un-Dw-Di-Se.
It is not that people in ancient times knew only religion; they also observed the sky and the Earth.
Memory clue: Texts + observation = ancient geography. Memory clue: "Bhugol in Suryasiddhant".
Spot the difference
| Point | Ancient Indian idea | Modern science |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of Universe | Gases, space, Sun, Moon | Big Bang explosion |
| Earth | Pruthvi, Dharani; round | Nearly round |
| Source | Texts and observation | Experiments and instruments |
Practice questions
- 1In which texts is ancient Indian geographic knowledge found?
- 2What is the Earth called in the Vedas?
- 3In which text does the word ‘Bhugol’ appear?
- 4What does the Big Bang theory say?
- 5How did ancient people understand that the Earth is round?
- 6Write names of any three Indian scholars and their fields.
- 7Compare ancient and modern thinking.
- 8Find from the internet and write about the evolution of the Universe.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Jain-Buddhist texts, travellers’ records.
- 2‘Pruthvi’ or ‘Dharani’.
- 3Suryasiddhant.
- 4The Universe began from the explosion of a very dense tiny point.
- 5From the round shape of the Earth’s shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse.
- 6E.g. Aryabhata – maths/astronomy; Varahamihira – astronomy; Bhaskaracharya – maths/astronomy.
- 7Ancient: texts and observation; modern: instruments and experiments.
- 8Student writes own.
Dweep concept and oceans
We know an island is land surrounded by water. People in the past used the same ‘dweep’ idea when describing parts of the Earth.
A dweep is land naturally surrounded by water. Ancient texts describe the Earth as ‘Saptadweep’, meaning seven dweeps, and mention a Meru mountain in the middle.
Key idea 1 : Saptadweep — As per the textbook Jambudweep was in the middle; it had many jamun trees and included most of today’s Asia, with Bharatvarsh. The other dweeps were Plaksh, Shalmali, Kush, Kraunch, Shak and Pushkar.
Key idea 2 : Dweep names and today’s region — A dweep got its name from the trees, grass or lakes found on it. E.g. Shalmali means silk cotton, Kush means kusha grass, Pushkar means lakes with lotus. The table below shows which present region falls in it.
Key idea 3 : Four oceans — Ancient texts mention four oceans: Kshirsagar (Indian Ocean), Dadhisagar (Atlantic), Surasamudra (Pacific) and Ksharsamudra (Arctic Ocean). The Vishnu Purana says ‘Bharat’ is the land north of the ocean and south of the Himalayas.
- Easy : What is a dweep? — Land surrounded by water.
- Medium : In which dweep is Bharatvarsh? — Jambudweep.
- Exam-type : Kshirsagar is which ocean today? — Indian Ocean.
In the figure: The idea of ancient dweeps.
The matching of dweeps with present regions is as per estimates given in the textbook; scholars may hold different views about it (as per the textbook; check with the book).
Ja-Pl-Sh-Ku-Kr-Sh-Pu.
A dweep is not a small land like today’s island; the book calls very large land areas dweeps.
Memory clue: Jambudweep = middle; Bharatvarsh in it. Memory clue: "The jamun-tree dweep = Jambu".
Spot the difference
| Dweep | Reason for name | Today’s region (as per book) |
|---|---|---|
| Jambu | Jamun trees | Asia (with India) |
| Shalmali | Silk cotton trees | Madagascar, Somalia |
| Pushkar | Lotus lakes | East Russia, Korea, Japan |
Practice questions
- 1What is a dweep?
- 2Name the seven dweeps.
- 3Why was Jambudweep known by that name?
- 4Which regions are in Kushdweep and Pushkardweep?
- 5Write the ancient names of four oceans and their present names.
- 6How is the name ‘Bharat’ described?
- 7How is the dweep concept different from today’s continents?
- 8Which dweeps does the book say are included in Africa?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Land naturally surrounded by water.
- 2Jambu, Plaksh, Shalmali, Kush, Kraunch, Shak, Pushkar.
- 3Jamun trees were abundant there.
- 4Kush: Iran, Iraq and NE Africa; Pushkar: East Russia, Korea, Japan.
- 5Kshir = Indian, Dadhi = Atlantic, Sura = Pacific, Kshar = Arctic.
- 6The land north of the ocean and south of the Himalayas.
- 7Dweeps were large regions based on names; continents are modern divisions.
- 8Shalmali (Madagascar, Somalia) and Kush (NE Africa).
Eclipses, direction and time
The side where the Sun rises is east and where it sets is west; when the shadow becomes short it is noon. Ancient people recognised direction and time from such observations of the sky.
Time measurement means measuring time from the positions of the Sun, Moon, constellations and planets. In ancient India skills such as accurate eclipse prediction, finding direction and calculating local time had developed.
Key idea 1 : Eclipse — In a lunar eclipse the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon and looks round, from which ancient people recognised that the Earth is round. Words like Grahansparsh (start), Khagras (total), Khandgras (partial) and Moksh (end) were used. They could also predict eclipse timings accurately.
Key idea 2 : Direction and local time — Ancient Indians had excellent knowledge of direction and time. They developed the technique of calculating local time accurately from the positions of the Sun and the Moon. Sun clocks were installed at various places and time was measured from them.
Key idea 3 : Units of time — Units such as ghatika and pal were used. The ancient Indian time measuring system had units: kshan, nimish, pal, ghatika, muhurt, prahar, day and year. The system was based on observing changing positions of the Sun, Moon, constellations and planets.
- Easy : What is Khagras eclipse? — Total eclipse.
- Medium : Which observation helps to find direction? — Sunrise.
- Exam-type : An ancient unit of time? — Ghatika.
In the figure: Direction, time and eclipse from observation.
Kshan-Nimish-Pal-Ghatika-Muhurt-Prahar-Day-Year.
It is not that time could not be measured because there were no watches in ancient times; it was measured using sun clocks and observation.
Memory clue: Time from positions of Sun-Moon. Memory clue: "The sky is the clock".
Spot the difference
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Grahansparsh | Start of eclipse | Shadow begins to fall |
| Khagras | Total eclipse | Fully covered |
| Khandgras | Partial eclipse | Part is covered |
Practice questions
- 1What is time measurement?
- 2What did ancient Indians recognise from eclipses?
- 3Write the meanings of Grahansparsh, Khagras, Khandgras and Moksh.
- 4How was a sun clock useful?
- 5Write units of time in ancient time measurement.
- 6Which observations were used to find direction?
- 7How will you find direction by observing the sky?
- 8Prepare a Wheel of Directions.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Measuring time from positions of Sun, Moon, constellations and planets.
- 2The Earth is round.
- 3Start, total, partial, end.
- 4Time was known from the shadow.
- 5Kshan, nimish, pal, ghatika, muhurt, prahar, day, year.
- 6Sunrise and sunset.
- 7Where the Sun rises is east; then I fix the other directions.
- 8Student draws four main and four sub-directions.
Atmosphere, seasons and festivals
We know when rain comes, when it is cold and when festivals come from months. Ancient people also remembered weather by dividing the year into six seasons and twelve months.
A season is a change in weather that comes at a fixed time during the year. In the ancient Indian system a year has six seasons and twelve months, and many festivals are linked to weather and farming.
Key idea 1 : Atmosphere — The Rigveda mentions that space surrounds the Earth. As per the textbook, Bhaskaracharya stated the thickness of the atmosphere as 12 yojanas (about 96 km) and described that clouds, lightning, wind, rain and fog occur in it. Two gases, Pran and Apan, were taken to represent gases of the atmosphere.
Key idea 2 : Six seasons — In the Rigveda one year is divided into six seasons and twelve months. We understand this from months: in which months it rains, and in which months it is hottest and coldest can be found from our own district’s experience.
Key idea 3 : Festivals and Geography — At Makar Sankrant crops are ready after winter and temperature slowly rises; at Gudhi Padva new grain is brought home; at Diwali there is joy after selling Kharif crops; at Christmas winter is severe; Ramzan is the ninth month in the Hijri calendar and its start varies at different places with latitude and season.
- Easy : How many seasons of the year in the Rigveda? — Six.
- Medium : Geographic link of Makar Sankrant? — Crops ready after winter.
- Exam-type : Which events happen in the atmosphere? — Clouds, lightning, wind, rain.
In the figure: Relation of seasons, farming and festivals.
As per several sources the Kármán line, which marks the boundary of space, is taken at about 100 km above sea level; check the 96 km figure of Bhaskaracharya with the book (as per the textbook; check with the book).
6 seasons + 12 months.
Festivals are not only religious; they also have a relation with weather and farming.
Memory clue: Season → farming → festival. Memory clue: "Weather decides the festival calendar".
Spot the difference
| Festival | Time / season | Geographic link |
|---|---|---|
| Makar Sankrant | January, winter | Crops are ready |
| Gudhi Padva | March-April | New grain comes home |
| Diwali | October-November | Kharif crops are sold |
Practice questions
- 1What is a season?
- 2State the division of a year in the Rigveda.
- 3What did Bhaskaracharya say about the atmosphere (as per the book)?
- 4Explain the relation of Makar Sankrant with Geography.
- 5What is the relation of Diwali with farming?
- 6In which months does it rain in your district?
- 7Write the twelve months of the Hindu samvatsar.
- 8Why does the start of the Ramzan month vary at different places?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Changes in weather coming at a fixed time in the year.
- 2Six seasons and twelve months.
- 3Thickness 12 yojanas (about 96 km); clouds, lightning, wind, rain occur in it.
- 4Crops are ready after winter and temperature slowly rises.
- 5Joy of selling Kharif crops.
- 6Student writes according to own district.
- 7Chaitra, Vaishakh, Jyeshtha, Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwin, Kartik, Margashirsha, Paush, Magh, Phalgun.
- 8The Hijri calendar is lunar so the date changes with latitude and season.