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The origin of ‘Hydrology’ in the Indian tradition is 5000 years old, whereas modern Hydrology developed in the 19th century and is still in the stage of development. In the scriptures of Rigveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda composed in the Vedic period, there are many verses, sutras and praises regarding the types of water, ground water and quality of water. Hydrological cycle is also described scientifically in Rigveda.
Jal or waterhas also been described in detail in our traditional scriptures, Puranas and Samhitas written after the Vedic period. In chapter 54 of Vrihatsamhita written by Varaha Mihir, a disciple of Aryabhata Pratham in the 5th century, complete hydrology is mentioned in 125 sutras. Based on the characteristics described in Vrihatsamhita, it was possible to discover groundwater reserves up to a depth of 600 meters. Even before Varaha Mihir, there were Saraswat and Manu who wrote on water in their scriptures. Varaha Mihir himself has mentioned them in his texts. Sushruta, the author of Ayurveda textSushruta Samhita (circa 6th century BCE) and Charak, who wrote Charak Samhita (circa 2nd century BCE) have also described water, its quality and its effect on health.
Varaha Mihir wrote Brihat Samhita (also spelled as Vrihatsamhita) in 6th century CE, which presages many modern theories of hydrology
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Even the scientists who consider modern European science as original science are shocked by this scientificity inherent in the Indian tradition of thousands of years ago. Modern hydrology can be enriched by scientists doing research on hydrology described in Indian tradition.
HOW COLONIAL RULE RUBBISHED INDIAN SCIENCE
There is an old Indian saying: Ghar Ka Jogi Jogda, Aan Gaon Ka Siddh, which implies that a homegrown Yogi has no value compared to a novice from another village. During the 190 years of colonial rule, the British were successful in implanting in the minds of the Indian people that all their scriptures — Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, Samhitas — written in the Indian Rishi tradition were orthodox, imaginary and unscientific. Only the science that came from the West was authentic science. Pushing aside our Vedas, scriptures, codes, culture and traditions, we not only accepted external science as the real science but also became its advocates. We started criticising our own tradition, knowledge and culture.
Was it really the knowledge that came from our traditions that was unscientific and only the science of Europe authentic?
I am a student of hydrogeology and today I will talk about this science in this context. I have no hesitation in admitting that during my student life, I also had the same belief that only the vision coming from the West was scientific.
But when my understanding matured a little and I came in contact with some ideological people, I started exploring hydrology in the Indian tradition.
WATER IN ANCIENT TEXTS
By reading the verses, sutras and hymns mentioned in the Vedas, it became clear that whatever was written related to water and ground water in the Vedic period was scientific. Verse 13.53 of Yajurveda talks about the water cycle. Due to the heat of the sun, water breaks and rises. The wind blows away these water droplets and transforms them into clouds and this water again reaches the earth in the form of rain. I was surprised! In modern science, Leonardo da Vinci discovered the Hydrological Cycle in the 14-15th century, that is, only 800 years ago, whereas in the Indian tradition, our sages had explained it during the Vedic period itself.
Similarly, in verse 27.25 of Yajurveda, it is said that the seed of creation was first sown in water and from it fire originated. In modern science, this thing has been clarified in this way — in the initial times on the Earth, oxygen was bound in abundant molecules like water and carbon dioxide. About a billion years ago, blue-green algae and cyanobacteria used sunlight to break water into its components oxygen and hydrogen and thus free oxygen came into the atmosphere. This free oxygen was the pulse of life on Earth. Here one can raise the question on the scientificity of this verse of Yajurveda. Actually, the Indian tradition was ofGurukul where the knowledge in the sutra was explained by an Acharya and not through a textbook written in detail.
There is a description of four types of water in Rigveda: 1. Water obtained from the sky, 2. Water flowing in rivers and other streams, 3. Water obtained by mining from wells, and 4. Ground water. Vedas even describe the kind of water that will flow in a particular geographical location. In this regard, the Atharvaveda mentions that the water coming from the Himalayas breaks after hitting the rocks and becomes smaller due to bouncing and flowing with speed. Therefore, this water is beneficial for all living beings. The rivers going to the western sea flow fast, hence their water is also clean and beneficial. The rivers going towards the eastern sea flow slowly, hence their water is heavy. Sea water is full of Tridosha and salt and hence is not suitable for drinking.
Just imagine the time when all this was explained in the Indian tradition — three-thousand-five-hundred years ago! Even after knowing all this, calling Indian traditions, Vedas and scriptures unscientific, and modern science as science would be like making one’s own line bigger by erasing the big line. Western science is doing the same and it’s time we understood that our Indian tradition was more advanced and scientific.
Even post-Vedic texts of our sages continue to mention water in detail. In this series, the Vrihatsamhita written by Varaha Mihir has revealed many mysteries along with astrology by giving scientific explanations of weather, earth, space and activities taking place below the surface. In the chapter ‘Drikargal’of Vrihatsamhita, 125 sutras related to prediction of ground water on the basis of local vegetation, soil, animals and rocks have been given, on the basis of which the ground water found up to a depth of 600 meters can be predicted. According to Varaha Mihir, just as there are thousands of nerves in our body, similarly there are many veins in the earth at different heights and at different depths. Rainwater seeps into the ground and flows as ground water in these veins at different depths. Modern science also believes that the flow of groundwater from one place to another occurs due to the underground gradient of the water table. Except in the Sand Zone, in rocky areas the flow of ground water at depth is less at some places and more at others.
In verse 2 ofDrikargalof Vrihatsamhita, Varaha Mihir writes that the water that rains from the sky is of the same colour, but due to the difference in the soil, vegetation and rocks of the area with different geographical conditions and climate, the difference in the quality of water arises.
PROSPECTING GROUNDWATER
According to modern science also, due to contact with soil and vegetation in different areas, the quality of water changes according to the mineral salts present in the soil and vegetation. Similarly, passing through different types of geological strata under the ground, due to the different mineral constitution of different types of rocks, many mineral salts dissolve and change the quality of water. For example, the quality of water passing through the Limestone area will be different from the quality of water passing through Sandstone and Basaltic Rock. Based on this, Varaha Mihir’s hydrology is even able to predict the taste of water found in a particular area — salty, sweet, astringent or bitter. Even if it will be drinkable or not.
Varah Mihir writes in Sutra 104 of Vrihatsamhita that the groundwater found below the land will be gritty (with small pebbles) and copper coloured. The groundwater found in the area where the soil is of ash colour will be alkaline. The water in the area with light coloured soil will be salty and the water in the area with light black and greyish coloured soil will be sweet. This formula of Varaha Mihir, dating to about 1900 years ago, proves to be authentic. There is no need for any big scientific instruments or study for this, it can be experienced only by drinking the water of a particular area. I have experienced this many times during my work and have found it completely authentic.
Varaha’s hydrology does not stop at this, it also predicts the available amount of ground water — will water be available for years or will it run out in a few months or years? In verse 109 of Drikargal, Varaha Mihir writes that water is not found under rocks that are copper coloured or light yellow, ash coloured or light brown or bright blue.
Varah Mihir has suggested several methods to detect groundwater based on the vegetation of a particular area.
See verse 8 of Drikargal. In this verse, Varahasays that if a Jamun tree is seen in an anhydrous area, then by digging Do Purush (about 10 feet) three cubits ahead of it in the north direction, water will be found in the vein to the east. Geological strata have also been mentioned in this verse. If a man digs 5 feet, he will find Ferruginous Soil, after that Light Yellow Soil will be found and then a frog will be found. It is said in verse 13 that if there is an earthen stupa made by insects towards the north from the Terminalia Arjuna (Arjuna) tree, then water will be found three and a half feet below the Arjuna tree in the west direction. If a man digs at this place, he will find dust coloured soil, below that will be black soil, below that will be yellow soil and after that sand mixed white soil. There will be immense water beneath it.
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In verse 58, the two-faced date palm (Phoenix sylvestris) tree has been described as a vegetative guide for the availability of ground water. While working as a Hydrogeologist in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, I dug tube wells at many places on this basis and found sufficient ground water in all of them.
Even in modern hydrology, there is mention of vegetative guides to detect groundwater. Modern botanical science also believes that there are some trees which indicate the availability and unavailability of water beneath them. Soil Science also says that there is normal water beneath yellow, grey, sandy and red soil. Similarly, in areas with dry and semi-arid climate, many chemical changes occur in the rocks due to the moisture present inside the ground, on the basis of which prediction of groundwater is possible.
Along with the prediction of groundwater, Varaha Mihir has also propounded the methods of water quality, well and pond construction in his scriptures which are relevant even today.
I have a lot to say about water in our Indian tradition but that goes beyond the scope of this write-up. I would like to sum up that modern hydrology can be enriched by making Varaha Mihir’s hydrology the basis of research.
*The writer is a Hydrologist and has been working in Madhya Pradesh on water conservation with Vibhavari, a social organization for the last 35 years.
