True History Exploration

CONTRIBUTION OF ANCIENT INDIANS TOWARDS SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS & ASTRONOMY AND GREAT INVENTORS OF INDIA (By Ved Pal, IRSE, FIE, FIPWE, MBA, Former Chief Administrative Officer, Ministry of Rlys, Govt. of India) 17. VELOCITY OF LIGT IN ANCIENT INDIAN TEXTS Introduction: Surya (Sun), the primary source of light, has been eulogized and described in details in ancient Indian literature. The fourth verse of the Rigvedic hymn 1:50 (50th hymn in book 1 of Rigveda) is as follows: “ तरणिर्विश्वदर्शतो जयोतिष्क्र्दसि सूर्य | विश्वमा भासिरोचनम ||” taranirviśvadarśato jyotishkridasi sūrya | viśvamā bhāsirocanam || This means ‘Swift and all beautiful art thou, O Surya (Sun), maker of the light, illuminating all the radiant realm.’ Above verse was explained in his commentary on Rig Veda by Acharya Sayan (C 1330 - 1387 CE), a prolific writer of 14th century and interpreter of ancient books and Vedic literature. Sayan was the Prime Minister of King Bukka Raya I and his successor H...