Ank Chakra : Indian Culture and Basic Numbers

By Dr. Chandrapal Sharma

The knowledge of numbers is as ancient as the creation. One Brahma then nature and man, these two then SA TV a, Raja, tam these three qualities and this way the creation is said to be of 25 elements. Shaddarshan, numbers of measurements and astrology, grammar, Ayurved, literature etc., The presence of numbers is clearly seen in these disciplines. In Vedas through the medium of numbers many examples are found for publishing special scopes. In the 24th and 25th mantras of 18th Chapter of Shukla Ayurveda with help of easy and difficult numbers, Havana is performed by paired and unpaired stom. In this book, through the medium of numbers, various aspects and standards of civilization, culture and spiritualism have been shown.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamond Books
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9789390287277

Book preview

sacrifice).

Shoonya (Zero)

The literal meaning of zero is solitary/secluded place, Sky, Vishnu, Heaven, Formless, Empty, Endless, Devoid, Aimless, Without Answer, Dot etc. With numbers the relation of zero, for the first time, starts after nine but after the fractional theory has become prevalent, zero is used before fraction of ten is also zero. The theory of fraction was already known in India in 200 B.C. Actually, the symbol of zero is infinite. Therefore, to express the infinity of numbers zero is required. Zero is the basic point of mathematics. This is the most powerful, when attached to any number, its value increased ten-fold. The exclusivity of zero is that, when added to zero, it remains as zero. When it is subtracted from zero, then also remains as zero only. Also, when multiplied or divided, then also remains as zero.

Actually, zero is totally complete in itself, whose exclusivity and uniqueness is mentioned in Brihadaranyak Upnishad as below

पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते।।

To the medieval Buddhist thinkers and philosophers, Shunyavad (Theory of Zero) is the name of a Principle. According to this, Truth, Untruth, Good Behavior, Bad Behavior these four and apart from this, not explicit trait has been accepted.

This trait or element is nothing but zero. In Sanskrit and especially in Astrology the word ‘KH’ is used for zero. ‘KH’ is also a symbol for sky which is actually only zero. In the 40th chapter of Yajurved, in the last mantra ‘Om Kham Brahma’ is pronounced, which means that the Almighty or Brahma is also ‘Kh’, that is like the sky and also omnipotent and omnivalent. Therefore, this word ‘Kh’ is also in the true sense the form of Brahma.

Zero is the discovery of Indian rishis. The number world, has been given first by India. The first experiment of zero is found in the book of Acharya Pingal 200 B.C. After that Jinbhadra Bhaskar and Aryabhatt like mathematician had used then in their manuscripts. Zero is the smallest of small drop or dot and biggest of big sky. In the words of Kathopnishad- अणोरणीयान् महतो महीयान्. The main meaning of zero is useful, Formless, the other form of Vishnu. It is the symbol of the perfectness of Brahma. The magnanimous form of zero is the Formless Brahma. Its form in specific state is the sky. This zero is the entire universe and it embraces the whole world of stars in itself. Everything emerges from it and in the end it merges in it. Every unit is the image of zero. All moving particles also move in resemblance to that image whether it is the path of planets or the particles of dust or the wheel of a vehicle, all are in the shape of a zero. Lord Vishnu is himself is a synonym of zero and his abode is also zero (Heaven). The symbol of Formless Brahma cannot be other than zero. Therefore, zero is formless, omnipresent, most powerful Parbrahma. Zero is in incomplete and also it is complete zero and completeness are the synonym of Vishnu.

Mathematics has an important place in all the faculties of science and knowledge. Zero is the biggest invention of mathematics. There is no option for it in the world of creation. The discovery of numbers were first done in India and from here these numbers went to Arabian countries. These numbers were called ‘Hindsa’, and so they were given recognition as taken from India. Like the numbers, the experiment of zero in mathematics was also done in India, that is to multiply any number ten times by adding zero to it was known to India during the 4th century. Before this, the accounting was 9 + 1 = 10. A zero put before the number 1, and then becoming 10, the concept of mathematics and accounting both were changed. Today, the biggest of accounting is possible because of zero. Although there is no actual value of zero, but it has the potential and ability to give 10 times the value to any number. The value of any number is not possible without zero.

Fifty years from now, in an illiterate society, the highest number was twenty which was called Bisi. As a writer, I am aware of such people, who would say 100 rupees as 5 Bisi. This count was also the same, like for example today people don’t count beyond crore but instead write or say as 3000 crore or 3 lakh crore. They adhere to the European Million (10 lakhs), and go with it. The counts of kharab, Neel, Padam, Shankh are not propagated. It is a matter of doubt, that Indians who are educated in the western education system, may be aware of counts above crore, like Arab, Kharab, Neel, Padam, Shankh or may not be aware. 20 was the greatest number in illiterate society, its limitations are seen even now. For example, while building a house, kadi-bamboo and plates of stones were shown as per the rate of 20, which is called ‘kaudi’.

The discovery of zero is surprising. How far is it appropriate to call zero as an appendage is like the flow of water in a river or like it makes no difference to the sea when clouds take the water from it, the same way, if something comes and adds to zero or leaves zero after subtraction, the situation remains as it was before. Zero is prevalent in everything. If any number is subtracted from that very number, the remainder is zero. That means it is not possible to subtract or diminish zero. So by adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing zero is unaffected, that means zero is dominating, but the attitude of zero, like the good, is benevolent. Those who tackle the good on the left, those are the impartial good ones. The places of worship are on the right side, that is the ritual even today. Zero also, when on the right side, or in a friendly state makes the friend attached with it 10 times, but when it comes on the left side does not increase the value nor does it harm in any way.

When zero makes 1 into 10, then it is evident that zero is great. Your greatness is beyond measure and space. At one point, you call yourself devoid, and at the other point you make 10 times the biggest of the big numbers. May be, because of you, the Indian culture is tenfold. Clearly, when you become a companion those 10 counts have become ten-fold. Zero, you are limitless, that is why the sky expresses its image of depth and wideness through you. Sky is not just like zero in its image, also it is a void, which is also the main meaning of zero.

In the language of mathematics zero, is a state of void, the result is that, in mathematics, in four different elements, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, zero is not in a position to make any difference. This is an aspect of contemplation. There is another aspect as well and that is, zero is the only one that remains unaffected by any addition, subtraction, multiplication and division that zero remains as zero.

In philosophical language it is said as-

पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते।

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते।।

When complete is taken out of complete, it is complete. Zero is that complete.

Basically in zero, there is the essence of void. Whether it is void of intelligence, void of knowledge, or void of feelings and emotions. The world is full of void of intelligence and void of knowledge. To fill up the void experiments are being done for knowledge and science. All educational institutions are busy in this endeavor. The void of senses may make us unhappy for a short while but void of emotions destroy the whole life. That without concept or meaning is also void. Even though, the womb of zero may become elliptical and different, but its inside soul is filled with emptiness. Surprisingly, it is filled and that with emptiness. In fact, emptiness is a feeling a religion which cannot be understood by the persons who are void of true knowledge.

In this fort of the body, there are nine doors and one secret 10th door also, this is in the form of zero that is why it is called as ‘Shunyapadavi’. Bathed by this shunyapadavi, blindfolded by Brahma, these Hath yogis, in the quench of their thirst by Amrit (nectar/elixir) remain as sudhaks with sadhana all through their lives. In Buddhist religion, the entire philosophy is based on Emptiness. They may not believe in Buddha as God or the Vedas, but they have not been able to ignore emptiness. They see the entire world in the form of emptiness. The theory of Void/Emptiness is actually a cult. Only the atheist have faith in Emptiness. According to shoonyavad, there is no soul nor there is particles in elements as such. According to their theology, there is nothing known, nothing to be known, and there is no knowledge, all are zero. In this soulless cult, the world is a complete zero, and their philosophy is the Voidism. Even the atheist cult has faith in zero, that is the prominence and greatness of zero. Even while neglecting Brahma and life and the world, they acknowledge the importance of