The other five schools include Nyaya, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. Kanad was the founder of Vaisheshika, one of the six major schools of Vedic philosophy from ancient India. While Kanad lived during 600 BC (actual date record is not available, but he is believed to have lived between 6th century to 2nd century BCE), Dalton belonged to the late 18th and 19th century.
He applied logic and realism to explain his theory. He propounded the atomic theory in the lines of the concept of atman (soul) and moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). This book is a blend of science, philosophy and religion. Maharishi Kanad penned his explanations on the atomic theory of matter in his book in Sanskrit called Vaisheshika Sutra, also termed Kanada Sutras. While Kanad was the first to give clear picture about this concept, philosophers and thinkers from the later period developed detailed theories on how atoms combined to form compounds. Our Rishis discovered this concept on a spiritual context. It cannot be destroyed and retains its original form under all situations. Our ancient Rishis first conceptualized the idea that matter consists of indivisible units and cannot be further divided into smaller particles. Unfortunately, credit for many of these inventions and discoveries goes to foreigners.ĭo you know Kanad, an ancient Indian sage, scientist and philosopher propounded a theory of atoms to explain the creation and existence of the universe? But the discovery of atomic theory is attributed to John Dalton, an English chemist, physicist, and meteorologist.
Our ancient sages, philosophers, astronomers, mathematicians, and many a scholar made immense contribution through their inventions and discoveries in various fields. If you traverse into the terrains of ancient India through manuscripts, you will be enthralled to be part of a rich heritage that introduced countless theories and concepts that are practically factual. Maharishi Kanad Discovered Atomic Theory 2600 Years Ago, not Dalton of England