Part C - HINDUISM’S LEGACY Global Contributions & Impact 1 “Many Paths to the Same Summit”

History of Hindu Contributions The earliest seats of learning were in India. Scholars travelled from all over the world (Greece, China, Persia, etc.) to study. In addition to spiritual contributions, ancient Hindus contributed to art, culture, mathematics, politics, humanities, and physical and biological sciences. Science and Hinduism were never at odds! This tradition continues in modern India. 2

“Nonviolence is the highest duty and the highest teaching.” (Mahabharata ) 3 gandhis-birthday-dr-kings-tributes-mahatma /mandela_commentary_120613

4 A midwife tends a pregnant woman in a remote part of Maharashtra state. Mobile clinics, started in 2013 by Gandhi’s Sevagram ashram, honor his commitment to rural health needs. Legacy of Gandhi ji Gandhi ji treating a man with leprosy

Fertile Ground for Other Faiths India’s fertile ground for other faiths: Jainism Buddhism Sikhism 5

Buddhism 6 learning/buddhistworld/east-asia.htm

No room for Arrogance Astrophysicist Caleb Scharf, Columbia Univ.: “We all reside on a small planet orbiting a single, middle- aged star that is one of some 200 billion stars in the great swirl of matter that makes up the Milky Way galaxy. Our galaxy is but one of an estimated several hundred billion such structures in the observable (emphasis added) universe - a volume that now stretches in all directions from us for more than 270,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles.” ( There may be parallel universes! If so, how is it possible to comprehend the nature of the cosmos, let alone the Infinite? 7

Hinduism and Ecology Hindus consider Mother Earth as a Goddess: Bhudevi Each Hindu should be inherently ecological. Any time we are doing something that is not ecological, we are insulting our own mother. Source: NASA 8

9 Mathematical Contributions Number Theory Introduction of ‘Zero’ Introduction of decimal system, place value of numbers Introduction of negative numbers Development of algebra Discovery that roots occur in pairs  solution of quadratic equations Advances in Trigonometry: Use of ‘Sine’ Binary system  basis of modern computers

Magical Square Inscribed on doorway of Parsvanatha temple in KhajurahoIn dated 954 CE Numbers in each row & each column and the numbers in the main and secondary diagonals, all equal 34 Also, the sums of all two-by-two squares at the four corners of the large square and the sum of the central two-by-two square equal 34 10

11 Astronomy Jantar Mantar: An Ancient Astronomical Observatory In Jaipur

Ayurvedic Medicine 12

Chakras

Respect for Knowledge and Wisdom Iherent in Hindu tradition Sri Sarswati is the Goddess revered by all Hindus 14

Hinduism’s Three Greatest Teachers were born outside the Teacher Class! 15 Sri RamSri Krishna Lord Buddha

Prime Minister of India: Narendra Modi 16 news.com/news/in dia/barack-obama- modi-journey- from-tea-seller-to- pm html

World Heritage Sites in India /List_of_World_Heritage_Sit es_in_India 17

Hinduism and Modern India Hinduism has never been an obstacle to scientific developments and modern discoveries world-asia-india India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Mangalyaan मंगलयान

19 Belief of U.S. general Public in Yoga and Reincarnation : / Hindu Practices and Beliefs in the Larger American Culture -Meditation -Yoga Studios -Vegetarianism -Belief in Reincarnation