A History of Agriculture in India v2.c55.s2.3

v2.c55.s2.3

Here we may refer to Kazwini's *Asaru-l Bilad* (Monuments of Countries). Kazwini, an encyclopaedist, was born in the town of Kazwin (in Iran). He compiled his works from the writings of other travellers in A.D. 1263. About Somnath he writes, ‘A celebrated city of India, situated on the shore of the sea, and washed by its waves. Among the wonders of that place was the temple in which was placed the idol called Somnat. This idol was in the middle of the temple without anything to support it from below, or to suspend it from above. When the king asked his companions what they had to say about the marvel of the idol, and of its staying in the air without prop or support, several maintained that it was upheld by some hidden support. The king directed a person to go and feel all around and above and below it with a spear, which he did, but met with no obstacle. One of the attendants then stated his opinion that the canopy was made of loadstone, and the idol of iron, and that the ingenious builder had skilfully contrived that the magnet should not exercise a greater force on any one side—hence the idol was suspended in the middle. Some coincided, others differed. Permission was obtained from the Sultan to remove some stones from the top of the canopy to settle the point. When two stones were removed from the summit the idol swerved on one side, when more were taken away it inclined still further, until at last it rested on the ground.’¹ It was application of science for achieving a practical objective, which was paraded as a miracle. Nevertheless it indicates that knowledge of science was advanced in India.